The Dark House Part 21

Be a coward, or, now that the opportunity had come, make a bold effort to capture these intruders?

Three to one. Yes; but he was in the fort, and they had to attack, and could he secure one, bribery or punishment would make him tell all.

There was the sound going on at the window, which was resisting the efforts, and, with palpitating heart and heavy breathing, Capel asked himself the questions again. Should he be cowardly, or brave, and make a daring effort to gain that which was his, from the information these people could give?

There was a grating and clicking still going on as he stepped cautiously across the room, the sound guiding him to the stand where his uncle's old East India uniform and accoutrements were grouped, and the next minute his hands rested upon a pistol.

Useless, for it was old-fas.h.i.+oned and uncharged.

That was better! His hand touched the ivory hilt of the curved sabre.

For a time the blade refused to leave its sheath; then it gave way a little, and he drew it forth, laid the scabbard on the floor, pa.s.sed his hand through the wrist-knot, and thought that he would have to strike hard, for a cavalry sabre is generally round-edged and blunt.

As he thought of this, he touched the edge of the sword with his thumb, to find that this was no regulation blade, but a keen-edged tulwar, set in an English hilt, and, armed with this, Paul Capel felt himself fully a match for those who were working away at the window, which did not yield.

_Creak_--_Crack_--_Crack_!

The catch flew back, and there was a pause, during which Capel drew near with the blade thrown over his left shoulder, ready for delivering the first cut at the man who entered.

Then the window glided up, the great curtain was drawn by an arm in his direction, partly covering him, and a light flashed across the room.

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

A BLANK ADVENTURE.

The light played on the blade of the keen-edged sword, as if it were phosph.o.r.escent, but the lambent quivering was not seen by the holder of the lantern, who hid Capel with his own hand as the light was flashed upon the bed and into the corners of the room, and then turned off.

"All right, boys," was whispered, and a man swung himself into the room.

"Be quick, and shut the window."

A second man crept softly in, and the third was half in, when he slipped, threw out his hand to save himself, struck against one of his companions and drove him back against the curtain and upon Capel.

"Light! Barkers! Some one here."

Capel heard the words, saw the flash, and struck at the hand that held it.

The blade fell heavily upon the lantern and dashed it to the floor, where it went out.

Raising the sword he struck again, but as he did so, one of the men sprang at him, and the blow that fell was upon the fellow's shoulder, and with the hilt of the sword.

Capel was borne back by the man's fierce spring, his feet became entangled in the curtain and he fell heavily, with his adversary upon him.

"Quick, Morris," whispered a voice.

"No, no. Curse you. Shut the window. There's only one. Where's your matches? Quick, light the glim! Ah, would you? Lie still and bite that. You just move again and I'll pull the trigger."

The barrel of a revolver had been thrust between Capel's teeth, and as he lay back with the man on his chest, half stunned, helpless and despairing, he saw indistinctly the figure against the window, heard the sash slide down, and the darkness was complete as the curtain was drawn over the panes. Then there was the faint streak of light as a match was struck, the bull's-eye lantern was picked up and re-lit, and the bright rays once more played all about the room.

The man who held it then went to the door and listened.

"It's all right," he whispered. "You said n.o.body can't hear what goes on in this room. These curtains would suffocate a trumpet. Here, you,"

he cried to the third man, "don't stand s.h.i.+vering like that. Take that carving-knife out of his hand. Pull the trigger, d.i.c.k, if he stirs."

This to the man kneeling on Capel's chest.

Capel lay absolutely powerless at that moment; but, as the third fellow caught him by the wrist, the young man wrenched his head on one side, and heaved himself up, so that he partially dislodged the ruffian who held him down. At the same time he swung the sabre round, driving the third back, and striking the princ.i.p.al adversary so sharp a blow that he slipped aside, and Capel leaped to his feet.

At that moment the light was turned off, and there was a rush made to get beyond his reach.

Capel also took advantage of the total darkness to step back, but he held the weapon ready for a cut, should an attack be made.

As he stood there, panting, a low whisper rose from the direction of the door, and he just caught its import, "Give me the light."

There was a click directly after, and then from about the middle of the room the dazzling light of the bull's-eye shone out full upon Capel as he stood with upraised sword, while his a.s.sailants were in the dark.

"Now, then," said the voice which he recognised as that of the man who had held the pistol to his mouth, "throw down that tool."

"Give up, you scoundrel!" cried Capel. "You can't escape."

"Can't we?" said the man, between his teeth, "More can't you. Now, then, will you throw down that sword?"

"No," said Capel, furiously. "You've walked into a trap, so give up."

"Go on," said the voice of the lesser man.

At that moment there was a bright flash of light, a sharp report, and Capel felt a sensation as if he had been struck a violent blow on the left shoulder, which half spun him round, while the round, glistening disc of light seemed to have darted back to the side of the bed.

Half stunned, but full of fight, Capel turned and made for the light once more, when there was another flash, a quick shot, and this time the blow seemed to have fallen on the top of his head, and, stunned and helpless, the sword dropped from his hand, and he fell on a chair, and from that on to the floor.

"You've killed him! You've killed him!"

"Good job, too. Think I wanted my skin turned into pork crackling with that sword? Hold yer row, will yer, or--"

"We shall be taken and hung. Oh, my arm!"

"Look here, my dear pal," said the little man; "if you want to preach, just wait till this job's done. Throw the light on the door, d.i.c.k."

"I dunno which is doors and which is windows, with all these curtains.

Oh, that's it, is it? Quiet, will you?"

He stood listening attentively. "It's all right. There isn't a sound."

"Let's go then, at once."

"What, empty? Not me, eh, d.i.c.k?"

"'Taint likely. Wait till I've got two more cartridges in. That's it-- Now then, business."