AN OFFER.
Stupefied at such a refined and gratuitous exhibition of malevolence,
Grail seemed suddenly to awake at the words, straining at the cords
about his limbs, striving desperately to slip the gag, if only to utter
a single word. But his efforts were absolutely in vain. Head, trunk,
hands, feet were held immovable as in a vise; not a sound could he force
past his mute lips.
Instead, Rezonoff bent down close beside him, and in such an excellent
imitation of Grail’s tones that one could scarcely doubt it came from
him, flung after the gray-haired commandant a peal of derisive and
insulting laughter. Then, the interlude over, he gave directions to
relax the bonds on the prisoners, and remove them once more inside the
hut.
“I am obliged to leave now to accompany your friend the colonel,” he
approached Grail to say, “and must defer the definite settlement of your
case until to-morrow. Before I go, though, I wish to leave one thought
with you to ponder over. I have, of course, no ground for animosity
against you and your companion, other than that you have seen fit to
poke your nose into my affairs; under certain conditions I am willing to
overlook.
“In short, my dear captain”--he lighted a cigarette--“as you are
doubtless aware, I am interested in the wireless experiments which have
been conducted out at the fort, and for detailed information in regard
to them, am prepared to offer you your liberty.”
Grail made him no answer.
“Ah!” The other laughed. “I know what you are thinking. You do not
believe that I will carry out my end of the bargain. But consider: Even
with all the precautions I may take, every death increases my risk and
danger; for, despite the proverb, dead men do tell tales. Then, too, I
would have no fear of your talking; the transaction with me would be
all-sufficient to seal your lips forever. No, my offer is bona fide,
captain; you may rely on it. Indeed, I will do even more. With your
acceptance, I will guarantee to exonerate you fully from all the
suspicion now directed against you at the fort. And I can do it, too.”
Grail broke his silence. “And the alternative,” he demanded, “if I
refuse?”
“The alternative?” The Russian lifted his cigarette to his lips and blew
a cloud of smoke toward the ceiling. “Deplorable for you, my dear
captain, but inevitable.”
“I shall kill you, Rezonoff,” said Grail, in a low tone. “I shall kill
you if ever I have the opportunity.”
“I suppose,” the other returned, “that means a refusal of my offer, eh,
captain? Well, I shall not take it as final now. You shall have
twenty-four hours to think it over.”
Then, with a glance at his watch, he turned on his heel, and strode from
the hut; and a few minutes later the prisoners heard the chug-chug of
his automobile as it sped away.
Grail and Sergeant Cato glanced furtively at one another, the same
thought mirrored in the eyes of each. They had a respite of twenty-four
hours to go on, it seemed, and in twenty-four hours much can be
accomplished.