eized her, drew her close to
him, held her with his left arm, and there was happiness for her in his
touch. She was as a child before his strength. With his right hand he
presented his pistol to her temple. He took advantage of her weakness,
but only in the service of a higher cause than love of woman, in answer
to a greater demand than even she could make. She offered no resistance
either. What was the use?

"Boys!" he called out sharply. "Are you there?"

"Yas, suh," answered Cato.

"I have your mistress in my arms, my pistol is at her head. If you do
not instantly open the door, I shall kill her where I stand!"

"Cato, I forbid you to open!" cried Fanny Glen, in a ringing voice,
still making no effort to struggle and looking up into the infuriated
man's face with the expression of a martyr and an angel. He saw and
recognized, but persisted; it was his only way.

"Open instantly!" he said again, "unless you would see your mistress
die!"

That was a threat the men could not resist. In a second the door was
opened. The awe-struck faces of the blacks peered into the room.

"Throw down your arms, here at my feet, you black hounds!" shouted
Sempland. "Quick! Or I fire!"

Instantly knife, pistol, and bludgeon clattered on the floor at his
feet.

"Out of the way now! Leave the hall! I want a clear passage!"

"Kill me! Kill me!" cried the girl, "and have done!"

He released her in a moment.

"You have dishonored me," he cried. "I fear it is too late. I wouldn't
hurt a hair of your head. But I love you, I love you!"

He strained her to his breast, pressing a passionate, burning kiss upon
her lips. He wasted a few precious seconds, but he could not help it.
She threw her arms about his neck and returned his kiss. He could feel
her heart beating against his own.

"I cannot let you go!" she cried. "Stay with me and I am yours!"

"I must go!"

He tore himself from her and ran down the passage into the street. She
thought she would have fainted at that instant, but something--suspense,
the faint possibility of success, doubt--nerved her to action. After a
few moments of awful uncertainty she followed Sempland along the
hallway, out through the door, and into the night. He was not to be
seen. She knew where he had gone, however, and she bent her steps
toward the government wharf. She went slowly at first, but finally ran
at her greatest speed.

CHAPTER VI

AN ENGINE OF DESTRUCTION

The _David_, so n