"I expect you know your way up on to the deck," I remarked. "If you
will excuse me I will be with you almost immediately."
For a second she still wavered. Then with the slightest possible bow
she crossed the cabin, and passed out silently into the passage. I
closed the door behind her.
Only once before in my life, when Bobby and I sighted our first
German submarine, have I felt the same peculiar sensation with which
I turned round and faced Manning. He stood where he was, an amused
and half-mocking smile playing round the corners of his mouth.
"You mustn't let me detain you, Mr. Dryden," he said. "I am sure you
are full of the noblest sentiments, but it would be a pity to keep
the lady waiting."
If his intention was to make me lose my temper it went woefully
astray.
"I shan't be long," I replied. "I am only going to give you a damned
good hiding."
I was looking straight at him as I spoke, and I saw the lightning
glance with which he measured his distance from a small oak sideboard
that was clamped against the wall.
"That's the worst of you primitive people," he drawled slowly, "you
always--" Then suddenly his eyes travelled past me to the door, and
a harsh, exulting cry broke from his lips.
"Go on, Craill," he shouted; "let him have it."
With most men the trick would probably have succeeded, but I was too
old a hand to be caught in that time-honoured fashion. As he sprang
for the sideboard I hurled myself after him, and at the very second
that he wrenched open the drawer my fist crashed home full in his
face. He lurched wildly backwards, and, stumbling over the corner of
the mat, fetched up against the wall with a thud that shook the cabin.
Of the next two minutes I have a glorious but slightly confused
recollection. All the rage which I had been bottling up inside me
seemed to break loose at that first blow, and with a red mist in
front of my eyes I leaped in to finish the business.
Whatever else Manning might be, he was game to the last inch.
Hopelessly cornered, with blood streaming down his face, he yet
fought back at me like a trapped and maddened wolf. He fought, too,
with all the skill of a trained boxer, but science and courage were
little use against the mad fury which had suddenly taken possession
of me.
Keeping him pinned against the wall, I smashed home punch after punch
without even troubling to guard myself. No one could stand up long
under such a hail of punishment, and although he managed to land one
or two blows there was not sufficient force in them to have any
effect on me. At last, with a terrific right-hand jolt just below
the heart, I sent him staggering sideways. He made a desperate
attempt to recover, but, seizing the chance, I let him have my left
bang on the point of the jaw, and down he went on to the carpet--a
sprawling bundle of arms and legs.
For a moment I stood there breathing heavily, my whole being aflame
with savage satisfaction. Stretched out motionless on his back,
Manning presented a pretty ghastly spectacle, but there was not a
spark of pity for him in my heart as I stared down into his battered
and bleeding face. Christine's cry for help, and the thought of poor
Satan creeping back alone to die in the darkness, were still vividly
in my mind, and, turning away, I strode across towards the open
drawer in the oak sideboard.
As I expected, the first thing I saw on looking inside was a
revolver. It was a Smith and Wesson of the heaviest service pattern,
and on taking it out I found that every chamber was loaded. I
wondered grimly what my fate would have been if Manning had succeeded
in reaching the drawer a second earlier. Possibly he had only meant
to protect himself, but in any case the weapon would certainly be
safer in my possession than in his, so, slipping it into my pocket, I
strolled back to where I had left him.
Just as I came up he gave a deep groan and opened his eyes.
"Oh," I said, "you're recovering, are you?"
He gazed at me vaguely, as if only half understanding my words; then
in a sudden rush the full memory of what had happened seemed to
return to him, and with a painful effort he raised himself up on one
elbow.
"Next time you want to insult a girl," I suggested, "you had better
see that the cabin door is properly locked."
Lifting his sleeve, he tried to wipe away some of the blood which was
trickling down his face.
"I always thought you were a fool, Dryden," he said in a faint voice.
"Now I am sure of it." With great difficulty he struggled up a
little farther, and sank back against the wall.
"I know a damned cad when I see one, anyhow," I replied. "Not that
it needed much intelligence in the present case." I walked to the
door, and, pausing on the threshold, took out the revolver. "You
will forgive my borrowing this," I added. "I don't want to be shot
in the back as I leave the barge."
His blue eyes fixed themselves on mine with a cat-like malevolence.
"You might have a worse ending," he said softly. "I am not a very
safe person to quarrel with."
There was a venom in his tone which spoke volumes as to his
sincerity, but unless it was intended to frighten me the warning was
a little superfluous.
"I shan't grumble at the bill," I replied. "I am always ready to pay
well, especially when I have really enjoyed myself."
Then, turning the handle, I stepped out into the passage, and closed
the door behind me.