“Well, Broussard, what is it?”

“All seen to, sir.”

“The bodies are planted then?”

“The men attended to that.”

“And the woman?”

“On her way; there was no trouble.  Sallie had her doped, sir.”

“I expected she would.  Then that finishes our job here, Herman, and the quicker we are off the better.”  The two men arose to their feet, Herman grumbling something in German, but the younger man interrupted.

“We got the fellow after you left, Broussard; hit him a bit too hard it seems, but no one will ever investigate, so it’s just as well.  Adventurer named Craig, just discharged from the army.”

“Where is he?”

“Lying there in the passage behind the door.  Have Peters and Sam bury him along with the others, and then join us.  We ’ll go aboard.”

I shut the door, and started down the passage.  For a dozen steps it was black as night; then there was a sharp swerve to the right, and a gleam of daylight in the far distance.  Already they were at the barrier, and I ran forward recklessly, eager to escape into the open.  The way was clear, the floor rising slightly, yet without obstructions.  I could hear voices, the pounding of feet behind, and I made desperate effort to outdistance my pursuers.  That they were merciless I knew, and my only hope lay in attaining some hiding place in the weeds before they could emerge into the daylight.  I thought of nothing else.  But as I burst, straining and breathless into the open, hands gripped me from both sides.  An instant I struggled to break free, fighting with a mad ferocity, which nearly accomplished the purpose.  I had one down, a bearded ruffian, planting my fist full in his face, and sent the other groaning backward with a kick in the stomach, when the three from within burst forth and flung me face down into the earth, and pinned me flat beneath their weight.  An instant later Broussard’s belt was strapped tightly, binding my hands helplessly to my sides, and I was hurled over so that I stared up blindly into the face of the fellow in command.  His black eyes were sneering, while the unpleasant smile revealed a row of white teeth.

“Great God, man,” he exclaimed, “you must have the skull of an elephant.  Are you actually alive?”

“Very much so,” I gasped, defiant still.

“Maybe I finish heem, Monsieur,” questioned Broussard, with knee still planted on my chest.  “Then he not talk, hey?”

The leader laughed, with a wave of the hand.  “You take the fellow far too seriously.  Let him up.  I ’ll find a way to close his mouth if it ever be necessary.  Besides, he knows nothing to do any harm.  A bit groggy, my man.  Hold him on his feet, you fellows.”

I stood helpless, my arms bound, gripped tightly on either side, gazing full into the villain’s face; out of the depth of despair and defeat there had come an animating ray of hope—­they were going to take me with them.  Even as a prisoner I should be near her.  Would yet be able to dig out the truth.