It was slowly veering round, to bring her again within range.
Her eyes measured the room wildly. The windows commanded every part of it except the two upper corners. She must fly across the room or be shot like a dog.
She sprang up and flitted swiftly along the wall, and out of range.
Now she was safe for a few seconds. She might crouch upon the carpet and pray a few wild words for safety.
The pistol returned to the door and covered it, in case of attempted escape.
As long as her enemy could get nothing larger than the tube of a pistol in, she was safe in her corner; but if he enlarged the hole enough to introduce his hand with the pistol, she was lost; for there was no large piece of furniture near which she could hide behind.
"If I could but circumvent him until daylight," she thought, "this night's danger would be past."
She looked at her watch. It was two of the night.
"Three hours to wait," she pondered, with a despairing heart. "Can I possibly defy him for three hours? He is crafty and desperate; he is here to put an end to my life, and will not go away unsuccessful. I am terrified, helpless, and without resource. Which of us is likely to triumph?"
Her eyes went longingly to the old-fashioned bell-pulls hanging at each side of the fire-place.