Cabot halted again, this time almost directly under the light.
“Stand where you are,” said the soldier, “while I let down a ladder. Make any attempt to flee, and I shall fire.”
Myles remained where he was, with every indication of extreme terror, as the Cupian let down a rope ladder from the top of the wall, and descended.
“Hold up your hands!”
Up shot Cabot’s right hand. It was the signal agreed on with the concealed sharpshooter. Ping! The sentinel dropped to the ground without a sound. Ping! The light went out. Hastily the earth-man exchanged his white toga for the black toga of his fallen enemy, and picked up the latter’s rifle and cartridge-belt. It felt good to have a real rifle-shaped rifle in his hands once more in place of the buttless firearms of the ants.
Just then a voice hailed him from the top of the wall. “What’s the trouble?”
Out of the dim twilight below Myles called back:
“I shot a sutler, and just as I was about to search his body the light went out. Have you your flash light with you?”
“Yes.”
“Then come on down and help me search.”