Now that they had accomplished the purpose for which they had come, the rescue of Leslie Arnold, Nick Carter and his friends would have been content to go out of the city.
But there was work to be done for the man who had given them their first chance to overcome the Golden Scarab and save Leslie, by releasing them from their dungeon—Lord Slava.
With his soldiers at his back, he met the first rush of Calaman’s forces. Nick Carter, Chick, Patsy, and the others were with him, and they sent in a volley at close quarters that did terrible execution.
Jefferson Arnold shot down three of the guards, and Chick accounted for two more. As for Patsy, he did not know how many he got. He just pumped bullets at the enemy with the same cheerful earnestness with which he did everything that came in the line of duty.
Calaman rushed forward with his men, wielding a long knife.
As has been remarked already, the old priest was no coward. He was willing to take all the risks that might be encountered by his men, and he fought like a demon until he was laid low.
It was Lord Slava who killed Calaman with a slash of his sword, after he had parried a venomous cut the priest made at him with his wicked-looking knife.
With the death of Calaman, it seemed as if all the opposition to Slava melted away.
The followers of Calaman fled in all directions. They were chased ruthlessly by the ordinary people whom they had tyrannized over for years, and if there were some excessive cruelties by the indignant populace now that they held the upper hand, it is not a cause for much wonder.
“Say, chief,” whispered Patsy to Nick Carter, “have you found out what that big gold bug really is?”