"I must jot this down now--who knows what may happen?... Reminding
the family that I had promised results in three quarters of an hour,
I instructed them in the part each one must take.... Alexis appeared
to be listlessly unconcerned and sat upon one corner of the large
flat-topped desk, swinging his feet indifferently; but when I started
for the door he sprang to attention like a well-trained soldier and
awaited the results.... Going to the door fronting in the main street,
I called the sentry and ordered him to CALL OUT THE GUARD....
Shortly _my selected_ guard appeared....
"I conducted them through the dining room and told them to help
themselves.... Then we roamed through the living rooms, the boudoirs,
straight through to the washing room and bath; then back through the
oblong archway into the little square room beyond the study, where I
halted them and said: 'Men, these women will die before they'll
tell us where the treasure is at present. The OLD MAN and WOMAN seem
utterly indifferent to their fate; we can get _nothing_ out of them.
Now, what do you say to giving them a night to think the matter over
before we _line them up_? We may get more by waiting than by closing
their mouths FOREVER....'
"'_Not another day_!' said one of the men whom I had all along
suspected of being _suspicious_ of MY conduct.... 'What say the rest
of you?' I asked.... 'Well,' droned the most courageous of them,
with a hangdog expression, 'we might give them until midnight.'...
'Very well,' I snapped viciously, I'LL PUT OFF THE EXECUTION till
that hour; then if they don't disgorge I'll kill every one of them
_myself_!'... 'Not so fast, comrade!' returned the rebellious one; as
a member of the guard I believe _I'll keep you company_.'
"... I knew better than to object.... That man is a cutthroat beyond
redemption and will hesitate at nothing to satisfy his lust....
That'll be _fine_,' I rejoined; 'YOU STAY WITH ME; the rest of the men
are dismissed!'... when the men disappeared I made a run and jump at
my diabolical 'comrade' and struck him squarely on the nose. Then I
smashed him on the mouth, and, with a down drive of my left, I bored
into the pit of his stomach and sent him sprawling on the carpet,
where he BLED as profusely as a corn-fed bull.... This blood was
exactly what I wanted, and in my anxiety to make a good job of it I
kicked him several times in the face until he lay there, motionless
and senseless, bleeding from every gash.... In the joy of giving this
remorseless bully what he needed to overcome his pride I OVERLOOKED
ENTIRELY THE PROPRIETY OF MAKING HIM BLEED IN ALL THE OTHER ROOMS....
This little oversight may cost me a well-earned reputation for
efficient management I have hitherto enjoyed among many great men
of our times, if the omission be detected by some enterprising
commission, some journalist or SERVICE man who will certainly check up
my report if I leave this place alive...."