He spat
some blood on the carpet, then looked at his captors, the devil
in his eyes.
"Proceed to kill me and have done," he said.
"Kill you? No, no!"
"I advise you to, for if you do not kill me, some day I shall be
free again, and then God help some of you."
Maurice gazed at the candles on the table, and smiled.
"I'm sorry they dragged you into it, Maurice," said Fitzgerald.
"I'm glad they did. What you want is company." There was a
glance, swift as light. It went to the mantel, then passed to
the captive. "Well," said Maurice, "what is next on your damned
program?"
"The other side of the frontier."
"Maybe," said Maurice.
With an unexpected movement he sent the table over, the lights
went out; and he had judged the distance so accurately that he
felt his hands close over the revolvers.
"The door! the door!" a voice bawled. "Knock down any one who
attempts to pass."
This was precisely what Maurice desired. With the soldiers
massed about the door, he would be free to liberate Fitzgerald;
which he did. He had scarcely completed the task, when a flame
spurted up. The leader fearlessly lit a candle and righted the
table.
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