“Break down the door! Break it down with your musket butts!”
As the butts of the muskets pounded against the heavy mahogany panels, Arrelsford cried out in great surprise:
“What did you say?”
In his astonishment, he did not notice a swift movement Thorne made toward the door.
“You want them in, don’t you?” the soldier said, as he approached the door. “It is locked and——”
But Arrelsford recovered himself a little and again presented his revolver.
“Stand where you are,” he cried, but Thorne by this time had reached the door.
“Smash it down, Sergeant!” he cried. “What are you waiting for! Batter it down!”
The next moment the door gave way with a crash, and into the room poured the guard. The grizzled old Sergeant had scarcely stepped inside the room when Thorne shouted in tones of the fiercest authority, pointing at Arrelsford:
“Arrest that man!”