The light played on the blade of the keen-edged sword, as if it were
phosphorescent, but the lambent quivering was not seen by the holder of
the lantern, who hid Capel with his own hand as the light was flashed
upon the bed and into the corners of the room, and then turned off.
"All right, boys," was whispered, and a man swung himself into the room.
"Be quick, and shut the window."
A second man crept softly in, and the third was half in, when he
slipped, threw out his hand to save himself, struck against one of his
companions and drove him back against the curtain and upon Capel.
"Light! Barkers! Some one here."
Capel heard the words, saw the flash, and struck at the hand that held
it.
The blade fell heavily upon the lantern and dashed it to the floor,
where it went out.
Raising the sword he struck again, but as he did so, one of the men
sprang at him, and the blow that fell was upon the fellow's shoulder,
and with the hilt of the sword.
Capel was borne back by the man's fierce spring, his feet became
entangled in the curtain and he fell heavily, with his adversary upon
him.
"Quick, Morris," whispered a voice.
"No, no. Curse you. Shut the window. There's only one. Where's your
matches? Quick, light the glim! Ah, would you? Lie still and bite
that. You just move again and I'll pull the trigger."
The barrel of a revolver had been thrust between Capel's teeth, and as
he lay back with the man on his chest, half stunned, helpless and
despairing, he saw indistinctly the figure against the window, heard the
sash slide down, and the darkness was complete as the curtain was drawn
over the panes. Then there was the faint streak of light as a match was
struck, the bull's-eye lantern was picked up and re-lit, and the bright
rays once more played all about the room.
The man who held it then went to the door and listened.
"It's all right," he whispered. "You said nobody can't hear what goes
on in this room. These curtains would suffocate a trumpet. Here, you,"
he cried to the third man, "don't stand shivering like that. Take that
carving-knife out of his hand. Pull the trigger, Dick, if he stirs."
This to the man kneeling on Capel's chest.
Capel lay absolutely powerless at that moment; but, as the third fellow
caught him by the wrist, the young man wrenched his head on one side,
and heaved himself up, so that he partially dislodged the ruffian who
held him down. At the same time he swung the sabre round, driving the
third back, and striking the principal adversary so sharp a blow that he
slipped aside, and Capel leaped to his feet.
At that moment the light was turned off, and there was a rush made to
get beyond his reach.
Capel also took advantage of the total darkness to step back, but he
held the weapon ready for a cut, should an attack be made.
As he stood there, panting, a low whisper rose from the direction of the
door, and he just caught its import, "Give me the light."
There was a click directly after, and then from about the middle of the
room the dazzling light of the bull's-eye shone out full upon Capel as
he stood with upraised sword, while his assailants were in the dark.
"Now, then," said the voice which he recognised as that of the man who
had held the pistol to his mouth, "throw down that tool."
"Give up, you scoundrel!" cried Capel. "You can't escape."
"Can't we?" said the man, between his teeth, "More can't you. Now,
then, will you throw down that sword?"
"No," said Capel, furiously. "You've walked into a trap, so give up."
"Go on," said the voice of the lesser man.
At that moment there was a bright flash of light, a sharp report, and
Capel felt a sensation as if he had been struck a violent blow on the
left shoulder, which half spun him round, while the round, glistening
disc of light seemed to have darted back to the side of the bed.
Half stunned, but full of fight, Capel turned and made for the light
once more, when there was another flash, a quick shot, and this time the
blow seemed to have fallen on the top of his head, and, stunned and
helpless, the sword dropped from his hand, and he fell on a chair, and
from that on to the floor.
"You've killed him! You've killed him!"
"Good job, too. Think I wanted my skin turned into pork crackling with
that sword? Hold yer row, will yer, or--"
"We shall be taken and hung. Oh, my arm!"
"Look here, my dear pal," said the little man; "if you want to preach,
just wait till this job's done. Throw the light on the door, Dick."
"I dunno which is doors and which is windows, with all these curtains.
Oh, that's it, is it? Quiet, will you?"