He fought, but their numbers were overwhelming. Like a pack of wolves they pulled him down.
Locke was quickly bound with ropes and forced into the engine-case. The cover was put on and they nailed it down solidly. To make it doubly sure this time the case was then lashed with ropes and they were knotted.
Next the emissaries carried the case to a sloping landing stage, preparatory to casting it into the river.
It was at this moment that Eva came running down the dock in wild search to intercept Locke. Wide-eyed, in the moonlight, she paused at what she saw.
The emissaries had given the packing-case its final shove. Scraping, it slid down the incline and toppled overboard. There was a great splash as it struck the water and immediately began to sink in the depths.
The engine exhaust had evidently protruded from the case, as there was a hole in its side slightly larger than a man's hand. To Eva's horror, though she had half expected it, she saw actually a hand thrust forth from this hole as if waving frantically.
The box sank lower as it rapidly filled with water.
Eva knew not what to do. Instinctively she knew that it was Locke. It was as though he had waved a last farewell.
Only the hand now showed above the surface. Finally that, too, disappeared beneath the waves.
Despairingly she turned to see if there was anything on the dock with which she might help Locke—and she saw the Automaton himself advancing from the shore toward her. She turned. The emissaries on the other end of the dock cut off any chance in that direction.