The lantern hanging in the cage showed the open door and all as plain as day. But, great heavens! What did he see?
Dark forms were swarming about the machine. One was already in the wagon.
Pomp saw this much, and then his attention was claimed by another matter. He suddenly felt a heavy body descend upon him and talon fingers clutched his throat.
In that flash of time Pomp had turned partly over.
He was just in time to see the flash of a knife blade. He made a convulsive upward blow, and grasped the wrist of his unknown assailant.
By the merest chance the death blow had been averted.
But it was a close call.
Then with a herculean effort Pomp rolled over the edge of the bank, and the next moment, with a powerful swing, he had brought himself and assailant into the water of the creek.
The sudden bath caused Pomp’s adversary to relax his grip.
The darky had no further motive for continuing the struggle, and striking out swam for the opposite bank.