Page:The Prisoner of Zenda.djvu/106

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THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.

He cautiously closed the open chink of the door, Then we retreated through the house and made our way to the back entrance. Here our horses were standing. A carriage drive swept all around the lodge.

"Revolver ready?" asked Sapt.

"No; steel for me," said I.

"Gad, you're thirsty to-night," chuckled Sapt "So be it."

We mounted, drawing our swords, and waited silently for a minute or two. Then we heard the tramp of men on the drive the other side of the house. They came to a stand, and one cried:

"Now, then, fetch him out!"

"Now!" whispered Sapt.

Driving the spurs into our horses, we rushed at a gallop round the house, and in a moment we were among the ruffians. Sapt told me afterward that he killed a man, and I believe him; but I saw no more of him. With a cut I split the head of a fellow on a brown horse, and he fell to the ground. Then I found myself opposite a big man, and I was half conscious of another to my right. It was too