“I must make her shut up first!”
The ruffian employed such means that little by little the girl grew quieter. Her cries grew fainter and sank to moans. Nevertheless she went on struggling; and Ralph was aware, as in a nightmare, of all the efforts of the assailant and her efforts to resist him.
Suddenly the struggle came to an end. A third voice from the corridor, evidently that of the man on watch, gave an order in a hushed voice. [[30]]
“Stop! Leave her alone! I hope to God you haven’t killed her!”
“I’m jolly well afraid I have. In any case I may as well search her,” said the voice of the ruffian who had been struggling with the girl.
“Stop! Be quiet, dammit!”
Their two assailants left the compartment. There was a discussion, a dispute rather, in the corridor; and Ralph who was recovering more and more of his wits and could now move his limbs, caught the words: “Yes … further down … the end compartment … and be quick about it … the conductor may come.”
One of the three thieves stepped into the compartment and bent down over him and snarled:
“If you move, you’re a dead man. Keep quiet!”
The three ruffians went along towards the end compartment in which Ralph had noticed two passengers. Already he was trying to loosen his bonds and working his jaws to get the gag out of his mouth.