Part 3 (2/2)
”Bandits, no doubt!”
”Yes, bandits, if you will, but valiant men all the same. We prospered exceedingly and imagined that our career could be continued with impunity as long as we might desire; in this, however, we were sadly mistaken, for one fatal night the Greek soldiery suddenly descended upon us and hemmed us in on every side ere we were aware of their presence.
We fought none the less desperately on that account, and in the sanguinary conflict all my companions were slain. I was grievously wounded and left for dead, but the following day managed to crawl to the beach and contrived to be conveyed hither, having learned by accident that the great lord of the Island of Salmis was no other than my old friend of happier days, the Count of Monte-Cristo, in short, yourself.
Now, you know my story. I am a fugitive here as in France, and need your aid to enable me to escape.”
”You want money?”
”Yes.”
”How much?”
”A million of francs!”
”Man!” cried Monte-Cristo, breathless with astonishment at Benedetto's audacious demand, ”you are out of your senses! I will give you a thousand francs, but not a sou more!”
”Beware how you trifle with a desperate man!” hissed Benedetto.
”What have I to fear?” said Monte-Cristo, calmly. ”You are alone.”
”I am not alone, Count of Monte-Cristo; my stout-hearted friends of the Island of Kylo are with me, and ready to support my demand!”
”Then you lied to me; your story was a base fabrication.”
”Partly, Count; but enough of this--I want the million of francs; it is a small sum for you to spare an old friend, who did you as much service as Prince Andrea Cavalcanti! Are you going to give me the money?”
”I am not!” replied Monte-Cristo, drawing his revolver from his belt and c.o.c.king it.
”Ho! ho!” laughed Benedetto, mockingly, ”that's your game, is it? Again I tell you to beware how you trifle with a desperate man!”
At the repet.i.tion of this phrase, as if it had been a preconcerted signal, a dozen stalwart figures started up from the darkness and surrounded Monte-Cristo, who instantly discharged his weapon right and left among them. Several of the bandits fell, pierced by the b.a.l.l.s, and Benedetto, with a loud oath, leaped at the Count's throat, brandis.h.i.+ng a long, keen-bladed dagger above his head.
Raising his empty revolver, Monte-Cristo with a hand of iron struck his on-coming a.s.sailant full in the face, stretching him instantly at his feet; but scarcely had he accomplished this when three of the bandits sprang upon him and hurled him to the earth beside Benedetto.
”Now,” cried one of the miscreants with a frightful curse, at the same time placing the muzzle of a pistol at the Count's temple, ”now, my lord of Salmis, your time has come!”
As he was about to fire, there arose a tremendous shout, and, headed by Ali, who swung aloft a Turkish yataghan, the entire force of Monte-Cristo's servants, armed to the teeth, swept down upon the astonished bandits. At the same instant a pistol-shot rang out, and the man who had threatened to take the Count's life fell to the ground a corpse. As Monte-Cristo regained his feet he saw Esperance standing a short distance away, the smoking weapon with which he had just killed his father's would-be murderer still clenched in his boyish hand. The struggle that ensued was of short duration, for the bandits, finding themselves outnumbered, speedily fled to their boats, leaving their wounded comrades behind them.
When the Count realized that Esperance, his beloved son, had saved him from death, he rushed to the heroic lad, took him in his arms and bore him beyond the reach of danger; this done, he returned to aid Ali and the servants, but they were already victors and in full possession of the field.
A search was made for the body of Benedetto, but it had disappeared.
CHAPTER III.
THE CONFLAGRATION.
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