The turn of affairs had appalled him.
“M. Vastic,” he began in low hoarse trembling voice.
“Silence, M. Drexel,” thundered the leader. “This is now my affair. It is your part to obey. Now, mademoiselle, the time is run out. I give you a last chance to be——”
The sentence was never finished, for as he spoke Helga gave a great cry, and I dashed through the window, dealt the man near me a blow on the head with my revolver which felled him, and the next moment I had Vastic covered.
“Hands up, you. I’ve heard what you said,” I cried.
“M. Denver,” exclaimed Drexel.
Vastic turned on me instantly, full of fight, and with the quickness of light raised his revolver to take aim.
It was his life or mine, and without a second’s hesitation I fired and shot him.
The fraction of a second decided it. His pistol went off almost simultaneously. But the bullet went wide, for mine was in his brain, and he was already staggering.
There was a scuffle behind me, and another shot was fired by the man I had knocked down. I turned on him, but he was too quick for me and with a cry sprang out into the darkness.