DEEPER STILL
So startled was Geoffrey that he felt the moisture spurt from every pore
like a rash. But, fully conscious of his danger, he suppressed the cry
that rose to his lips, nor did he move as he felt a thick cloak thrown
over his head. He slipped his revolver into his hand and fumbled it
against the cold cheek of his antagonist.
But the antagonist took it coolly. A pair of lips were close to
Geoffrey's ear and the smallest, faintest voice spelt out the letters,
T-c-h-i-g-o-r-s-k-y. Geoffrey put the weapon back in his pocket. At the
same time he felt about till his fingers touched the hand of his
companion. No doubt about it. The other was Tchigorsky beyond question.
Perhaps he had been testing Geoffrey's courage and resolution; perhaps
the danger had deepened unexpectedly.
Presently the light of the lantern popped up again, in response to some
subtle signal, and once more the conspirators moved on to the vault
above. Tchigorsky lifted his head.
"Where are they going?" Geoffrey asked.
Tchigorsky responded with one of his diabolical chuckles.
"They imagine that they are going into the castle," he said. "But they
are not going to accomplish that part of the program."
"But what do they want there?"
"What should they want? You know something of those now whose business
it is to wipe you out root and branch. More artistic methods having
failed, they may deem it necessary to fall back on more vulgar plans.
There are five people sleeping in the castle--six with your Uncle
Ralph--who stand in the way. It is possible if the fiends are lucky that
the castle may be devoid of life by daybreak."
Geoffrey could not repress a shudder.
"Fiends, indeed!" he said. "But why not stop it? Why not let them enter
and then take them all red-handed?"
"What could we gain by that? We could not connect them with past crimes!
At worst they would get a few months in gaol as suspects. When the time
comes we must smash them all. And the time is coming."
Tchigorsky rose as if to go.
"I follow them," he said, "you remain here, in the darkness. And if any
one attempts to pass you do not let him do so. Don't forget this thing.
At all hazards you are not to let any one pass."
Geoffrey nodded as Tchigorsky passed on his way. For a long time all was
quiet, and then from above there came a startled cry followed by the
sound of strife and a scream of pain and terror. It was all that
Geoffrey could do to restrain himself from yelling in response and
rushing to the spot. Then he became conscious that somebody was coming
rapidly through the cave. He reached out his hand and grabbed at and
caught a sinewy, slippery brown ankle.
It only needed that touch to tell Geoffrey that he was at grips with the
native. Down the fellow came on the slippery rocks, and the next instant
the two were engaged in a life or death struggle.
Young, strong, vigorous as he was, his muscle knitted like iron with
healthy exercise, Geoffrey knew that he had met his match. The native
had a slight advantage of him in point of years; he was greased from
head to foot, rendering a grip difficult, and his flying robe came
asunder like cobwebs at the first strain. He fought with the _abandon_
of a man who is reckless of life.
Over and over on the slippery rocks they rolled, each striving to get
the other by the throat. By this time they were both breathing thick and
fast, and Geoffrey's mind began to wander toward his revolver. But to
release his grip to get that might be fatal. He could hear his
antagonist gasping as he rolled off a ledge of rock, and then Geoffrey
lifted his opponent's head and brought it down with a bang on the
granite.
In the very instant of his triumph something whistled behind him, and a
jagged piece of stone came smashing on to his temple.
He had a confused view of a native on his feet again, fast hurrying
away, heard the rustle of garments and a further rustle of more
garments, and then his arm was closed upon a female figure whom he
pulled to the ground by his side.
He felt the woman open her lips to scream, but he clapped his hand over
her mouth.
"No, you don't," he said grimly. "One of you has escaped and my friend
the nigger has had a narrow escape, but I've got you, my lady. I've got
you safe and I don't mean to let you go."
He felt the slight figure in his arms tremble and palpitate; he heard
voices above. Once more the slim figure shivered. His hand was torn from
her mouth and the woman spoke.
"They are calling you," she said; "for God's sake let me go, Geoffrey."
For an instant Geoffrey was too dazed and stunned to speak.
"Marion?" he gasped presently. "Marion?"
Marion cowered down, sobbing bitterly.
"You are surprised," she said. "No wonder. You wonder what I am doing
here and I will tell you presently. But not now; I will place my secret
in your hands; I will disguise nothing from you. For the present leave
me."
"Leave you here! Impossible!"
