“Could we bribe you to let us go?” asked Frank.

“Not with a king’s ransom! Revenge to me is far sweeter than gold. I’ll have no mercy! Aim, boys, and when I count three, fire at them together!”

He stepped aside.

Frank gave up all hope.

Death now seemed a moral certainty.

The grim array of weapons was turned upon them and the brutal captain cried:

“One!”

Then there was a pause.

“Two!”

CHAPTER XI.
THE RESCUE.