What was there to prevent it?
She told herself, Nothing, and the next moment looked up and saw two men coming towards her, and in their arms a figure which she knew instinctively was her father's.
She slowly retraced her steps, set open the gate and the door, and waited for the grief that was coming to her.

But however slow her reasoning faculties, her soul knew in a moment what it needed.

It was but a little prayer said with trembling lips and fainting heart; but no prayer loses its way.

Straight to the heart of Christ it went.

And the answer was there and the strength waiting when Ragon and Hacon brought in the bleeding, dying old man, and laid him down upon his parlor floor.
Ragon said but one word, "Stabbed!" and then, turning to Hacon, bid him ride for life and death into Stromness for a doctor.