e overcome," he went on desperately, "is it not enough if
we send the tower and our enemies into the air together, our hands
gripping their throats to the last? Thus, either they will bear us
aloft with them to Heaven--or we will drag them down with us to Hell.
Up, then, and ready with fire and sword!"

Time was when such an address would have been greeted with a storm of
applause. Now it was received with silence and strangely sullen faces.

Presently the hunchback stepped forth from the band.

"Master," he said, "I have heard all your fine words--for, you see, I
am not always deaf--and must say now that it is a very beautiful
religion, this that you have taught us. 'That which is agreeable to me
is right; that which is hurtful to another is not wrong.' Fidelity,
too, is a virtue--then it is not for us, the Devil's children! All you
say is good--very good indeed. However, we have been promised freedom
and a sackful of your treasure if we only deliver you up alive. That
is quite agreeable to us; so it is right. You will certainly be
quartered. That is, indeed, hurtful to you; so it is not wrong. If we
do not remain true to you we shall still please the Devil perfectly,
for fidelity--as you have ever preached--is a virtue. Therefore we
will rather give you up than accompany you in the aerial flight you
speak of."

They all laughed loudly in chorus, and Feodor laughed strangely along
with them.

"What is agreeable to me is right; what is hurtful to another is not
wrong!" the men shouted derisively in his very face.

This, then, was to be the triumph of his religion!

They had evidently learned their lesson only too well from him.

"But you will get nothing by your treachery!" exclaimed the Master
suddenly.

And ere they could lay hands on him he had drawn a pistol from his
belt; there was a click and a flash, and Feodor von Ungern fell dead
in their midst.

* * * * *

Alexander and Paul returned to Russia, and like brothers shared the
property of their estranged parents between them.

* * * * *

But the Tower of Dago still rises high above the rocky promontory of
the island, and serves as the safe untroubled haunt of the wild
sea-birds for miles around.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

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