He had insisted upon having this post, one that none of the brigands envied him—so that he might gloat over his victims at the last hour.
The two boys were aroused with some difficulty, for strange though it may appear, they were sleeping soundly when the fatal moment approached.
"Come," said the girl, in a hollow voice. "Lirico is already on the ground."
"We mustn't be behindhand then."
"No," added Harry Girdwood; "they must see how Englishmen can face death."
And then, led by the girl who had, to her sorrow, brought them to this dire pass, they came to the spot where the tragedy was to take place.
Lirico, the traitor, was already pinioned, and he stood with his eyes bandaged upon the edge of the grave which was shortly to receive his lifeless body.
Upon either side of this was a newly-dug trench or grave.
One of these was for young Jack.
The other was for his stout-hearted comrade.