" Will you
promise to spare his life? Will you swear to let him go, if I--"
"No, no, never! God forbid!" implored Baldos.
"Ha, ha!" chuckled the man in the cloak. "Spare his life! Oh, yes; after
my master has revelled in your charms. How do you like that, my handsome
goathunter?"
"You infernal scoundrel! I'll settle you yet!" Baldos fairly fumed with
rage. Gathering himself together for a final effort, he rushed madly on
his rapidly-weakening antagonist.
"Baldos!" she cried hopelessly and in a tone of resignation. "I must do
it! It is the only way!"
The man in the cloak as well as Baldos was deceived by the girl's
cry. He immediately lowered his sword. The lantern dropped from
Beverly's hands and clattered to the floor. At the same instant she drew
from her pocket her revolver, which she had placed there before leaving
the castle, and fired point blank at him. The report sounded like a
thunder clap in their ears. It was followed quickly by a sharp cry and
imprecation from the lips of her persecutor, who fell, striking his head
with a terrible force on the stones.
Simultaneously, there was a groan and the noise of a limp body slipping
to the ground, and, Baldos, victor at last, turned in fear and trembling
to find Beverly standing unhurt staring at the black mass at her feet.
"Thank God! You are safe!" Grasping her hand he led her out of the
darkness into the moonlight.
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