‘No, no, keep the dog out!’ cried Lesage in an agony of apprehension.

‘You fool, our only chance is to kill it.’

‘But it is in leash.’

’If it is in leash nothing can save us.  But if, as I think, it is running free, then we may escape yet.’

Lesage cowered up against the table, with his agonised eyes fixed upon the blue-black square of the door.  The man who had befriended me still swayed his body about with a singular half-smile upon his face.  His skinny hand was twitching at the frill of his shirt, and I conjectured that he held some weapon concealed there.  Toussac stood between them and the open door, and, much as I feared and loathed him, I could not take my eyes from his gallant figure.  As to myself, I was so much occupied by the singular drama before me, and by the impending fate of those three men of the cottage, that all thought of my own fortunes had passed completely out of my mind.  On this mean stage a terrible all-absorbing drama was being played, and I, crouching in a squalid recess, was to be the sole spectator of it.  I could but hold my breath and wait and watch.

And suddenly I became conscious that they could all three see something which was invisible to me.  I read it from their tense faces and their staring eyes.  Toussac swung his axe over his shoulder and poised himself for a blow.  Lesage cowered away and put one hand between his eyes and the open door.  The other ceased swinging his spindle legs and sat like a little brown image upon the edge of his box.  There was a moist pattering of feet, a yellow streak shot through the doorway, and Toussac lashed at it as I have seen an English cricketer strike at a ball.  His aim was true, for he buried the head of the hatchet in the creature’s throat, but the force of his blow shattered his weapon, and the weight of the hound carried him backwards on to the floor.  Over they rolled and over, the hairy man and the hairy dog, growling and worrying in a bestial combat.  He was fumbling at the animal’s throat, and I could not see what he was doing, until it gave a sudden sharp yelp of pain, and there was a rending sound like the tearing of canvas.  The man staggered up with his hands dripping, and the tawny mass with the blotch of crimson lay motionless upon the floor.

‘Now!’ cried Toussac in a voice of thunder, ‘now!’ and he rushed from the hut.

Lesage had shrunk away into the corner in a frenzy of fear whilst Toussac had been killing the hound, but now he raised his agonised face, which was as wet as if he had dipped it into a basin.

‘Yes, yes,’ he cried; ’we must fly, Charles.  The hound has left the police behind, and we may still escape.’

But the other, with the same imperturbable face, motionless save for the rhythm of his jaw muscles, walked quietly over and closed the door upon the inside.

‘I think, friend Lucien,’ said he in his quiet voice, ’that you had best stay where you are.’