“Indeed? Then you are just the man I want to see. Here, sentry?”
He strode to the door and threw it open, expecting to see the sentry usually stationed there.
There, across the threshold, lay the dead body of the soldier, in a pool of blood!
Horror-stricken, Sir John recoiled a moment. Then, whipping out his sword, he stalked up to the stranger, saying sternly:
“You have done this, but, by heaven, you shall not escape.”
The unknown remained impassive, with his arms folded, and only smiled sardonically.
“I told you I was your fate,” he said. “Be warned in time. Go back while you may. A week hence will be too late.”
“Fool,” said the English General, contemptuously, “you may frighten superstitious savages with your hocus-pocus, not me. Surrender, or you are a dead man.”
For all answer the stranger advanced on the General with folded arms, while fire and smoke began to issue from his mouth!
Incensed at the exhibition, Burgoyne made a violent thrust at the other with his sword.