s
great! Haul him away!"

They were around him like a pack of wolves, their lean faces hungry
and fierce, and their long, skinny fingers clutching at his throat and
at his clothing. One silently drew a knife and brandished it over him.
Paul wrenched himself free with a tremendous effort, but they were
upon him again. They forced him slowly backwards, backwards even
across the bed where that dead woman lay with her eyes as yet
unclosed. The great heat, as much as their numbers, was overpowering
him. His eyes were bloodshot, and there was a choking in his throat.
Again the long knife was lifted; other hands held him motionless,
ready for the blow. He was too weak to struggle now. He saw the blue
steel quivering in the air. Then he closed his eyes.

What was that? There was a shrill cry from one of the monks, and Paul,
finding their grasp relaxed, started up. They were cowering down like
a flock of frightened animals. The room seemed full of red fire. The
glass in the windows cracked; it flew into pieces, and a column of
smoke curled in. The door was thrown open; Guiseppe stood for a moment
on the threshold.

"Fly!" he cried. "Fly! The castle is on fire. The flames are near!"

They rushed for the door like panic-stricken cattle before a great
prairie fire, biting and trampling upon one another in their haste.
Paul followed, but the old Count stood in his way, trembling, not with
fear, but with anger.

"Cowards! beasts!" he cried after the flying monks. "But you shall not
escape me!"

He wound his long arms around his enemy, but the strength of his
manhood was gone, and without effort Paul threw him on one side. Then,
through the smoke, he found himself face to face with Guiseppe.

"This way, Signor!" he said coolly. "Follow me closely!"

The old Count was up again, and seemed about to attack them. Suddenly
he changed his mind, and with a hoarse cry, ran down an empty
corridor. Guiseppe and Paul turned in the opposite direction.

"We must fly, Signor!" the man cried. "He goes to the cellars! He is a
devil! He will blow up the castle! Cover up your nose and your mouth!"

They hurried along wide, deserted corridors, down stone stairs, and
finally reached what seemed to be a circular underground passage.
Round and round they went, until Paul's head swam; but the air was
cooler, and every moment brought relief. Suddenly there was a cold
breeze. They turned one more corner, and Guiseppe stopped. They were
in an open