Part 25 (1/2)

”In about ten minutes that felloill come back this way He follows the little path that winds down--but never mind Stay where you are, and don't make a sound, no matter what happens Understand? No matter what happens!” He arose and swiftly, noiselessly, stole away froht, either saw or iined that he saw, the shadowy hulk press forward for a dozen paces and then apparently dissolve in black air

Several minutes went by There was not a sound save the restless patter of rain in the tree tops At last the faraway thud of footsteps came to the ears of the tense listener They drew nearer, louder, and oncethe very spot where he crouched He had the uncanny feeling that in a moment or two more the foot of the sentinel would coid body, and that he would not have the power to suppress the yell of dismay that--

Then caasp, a ain silence Barnes's blood ran cold He waited for the next footfall of the passing man It never came

A sharp whisper reached his ears ”Coh the brush and alure of a man

”Take care! Lend a hand,” whispered Sprouse

Dropping to his knees, Barnes felt for and touched wet, coarse garasped:

”My God! Have you--killed him?”

”Temporarily,” said Sprouse, between his teeth ”Here, unwind the rope I've got around my waist Take the end--here Got a knife? Cut off a section about three feet long I'll get the gag in his rewsoth”

With incredible swiftness the two of them bound the feet, knees and arms of the inert victim

”I came prepared,” said Sprouse, so calmly that Barnes marvelled at the iron nerve of the man

”Thirty feet of hes,--and a sound silencer”

”By heaven, Sprouse, I--I believe he's dead,” groaned Barnes ”We--we haven't any right to kill a--”

”He'll be as much alive but not as lively as a cricket in ten minutes,”

said the other ”Grab his heels We'll chuck him over into the bushes where he'll be out of harm's way We may have to run like hell down this path, partner, and I'd--I'd hate to step on his face”

”'Gad, you're a cold-blooded--”

”Don't be finicky,” snapped Sprouse ”It wasn't much of a crack, and it was necessary There! You're safe for the tirunted as they laid the limp body down in the brush at the side of the narrow trail Straightening up, with a sigh of satisfaction, he laid his hand on Barnes's shoulder ”We've just got to go through with it now, Barnes We'll never get another chance Putting that fellow out of business queers us forever afterward” He dropped to his knees and began searching over the ground with his hands ”Here it is You can't see it, of course, so I'll tell you what it is A nice little block of sandal-wood I've already got his nice little hammer, so we'll see e can raise in the way of wireless chit-chat”

Without the slightest hesitation, he struck a succession of quick, confident blows upon the block of wood

”He always signals at this spot going out and again co in,” he said softly

”How the deuce did you find out--”

”There! Hear that? He says, 'All's well,'--sa equivalent to it I've been up here quite a bit, Barnes, e”

”By gad, you are a wonder!”

”Wait till to-morrow before you say that,” replied Sprouse, sententiously ”Coot to land the other one” For five or sixinstructions, trod heavily and without any attempt at caution His companion, on the other hand, moved with incredible stealthiness A listener would have said that but onesharply to the right, Sprouse guided his coh the brush for soain he stole on ahead, and, as before, the slow, confident, even careless progress of a man ceased as abruptly as that of the comrade who lay helpless in the thicket below