"All--all right," she choked out as she started to close the door after
him.
"Halt! You are our prisoner!"
The words rang out sharply in the silence of the night. Instinctively,
Beverly made an attempt to close the door; but she was too late. Two
burly, villainous looking men, sword in hand, blocked the exit and
advanced upon them.
"Back! Back!" Baldos shouted to Beverly, drawing his sword.
Like a flash, she picked up the lantern and sprang out of his
way. Capture or worse seemed certain; but her heart did not fail her.
"Put up your sword! You are under arrest!" came from the foremost of
the two. He had heard enough of Baldos's skill with the sword to hope
that the ruse might be successful and that he would surrender peaceably
to numbers. The men's instructions were to take their quarry alive if
possible. The reward for the man, living, exceeded that for him dead.
Baldos instantly recognized them as spies employed by Marlanx. They had
been dogging his footsteps for days and even had tried to murder him,
The desire for vengeance was working like madness in his blood. He was
overjoyed at having them at the point of his sword. Beverly's presence
vouchsafed that he would show little mercy.
"Arrest me, you cowardly curs!" he exclaimed. "Never!" With a spring to
one side, he quickly overturned one of the casks and pushing it in front
of him, it served as a rolling bulwark, preventing a joint attack.
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