"Keep still," I said fiercely. "I mean you no harm; but if you try to resist, I'll plunge this into your heart as surely as there is a living God."
At that moment came the cries behind us which I had feared; and the driver began to check the horses.
"Tell him to drive on, or you'll not live another second," I hissed, releasing my grip on his throat so that he could speak.
He hesitated and I raised the knife higher as if to strike.
"It's all right, Fritz. Get on as fast as you can," he called.
I drew a breath of intense relief. I had him now, and he was in deadly fear for his life. I ran my hand quickly over him and found his revolver and took it.
"Have you a knife?" His hand went to it. "Throw it on the front seat there."
He obeyed me and I tossed it out of the window. Then I sat down opposite to him and let him get back his scared wits.
He stared at me helplessly cowed by the suddenness of the attack and overawed by the weapon with which I kept him covered. I, in my turn, watched him quite as closely while I considered what line to take.
That he was going to von Felsen I had convinced myself; and I meant to go with him if I had to compel him to lead the way with my pistol at his head. But I had no wish to use force if any other means could be found.