He laughed at this; a low, cackling laugh that was not pleasant to hear.
“Then they must be allowed to do so,” he said, and picking up the torch left the room without another word or even a parting glance in our direction.
“I don’t like that,” growled Joe. “He’s up to some deviltry, I’m sure.”
“The same thing has occurred to me,” I replied. “Let us remember his words. He will allow our friends to die to save our lives. It’s a trick of some sort, Joe. The Crooked One is far more dangerous than the King himself.”
“What can he do?” inquired my friend.
“I don’t know; but that clever old head has conceived some shrewd idea, or I’m greatly mistaken. We must be on our guard, Joe. I wish we had some way of warning our people.”
“Might send them a wireless,” said Joe, grinning.
“Well, let’s go to bed and forget it,” I suggested. “Nothing can happen before morning, anyhow.”
CHAPTER XIII
LIVING SHIELDS
But in this declaration I was wrong. Something happened within the hour—a summons to attend the king. We had gone to bed but had not fallen asleep when the messenger came, so in a few moments we were ready to follow the captain of the guard to the throne room.