“I am obliged to leave now to accompany your friend the colonel,” he approached Grail to say, “and must defer the definite settlement of your case until to-morrow. Before I go, though, I wish to leave one thought with you to ponder over. I have, of course, no ground for animosity against you and your companion, other than that you have seen fit to poke your nose into my affairs; under certain conditions I am willing to overlook.
“In short, my dear captain”—he lighted a cigarette—“as you are doubtless aware, I am interested in the wireless experiments which have been conducted out at the fort, and for detailed information in regard to them, am prepared to offer you your liberty.”
Grail made him no answer.
“Ah!” The other laughed. “I know what you are thinking. You do not believe that I will carry out my end of the bargain. But consider: Even with all the precautions I may take, every death increases my risk and danger; for, despite the proverb, dead men do tell tales. Then, too, I would have no fear of your talking; the transaction with me would be all-sufficient to seal your lips forever. No,[{42}] my offer is bona fide, captain; you may rely on it. Indeed, I will do even more. With your acceptance, I will guarantee to exonerate you fully from all the suspicion now directed against you at the fort. And I can do it, too.”
Grail broke his silence. “And the alternative,” he demanded, “if I refuse?”
“The alternative?” The Russian lifted his cigarette to his lips and blew a cloud of smoke toward the ceiling. “Deplorable for you, my dear captain, but inevitable.”
“I shall kill you, Rezonoff,” said Grail, in a low tone. “I shall kill you if ever I have the opportunity.”
“I suppose,” the other returned, “that means a refusal of my offer, eh, captain? Well, I shall not take it as final now. You shall have twenty-four hours to think it over.”
Then, with a glance at his watch, he turned on his heel, and strode from the hut; and a few minutes later the prisoners heard the chug-chug of his automobile as it sped away.
Grail and Sergeant Cato glanced furtively at one another, the same thought mirrored in the eyes of each. They had a respite of twenty-four hours to go on, it seemed, and in twenty-four hours much can be accomplished.