Gripping his revolver, and followed by his men, he rushed with frantic steps down the stairs.
At the fourth landing he stopped suddenly. There before him leaned against the wall the friend of Cocoeni, with the blood dripping through her fingers as she pressed her hand against her side.
“Come no further,” she gasped faintly. “I only am left alive.”
“What!” cried Ned, starting back in dismay. “Are they all slain? Is Pylea also dead?”
Cocoeni by this time had reached forward, and was holding the dying girl in his arms, the hot tears running down his cheeks.
“All,” replied the girl. “I was sent forward to close the wall at the first stair. Before I reached it they were cut down. I saw Pylea fall even as I received this wound, but I had strength enough to close the stone door and creep up the stairs thus far.”
Her head sank as she uttered the last words against the breast of Cocoeni.
“Bring her up to the hall, Cocoeni,” said Ned, brokenly.
Not a dry eye was amongst them.
Cocoeni carried her up as gently as he could, but before they reached the sculptured hall, she was almost gone.