“Char—!”
Before the sound could leave his lips Harrison had him by the throat like a tiger, forcing him back against a tree. Tom hit out savagely into the man’s face, but that iron grip seemed to choke the life out of his body. His head swam; everything turned black before him. For an instant the throttling grasp relaxed, and then he received a fearful blow on the head, that sent him plunging down, it seemed into darkness. As he fell he was scarcely aware of another shattering blow, and he knew nothing whatever afterward.
CHAPTER IX
VICTORY
The next hours were blank for Tom, or almost blank. He seemed at last to hear a roaring sound like water. He seemed to be rushing at dizzying speed through worlds of darkness. Then he thought he saw the malicious face of McLeod peering into his own, and again blackness and silence covered everything.
Something aroused him; something was pulling at him. Opening his eyes, he saw strangely an outline of tree-tops sharp against a starry sky. He was being dragged violently by the shoulder.
“Git up, Tom—quick!” a voice penetrated his ears. “They come back soon.”
Tom’s head ached so dizzily that it fell back when he tried to lift it. He could not remember where he was. He did not know who was beside him. He tried feebly to raise his arms, and found that they were roped together; and his legs, too, were tightly bound at the ankles.
“Wait—I see now. I cut you loose,” muttered the hurried voice, which Tom now dimly recognized. A knife-blade flashed, and sawed at the rope. His arms were free, then his legs. He made a feeble effort to get up, and collapsed again.
“No use! Can’t do it!” he murmured thickly.
Charlie seemed to hesitate.