“Come, you will say yes?”
“Not if it was the last day I had to live!” shot out Ned, and then halted, with a gasp of dismay, as he realized that, in all probability—short of a miracle happening—it was his last day to live.
“Unanimous again!” proclaimed Stanley, as the general turned inquiringly to him.
“Fools! You have signed your own death warrants,” snarled the insurgent leader, as he turned impatiently and, followed by his companions, left the cell.
As he did so a dull, booming sound came from seaward, followed by a loud, screeching rush overhead.
“What on earth is that?” gasped Ned. As he spoke, a terrific explosion sounded without, and the air became filled with sharp commands, outcries and groans.
“Sounds like a six-inch shell!” exclaimed Stanley.