irected at us seemed to be suddenly many.

Holgate had come to a pause on the outer edge of the group and was
observing the scene with interest. He made no movement. Death touched
us with the breath of his passage.

An arm was flung sharply about me. "If you die, I die too!" cried a
voice--a voice, ah, so well remembered and so dear! Ah, Heaven! Was it
Alix?

A pistol barked, and I swerved, almost losing my feet. If we must die,
we should die hard. I fired, and one of the mutineers uttered an
exclamation.

"Stay there," called Holgate. "Easy, men. Don't let's kill the goose
that lays the golden eggs. Let's have a few questions answered."

"Dent's down," sang out one.

"Well, there'll be all the more for those that are left," said Holgate,
easily, steering his way through the knot.

A faint laugh followed on this, but I think even the mutineers, brutal
as they were, were aghast at this revolting cynicism.

"Let's have a parley first," said Holgate, now in the forefront of the
gang. "Business first--pleasure afterwards. Now, doctor, out with it.
Where's that treasure?"

"I have told you," said I, "that the Prince removed it."

Alix's arms were about me still. I was dazed.

"Obstinate mule!" said Holgate with a grin. "See that, boys? I've given
'em every chance. Let her go."

In response to his command revolvers were raised. It marked the end,
the fall of the curtain on that long tragedy. Alix's arms were about
me, and suddenly my brain cleared. I saw as sharply and as definitely
as if I had been aloof and unconcerned in that disturbing crisis.

"Stop, men," said I. "I have one thing to say before we go further. Two
things. You shall hear about the treasure."

There was a pause. Holgate turned his black, incurious eyes on me, as
if he wondered.

"I will tell you where the treasure is, if you will allow me to give
you the history of a transaction," I said. My mind was quick, my nerve
was cool. There was a chance in delay.

"Spit it out," said one of the men encouragingly. "The funeral will
wait."

"Men, you've been taken in by that scoundrel there, your leader," I
said, pointing at Holgate. "He's diddled you all through. Ask him about
the treasure; ask him!"

The eyes of all went round to Holgate, who stood without a sign of
discomposure.

"Well, are you going to let 'em go?" was all he said. Once again the
interest of the group returned to me, but I was fighting hard
for--Alix.

"Who was it plan