“What the deuce is he talking about?” growled Everard.
“When I hear ze gun of ze sheepwreck, somesing tell me she weel come out. I run here an’,” a strong shudder racked him, “I see eet.”
“That’s all very well,” said Dick sternly. “But you must come with us.”
“Afterward! afterward!” cried the man in an agony of supplication. “Now we hide, teel eet go. Zen I gif you ze knife. Anysing after we make her safe before ze death strike her.”
“This is not all lunacy,” said Dolly Ravenden quickly. “There is some danger he is trying to warn us from.”
Whirling upon her, the wretched juggler threw out his arms in an eloquent gesture.
“You will believe! I am murderer, zey say. So! Yet I come an’ give up to safe her. Is zere not some-sing?”
“Anyway, you’ve got to give up that knife,” said Dick.
Tigerish lines came out on the man’s face. “Fools!” he snarled and leaped back, a dangerous animal once more. Again the professor’s gun came up.
“Shoot him!” cried Dick.