Sidney could not be sure that the man before them was the only one who knew that all of their money had not been taken away. It was possible that the chief of police was just as well informed, and there was a prearranged plan to get the boys to try to escape. Perhaps, Sidney thought, there was a custom among the Lesghians similar to the Mexican “Ley de fuga,” in plain English, law of flight, which encouraged a prisoner to escape and then shot him in the act. Possibly any money taken from a prisoner who was killed in that way would not be reported by the chief of police, and that would be an inducement for the official to encourage such attempted escapes.
Sidney ran the matter over in his mind so rapidly that only a few moments were consumed while the man was waiting an answer to his proposal. But he did not dare trust the fellow, for he realized that if they were once outside the jail there would be nothing to prevent the man from taking whatever money they had, perhaps putting them out of the way to accomplish it. So he determined to deny that he had any money left, and said accordingly,—
“I have no money to pay you.”
“You be sorry,” said the man with an ugly look. “You get shot.”
“What do you mean?” asked Sidney.
“You kill two men, you both get shot.” And he opened the door and went out, locking it behind him.
“What made you do that, Sid?” asked Raymond when they were alone. “Why didn’t you give him the bribe he wanted?”
“I don’t think he’s to be trusted.”
“But he is sure we have the money.”
“Yes, he is, and that’s just the trouble. If he once got us out of here he would probably kill us and take it all.”