ut equivocation of the most
murderous possibilities.

The malignant passions that distorted every lineament of the
countenance of the little old gentleman in black filled our hero with
such astonishment that he knew not whether he were asleep or awake; but
when he beheld the other advancing with the naked and shining knife in
his hand his reason returned to him like a flash. Leaping to his feet,
he lost no time in putting the table between himself and his sudden
enemy.

"Indeed, friend," he cried, in a voice penetrated with terror--"indeed,
friend, thou hadst best keep thy distance from me, for though I am a
man of peace and a shunner of bloodshed, I promise thee that I will not
stand still to be murdered without outcry or without endeavoring to
defend my life!"

"Cry as loud as you please!" exclaimed the other. "No one is near this
place to hear you! Cry until you are hoarse; no one in this
neighborhood will stop to ask what is the matter with you. I tell you
I am determined to possess myself of that ivory ball, and have it I
shall, even though I am obliged to cut out your heart to get it!" As
he spoke he grinned with so extraordinary and devilish a distortion of
his countenance, and with such an appearance of every intention of
carrying out his threat as to send the goose-flesh creeping like icy
fingers up and down our hero's spine with the most incredible rapidity
and acuteness.

Nevertheless, mastering his fears, Jonathan contrived to speak up with
a pretty good appearance of spirit. "Indeed, friend," he said, "thou
appearest to forget that I am a man of twice thy bulk and half thy
years, and that though thou hast a knife I am determined to defend
myself to the last extremity. I am not going to give thee that which
thou demandest of me, and for thy sake I advise thee to open the door
and let me go free as I entered, or else harm may befall thee."

"Fool!" cried the other, hardly giving him time to end. "Do you, then,
think that I have time to chatter with you while two villains are lying
in wait for me, perhaps at the very door? Blame your own self for your
death!" And, gnashing his teeth with an indescribable menace, and
resting his hand upon the table, he vaulted with incredible agility
clean across it and upon our hero, who, entirely unprepared for such an
extraordinary attack, was flung back against the wall, with an arm as
strong as steel clutching his throat and a knife flashing in his very
eye