CHAPTER XXIX
GENERAL KOLFORT TO THE RESCUE
As I stood in a last second of desperate thought I
heard the crash of glass, and I knew the men were
breaking into the house; and I knew, too, that another
minute would see them in the room where I should be
caught red-handed. The instant General Kolfort returned
to consciousness he would be the first to denounce
me, despite the fact that I had saved him from
death. He would only too gladly use against me the
awful proofs of my apparent guilt which the mad
woman had afforded by her self-murder. It was just
such a chance as he would welcome.
I dared not leave him behind me.
I seized him, and, tearing with the strength of passion at his bonds, tugged and wrenched until I freed his hands and lifted him in my arms. He was still faint, though I detected now the signs of returning consciousness. Then I extinguished the light, darted with him through the entrance into the secret passage, and, clapping a hand over his mouth that he should utter no sound when his senses came back, I drew my revolver, and peering through the glass into the dark room, stood at bay, resolved to sell my life dearly, whatever chanced.
But I had secured a magnificent hostage for ultimate freedom, could I only get through this mess. It would all turn on what happened when the General's men
