Part 20 (1/2)

Hands felt me all over. Things were taken from my pockets, and there were sharp exclamations of surprise. Somebody gave a long, low whistle.

”No bones broken. His eyes are opening. Give me that flash, Gascoigne.”

Someone poured brandy down my throat--I knew it was brandy--and I moved my limbs and groaned.

Then I heard a shout as a door that I could not see was burst open.

”Feddon's killed!” came in a high, excited voice. ”Poor old Feddy's shot through the heart.”

I think it was at this precise moment that I regained full consciousness, and realized that I was not badly hurt. My whole body felt as if it had been severely beaten, but instinct told me that there was no real damage. As for the shock, it was not until several hours afterwards that I felt its effect, though then it meant collapse.

I lay perfectly still, this time by design, and closed my eyes.

Everything had come back to me; I remembered every incident from the moment I had cut the barbed wire to that when I had escaped, by a miracle, death from the returning Pirate s.h.i.+p.

My first thought was one of bitter disappointment. So they had run the gauntlet, after all! The mystery s.h.i.+p had escaped the swarm of cruisers and patrol boats that were looking for her. I believe I ground my teeth with rage. A second afterwards I groaned out loud. The sound was wrung from my very heart. I was too late to rescue Constance now....

All round me there was a buzz of low-pitched voices. Without any trouble at all, I could detect the note of fear and consternation. And it was tonic. My plight seemed desperate enough, but there was a chance yet.

They had taken my weapons from me, but others might prove as valuable.

The pirates were disorganized, alarmed. Well, craft should meet craft!

Surely, the moment was favourable?

I was in a dimly-lit place, surrounded by dark figures. How long I lay thus I do not know, probably for no great s.p.a.ce of time. At any rate, I had not been in full possession of my faculties for many minutes when a door opened, and a voice spoke in accents of authority.

It was a voice that I had never heard before, but I knew whose it was.

”I have made a careful examination of the house,” came in clear, well-bred tones, ”and there is no one there. It is the same outside and all round the fence. I let the dogs loose and they discovered nothing.”

”How did this”--I was kicked brutally in the side--”get in, Chief?”

asked a voice.

”Cut the fence wire, and managed to open the door in the east wall. Then climbed the porch and entered through Feddon's bedroom. The dogs followed the scent and showed. That doesn't matter much now. The point is that he's here.”

”And we know what to deduce from that!” I heard, and p.r.i.c.ked up my ears.

My friend Mr. Vargus had revived then! There was a soft malignancy in his voice that made me shudder.

”Vargus is right. It is fairly certain that the game's up as far as this place is concerned. They've marked us down, sure enough. In a few minutes I shall take steps to find out exactly how much they _do_ know.

Meanwhile we appear to have some time before us, and we must carry out the emergency plan that we've so often rehea.r.s.ed. Gascoigne, Jones and Sutton, Pointz, fill all the petrol tanks to full capacity, load emergency stores, examine and reverse s.h.i.+p. When finished, report to me in my room.”

The men hurried away.

”Philips and Minver get on to the moor and report any man or body of men advancing on the house. You will take rifles and act as outposts. At any sign of approach, don't hesitate to fire. Then fall back on the house.”

”Shall we take the dogs, Chief? They would be useful.”

”No, I shall need them. The rest of you will hold the house till the last moment. Then get into the lift and come down. It will take them some time to find out the way and follow, while one man can hold the pa.s.sages for any length of time. We shall all be fifty miles out at sea before anyone can break in down here, and all the swag is packed ready to go on board. Vargus, you will stay down here and help me in what I've got to do.”

Several other men left the room.

In a lower voice, though I heard every word, Helzephron went on talking to his lieutenant.