“We shall take you all four to the police office at Schirmskad,” he decided.
I had not the least intention of letting him do anything of the kind; but my unwillingness was as smoke to fire compared with that of the woman and her husband. She broke out into a violent tirade swearing she was innocent and would not go.
“Resist at your peril,” cried the chief in a loud ringing tone; and he and his man drew their revolvers.
There was a moment of dead silence. My eyes were on the chief, and I saw a shadow of perplexity cloud his face. I read it to mean that he had his doubts how to get us all four away if we resisted.
It was a queer turn of the wheel that Volna and I should have to make common cause with the wretches who had attempted our lives. I did not wish them to escape; but our own escape was much more to us than their capture at that moment; and like the chief I was thinking intently what to do.
Glancing round the room his eye fell on the two ropes.
“Hand me those cords,” he said to me, curtly.
“I am no police agent,” I shot back.
“I call on you to help me.”
“You forget; you have arrested me. You must do your own work.”