It was very short: --"Fly for your life--they will have
you to-night--P."
Fly for his life! But how could he fly, with his wife in bed and
with no work before him? Would it not be base to leave her? Then it
occurred to him that if he were taken and imprisoned, he would be
altogether incapable of helping her. He determined to speak to Mrs.
Carter. He showed her the note, and she was troubled with no
hesitation of any kind.
"My good man," she said, "you be off this minute. That's what you've
got to do. Never mind your wife; I'll see after her. Expense?
Lord, Mr. Coleman what's that? She don't eat much. Besides, we'll
settle all about that afterwards."
Zachariah hesitated.
"Now don't stand shilly-shallying and a-thinking and a-thinking,--
that never did anybody any good. I can't a-bear a man as thinks and
thinks when there's anything to be done as plain as the nose in his
face. Where's your bag?"
Mrs. Carter was out of the room in an instant, and in ten minutes
came back with a change of clothes.
"Now, let us know where you are; but don't send your letters here.
You write to my sister; there's her address. You needn't go up
there; your wife's asleep.
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