Collected works > Edinburgh edition, 1894-98 - Works of Robert Louis Stevenson > Volume 20, 1896 - Travels and excursion, Volume III

THE OPEN DOOR
6 O, it 's a fellow that believes a lot of things,' said
Herrick ; * believes that his bullets go true ; believes
that all falls out as God chooses, do as you like to
prevent it ; and all that.'
'Why, I guess I believe right so myself,' said
Davis.
* You do ? ' said Herrick.
' You bet I do ! ' says Davis.
Herrick shrugged his shoulders. ' Well, you must
be a fool,' said he, and he leaned his head upon his
knees.
The captain stood biting his hands.
' There 's one thing sure,' he said at last. ' I must
get Huish out of that. He 's not fit to hold his end
up with a man like you describe.'
And he turned to go away. The words had been
quite simple ; not so the tone ; and the other was
quick to catch it.
' Davis ! ' he cried, * no ! Don't do it. Spare me,
and don't do it — spare yourself, and leave it alone —
for God's sake, for your children's sake ! '
His voice rose to a passionate shrillness ; another
moment, and he might be overheard by their not
distant victim. But Davis turned on him with a
savage oath and gesture; and the miserable young
man rolled over on his face on the sand, and lay
speechless and helpless.
The captain meanwhile set out rapidly for Att-
water's house. As he went, he considered with
himself eagerly, his thoughts racing. The man had
understood, he had mocked them from the begin-
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