“WILL YOU dry up?”
The man sank back against the wall in silent terror.
“Open that door now—softly.”
Manuel obeyed with trembling fingers.
“Ned” said Lee in a low voice, “bring him in here—quick.”
There was a slight rustle, and Falkner appeared, backing in another gasping figure, whose eyes were starting under the strong grasp of the captor at his throat.
“Silence,” said Lee, “all of you.”
There was a breathless pause. The sound of a door hesitatingly opened in the passage broke the stillness, followed by the gentle voice of Mrs. Scott.
“Is anything the matter?”
Lee made a slight gesture of warning to Falkner, of menace to the others. “Everything's the matter,” he called out cheerily. “Ned's managed to half pull down the house trying to get at something from my saddle-bags.”