CHAPTER XIX
THE END OF BOOLBA
Cherry Bim, the last of the party to enter the room, made a dash for the door, and came face to face with the levelled rifle held in the hands of a soldier who had evidently been waiting the summons of Boolba's shout. Behind him were three other men. Cherry dropped to the ground as the man's rifle went off, shooting as he fell, and the man tumbled down. Scrambling to his feet, he burst through the doorway like a human cannon ball, but not even his nimble guns could save him this time. The hall was full of soldiers, and they bore him down by sheer weight.
They dragged him into the refectory, bleeding, and the diversion at any rate had had one good effect. Only Boolba was there, roaring and raging, groping a swift way round the walls, one hand searching, the other guiding.
"Where are they?" he bellowed. "Come to me, my little beauty. Hay! I will burn alive. Where are they?"
"Little Commissary," said the leader of the soldiers, "she is not here. They did not pass out."
"Search, search!" shouted Boolba, striking at the man. "Search, you pig!"