"You are in a serious fix," continued Hélène. "Joking won't help you any. I've tried to make you boys understand that the Boches were merciful enemies compared to us. We don't recognize civilization. For us it doesn't exist. We have gone back to primal principles. Now we've got you, and you've got to talk."
"Words, words," lamented Hilmi viciously. "Let Toutou take his knife to them. That will do the trick."
Tokalji evidently understood the purport of this, for he rasped a quick assent. Toutou flashed a long, stiletto-like blade, and stepped toward us.
"I'll carve them," he purred. "They do not look now as they will when I have finished with them. Ha, yes, Toutou's knife knows the way to truth. Soon they will be asking to die."
But Hilyer jumped in front of him. The Englishman's thin face was aflame with temper.
"I'll stand for a good deal," he said, "but I won't permit torture. You are a fool, Toutou. You'd only kill them the way you did the old lord. Here, you people, we must call him off. He'll spoil the whole show."
Sandra backed him up, and compelled her brother somewhat sullenly to join in the protest. But Hilmi Bey and Tokalji energetically took the opposing side.
"They have killed three more of my men," howled the Gypsy. "Shall they sow death through my tribe, and live unharmed?"'
"They shall," declared Hélène calmly.
She stepped beside Toutou, and placed her fingers on his wrist. Her eyes sought his. He snarled in his cat-like fashion, and drew away from her. But she fearlessly came closer to him, and slowly, under the compulsion of her fingers, he returned the knife to its sheath.