The weapon snapped on the stranger’s body as if it had been made of glass, and the next instant Burgoyne felt the pressure of long, skinny fingers on his throat, which he in vain tried to throw off, while the stranger, with gigantic strength, pressed him backward and backward, till he lay bent over his knee, slowly choking to death.
What would have been the result of this scene is not doubtful, but, just at that moment, the sound of footsteps was heard in the passage, with the clank of spurs and swords.
The terrible stranger cast down the nearly senseless body of the General with a crash to the ground, and stood up.
A moment later, several general officers came up the passage, and paused with horror at the sight which met them.
The murdered sentry lay across the threshold; Burgoyne, apparently dead, lay on the floor by the table, while over him towered a gigantic figure, extending black, shadowy wings, his pale face and burning eyes glaring from between upright black horns, while fire and smoke came from his mouth!
A moment later there was an unearthly laugh. The demon flapped his wings over the table, and out went the lights in intense darkness! Through the gloom came the hoarse shout:
“Ha! ha! ha! ha!!! I gather them in! I gather them in!”
Then came a thundering report, as of the closing of a door and all was still. The apparition had vanished.