"You must swear that you will obey me in all that appertains to this."
"That was not in our bargain," I cried.
"But it must be," he cried. "Swear, or you die."
"No," I said, "I will not. And do not think to frighten me. I will keep to my bargain faithfully, but if you in aught do fail on your part, then will I come hither alone, and I will act without you."
"Ah!" he cried, and there was a fearsome look in his eyes. "You defy me, eh?"
"Yes, I defy you!" I cried, for the sight of the parchment had set my blood on fire.
We had moved away a few steps from the place where he had put the black box, but I kept my eye on the spot, so that I might know it again.
"Ah, we must be friends," he said wheedlingly. "Come, my son, I have more to tell you."
I followed him a few steps, and then again I looked back over my shoulder to mark the place where the precious document was hidden; but this, as will be seen, led to my undoing, for no sooner did he note my action than with a sudden wrench he leapt from me, and blowing out the candle he left me in utter darkness.
I stretched out my hands to grasp him, but he was gone. I stopped and listened to catch the sound of his retreating footsteps, but could hear nothing to guide me, for the place seemed to be full of the sound of footsteps, now coming from one direction, and now from another. Moreover, he wore cloth-soled shoes, which made but little noise, so that I was utterly unable to locate him. Presently I thought I heard him cackling, as I had heard him more than once before when he was well pleased with himself. Without an instant's delay I rushed to the spot from whence I thought the sound came, but only to strike my head with a terrible thud against the rocky side of the cavern.