hology. When he cleared his throat to call eleven, therefore, I
would spring--and the gods be with me!

I own that for a little while my heart did pound unmercifully, but with
even less mercy I willed it to be calm. For the moment I almost
regretted having come so near, because it seemed preposterous to suppose
that he would not discover me. I could distinctly hear the slightest
move he made--but it must be remembered that I was listening to him,
whereas he did not suspect my existence. Once he knocked the dead ashes
from his pipe against the heel of his boot; then I thought he was
getting ready for a smoke, and soon after this he struck a match.

As the flame, sheltered by his two hands held cup-wise, flickered above
the bowl I got a look at him. He impressed me as being a well put up
fellow of considerable strength, who would not be conquered without
trouble. But never have I seen a face present a pantomime of more brutal
indifference. It was seamed with lines of cruelty; the coarse lips were
hideously puckered about the pipe stem; his eyes drooped in bestial
satisfaction as he sucked at it. While he was getting the light, thus
creating a noise in his own ears that would drown a slighter noise from
me, I took the opportunity to arrange my position somewhat, and now felt
satisfied. With clean ground beneath me, with only a thin screen of
palmetto leaves between us, how better could I have planned!

Minutes sped, and my senses seemed to have accumulated into a little
ball between my eyes. I may have trembled; I know that my nerves were
stretched to the very highest fighting pitch, they were in tune with my
determination. The next half hour would decide the salvation or
destruction of the girl I loved.

The electric torch flashed on a silver watch in his huge, dirty hand. I
held my breath, ready--but he did not call. Again I had to will my heart
to stop its sudden thumping; again I settled down to wait--though with
my legs crouched and my fingers resting on the sand, as I had "set" many
a time for a hundred yard dash. All I needed now was the word "Go!"

More minutes sped. At last he moved, and I guessed that he was reaching
into his pocket for the torch. It flashed, shining on the silver watch
as before. I heard the cover snap to with a click of finality; he
cleared his throat--and I bounded into the air.

He had no time to cry out before my fingers locked upon his throat as
jaws of iron. He staggered and caught my