"Mind you fire low," said the young fellow, with an excited laugh, and walked into the middle of the room.
Gary blew out the candle. Presently from somewhere in the intense darkness Gray called "Cuckoo!" and instantly a slanting red flash lashed out through the gloom. And, when the deafening echo had nearly ceased: "Cuckoo!"
Another pistol crashed. And after a swimming interval they heard him moving. "Cuckoo!" he called; a level flame stabbed the dark; something fell, thudding through the staccato uproar of the explosion. At the same moment the outer door opened on the crack and Carfax's orderly peeped in.
Carfax struck a match with shaky fingers; the candle guttered, sank, flared on Flint, who was laughing without a sound. "Got the beggar, by God!" he whispered[pg 29]—"through the head! Look at him. Look at Reggie Gray! Tried for his head and got him——"
He reeled back, chuckling foolishly, and levelled at Carfax. "Now I'll get you!" he simpered, and shot him through the face.
As Carfax pitched forward, Gary fired.
"Missed me, by God!" laughed Flint. "Shoot? Hell, yes. I'll show you how to shoot——"
He struck the lighted candle with his left hand and laughed again in the thick darkness.
"Shoot? I'll show you how to shoot, you old slacker——"
Gary fired.