"Shut up," growled the man between his teeth, "or you'll be in the same box. I want that money. I perilled my life to get it, and I intend to have it."
"Suppose I don't give it up."
"Then I'll accuse you as having killed the man and woman. You cannot defend yourself against my evidence."
"But, you wretch, it is you who are the assassin."
"I may admit as much to you," sneered the man, "as you don't know who I am, and never will."
"Won't I!" Vass flung himself on top of the miscreant and overset him, chair and all, on the ground. The man muttered an oath, and pulled out a long knife; but before he could use it Torry had rushed forward with his two men and Darrel. In the twinkling of an eye the man was disarmed and prone on his back. He cursed horribly, and whimpered between his curses.
"Fetch a light here," cried Torry, "and we'll learn who this murderer is."
Darrel slipped the slide back of a dark lantern, and turned the blaze full on their prisoner. He was dark-haired and black-bearded, and looked more like a shaggy wild bear than a man.
"I don't know him," said Frank to Torry.
"You will in a moment," cried Torry. "I'll swear it is Leighbourne."