Похищенный
Chapter 10
“ItwasShuanbauchledit,”Iheardonesay.
Andanotheransweredhimwitha“Wheesht,man!He’spaidthepiper.”
Afterthatthevoicesfellagainintothesamemutteringasbefore.Onlynow,onepersonspokemostofthetime,asthoughlayingdownaplan,andfirstoneandthenanotheransweredhimbriefly,likementakingorders.Bythis,Imadesuretheywerecomingonagain,andtoldAlan.
“It’swhatwehavetoprayfor,”saidhe.“Unlesswecangivethemagooddistasteofus,anddonewithit,there’llbenaesleepforeitheryouorme.Butthistime,mind,they’llbeinearnest.”
Bythis,mypistolswereready,andtherewasnothingtodobutlistenandwait.Whilethebrushlasted,IhadnotthetimetothinkifIwasfrighted;butnow,whenallwasstillagain,mymindranuponnothingelse.Thethoughtofthesharpswordsandthecoldsteelwasstronginme;andpresently,whenIbegantohearstealthystepsandabrushingofmen’sclothesagainsttheround-housewall,andknewtheyweretakingtheirplacesinthedark,Icouldhavefounditinmymindtocryoutaloud.
AllthiswasuponAlan’sside;andIhadbeguntothinkmyshareofthefightwasatanend,whenIheardsomeonedropsoftlyontheroofaboveme.
Thentherecameasinglecallonthesea-pipe,andthatwasthesignal.Aknotofthemmadeonerushofit,cutlassinhand,againstthedoor;andatthesamemoment,theglassoftheskylightwasdashedinathousandpieces,andamanleapedthroughandlandedonthefloor.
