wrathful. He was followed by a few personal attendants, whom he
dismissed at the doorway to his apartments--the same doorway through
which Victory had been taken. I chafed to follow him, but the corridor
was filled with people. At last they betook themselves to their own
apartments, which lay upon either side of the corridor.

An officer and a slave entered the very room in which I hid, forcing me
to flatten myself to one side in the darkness until they had passed.
Then the slave made a light, and I knew that I must find another hiding
place.

Stepping boldly into the corridor, I saw that it was now empty save for
the single sentry before the emperor's door. He glanced up as I
emerged from the room, the occupants of which had not seen me. I
walked straight toward the soldier, my mind made up in an instant. I
tried to simulate an expression of cringing servility, and I must have
succeeded, for I entirely threw the man off his guard, so that he
permitted me to approach within reach of his rifle before stopping me.
Then it was too late--for him.

Without a word or a warning, I snatched the piece from his grasp, and,
at the same time struck him a terrific blow between the eyes with my
clenched fist. He staggered back in surprise, too dumbfounded even to
cry out, and then I clubbed his rifle and felled him with a single
mighty blow.

A moment later, I had burst into the room beyond. It was empty!

I gazed about, mad with disappointment. Two doors opened from this to
other rooms. I ran to the nearer and listened. Yes, voices were
coming from beyond and one was a woman's, level and cold and filled
with scorn. There was no terror in it. It was Victory's.

I turned the knob and pushed the door inward just in time to see
Menelek seize the girl and drag her toward the far end of the
apartment. At the same instant there was a deafening roar just outside
the palace--a shell had struck much nearer than any of its
predecessors. The noise of it drowned my rapid rush across the room.

But in her struggles, Victory turned Menelek about so that he saw me.
She was striking him in the face with her clenched fist, and now he was
choking her.

At sight of me, he gave voice to a roar of anger.

"What means this, slave?" he cried. "Out of here! Out of here! Quick,
before I kill you!"

But for answer I rushed upon him, striking him with the butt of the
rifle. He staggered back, dropping Victory to the floor, and the