"But I am safe, quite safe, Geoffrey. Oh, if you have any feeling for
one of the most miserable creatures in the world, leave me. Tell them
above that those abandoned wretches have gone, that no sign of them
remains. Consider what I have suffered and am suffering for your family,
and try to help me."
Conscious of his own weakness, Geoffrey pondered. He might be doing a
serious injury to the delicate plans formed by Ralph Ravenspur, but he
had given the promise and there was an end of the matter.
Marion was in some way bound up with these people, but Marion was pure
as the angels and Marion would do no wrong. Why, then, should her good
name be dragged in the mire?
"You are so good, so good to me," Marion murmured. "Go before they
become alarmed at your silence and leave me here. Say that you saw
nothing. And when the house is quiet I shall make my way back again."
Geoffrey retired upwards without further words. In the basement of the
castle he found Tchigorsky and Ralph Ravenspur.
"They managed to elude you?" asked the former.
Geoffrey pointed to the ugly bruise on the side of his head.
"Yes," he said, "they both got away. But for this bit of an accident
fighting in the dark I might have captured the dusky conspirator."
"Rather you had not, on the whole," Ralph said. "Something gave them the
alarm as they reached the passages. Of course their idea was to murder
some or all of us in our beds, and our idea was to take them in the act.
But they got the alarm and vanished. One of the fellows attacked me in
the shrubbery just before dark, but I fancy he will not do it again."
"I saw him," said Geoffrey. "He came to Mrs. May's for assistance. She
pretended that I was mistaken, but she had to give in at last when
circumstances became too strong for her. How did you manage to deal him
that blow on the head, uncle?"
Ralph smiled grimly.
"I have my own means of protection," he said. "What became of the
fellow?"
Geoffrey explained all that had happened during and after the dinner at
Jessop's farm. His two listeners followed his statement with flattering
interest. Yet all the time Geoffrey was listening intently for signs of
Marion. Was she still in the vaults or had she managed to slip away to
her bedroom? The thought of the delicate girl down there in the darkness
and cold was by no means pleasant.
"We have managed to make a mess of it to-night," said Ralph. "How those
people contrived to discover that there was danger afoot I can't
understand. But one thing is certain, they will not be content to leave
things as they are. They may try the same thing again or their efforts
may take a new and more ingenious direction."
"Which direction we shall discover," said Tchigorsky. "Can you let me
out here, or shall I go by the same means that I entered?"
To Geoffrey's relief Ralph volunteered to open the hall door for his
friend.
"Come this way," he said. "All the bolts and bars have been oiled and
will make no noise."
They slipped away quietly together. Geoffrey listened intently. He
fancied that he could hear footsteps creeping up the stairs, and in the
corridor a door softly closed. Then Ralph Ravenspur came back again.
"Tchigorsky has gone," he said. "After this it will be necessary for us
to vary our plan of campaign a little. You have learned something
to-night. You know now that our antagonists are two Indians and a woman
who is dangerous as she is lovely and fascinating. Ah, what a woman she
is!"
"Who is she?" Geoffrey asked.
"Ah, that I cannot tell you. You must be content to wait. I do not want
you to know too much, and then there is no chance of your being taken
off your guard. When the surprise comes it will be a dramatic one. The
more you see of that woman and the more you cultivate her the more you
will find to wonder at."
"But can I cultivate her after to-night?"
"Why not? She does not know the extent of your knowledge; she has not
the remotest idea that you have been helping to foil her schemes. Next
time she will meet you as if nothing had happened."
Geoffrey thought of Marion and was silent. That one so pure and sweet
should be mixed up with a creature like that was horrible. Ralph
Ravenspur rose with a yawn. He seemed to have lapsed into his wooden
state. He felt his way down the big flagged hall toward the staircase.
"We can do nothing more," he said. "I am going to bed. Good-night."
The door closed and then Geoffrey was free to act. He could go down into
the vault and bring Marion up. But first he would try to ascertain if
she was in her room. He passed up the stairs and along the corridor.
Outside Marion's door he coughed gently.
The door opened and Marion stood there clad in a fair white wrap, with
her glorious hair hanging free over her shoulders. Her eyes were full of
tears.
"Geoff," she whispered. "Geoff, dear Geoff."
She fell into his arms, and pressed her lips long and clingingly to his.
Her hole frame was quivering with mingled love and emotion. Then she
snatched herself away from his embrace and, with the single whispered
word, "To-morrow," closed the door behind her.