They were free. There were livid lines upon the fair wrists, where the cruel throngs had cut in.
But the shapely hands were so small that Bessie had been enabled to slip them through the bonds and free them.
Up to this moment neither Frank nor Barney had looked upon the young girl as more than the ordinary weak woman.
That is to say, they had not given her credit for the amount of nerve she possessed.
But they were given ample evidence of it now.
Quick as a flash, and with commendable resolution, she reached over and seized the knife upon the shelf.
It was but a moment’s work for her to cut Frank’s bonds. As they snapped, the young Inventor took the knife and quickly cut Barney’s.
Their captors were at the loop-holes firing, and had not seen this move.
Nothing could have worked better.
Frank picked up a club, and Barney an iron bar. Nobody can handle a weapon of the sort better than an Irishman.