infecting the whole place. One might be approaching a tomb for all
token that appeared of human presence. Even sound was lacking. It
was like a painted scene--a dream of human extinction.

Instinctively the women faltered and the men drew back; then the
very silence caused a sudden reaction, and with one simultaneous
rush, they made for the only entrance they saw and burst without
further ceremony into the house.

A common hall and common furnishings confronted them. They had
entered at the side and were evidently close upon the kitchen.
More they could not gather; for blocked as the doorway was by
their crowding figures, the little light which sifted in over
their heads was not enough to show up details.

But it was even darker in the room towards which their determined
leader now piloted them. Here there was no light at all; or if
some stray glimmer forced its way through the network of leaves
swathing the outer walls, it was of too faint a character to reach
the corners or even to make the furniture about them
distinguishable.

Halting with one accord in what seemed to be the middle of the
uncarpeted floor, they waited for some indication of a clear
passageway to the great room where the judge would undoubtedly be
found in conversation with his strange guest, unless, forewarned
by their noisy entrance, he should have risen already to meet
them. In that case they might expect at any minute to see his tall
form emerging in anger upon them through some door at present
unseen.