And, just as he had expected, when he made no effort to release himself the men partially relaxed their hold of him. Two of them, indeed, dragged him into a sitting posture.
By this time Melun had taken his place at the head of the long table, and was rapping on the bare boards for order and for silence.
“Two of you are enough there,” he said. “The rest of you get back to your seats.”
The men followed his instructions hastily and almost sheepishly.
When they were all seated again, Melun looked down their ranks sharply and a little furtively.
[CHAPTER XI]
MURDER MYSTERIOUS
Melun's glance down the ranks of the men satisfied him that he had things well in hand.
The bullet-headed man was shifting about on his seat, and Crow sat with a pasty face, twisting and bending his great, brutal fingers.