Now when they were gone, Joanna came beside me where I sat and stood a while, looking down on me in silence.
"He forced me to it!" said she at last. "Oh, Martino, there--was none other way. And he killed my father."
But I not answering, she presently sighed and went away, leaving me staring where Mings lay huddled beyond the dying fire. And presently my gaze chanced to light on Tressady's dagger of the Silver Woman where it lay, stained by his life's blood, and leaping to my feet, I caught it up and sent the evil thing whirling and glittering far out to sea.