The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 108: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

492 THE RIVER OF DARKNESS, Melton covered his face with his hands, and Guy staggered backward. ‘“When?’’ he cried huskily. ‘‘ Today?” ‘No,’ said Canaris, ‘‘ not today. ‘The Emir bids me tell you, that you will have four days yet to live. On the fifth day you will die by the execu- tioner, in the square of the town.”’ They shuddered as these dreadful words fell from the Greek’s lips. ‘“ Is there no hope then at all?’’ said Melton. ‘‘ Let us know the worst at once and be done with it.’’ Canaris made no reply for a moment. His eyes were fixed on the floor and he seemed to be thinking deeply. When he looked up the expression of his face was changed. A strange light shone in his eye, a mixture of tri- umph and fear: ‘‘I can tell you nothing now,”’ fi said hastily. ‘‘ Tonight you shall have an answer. But tell me, how is your wound?” ‘* Better,’’ replied Melton. ‘‘I scarcely feel it at all.” ‘‘ Good,’’ said Canaris. ‘‘ Now do just as Itell you. Lie down on the straw ; pretend that you are much worse ; moan loudly from time to time, and init I come tonight I shall have mortiething to impart to you.’’ With this strange admonition, Canaris hastily left the dungeon and the guard rebolted the door. ‘Is the fellow crazy ?’’ said Melton. ‘‘ What can he mean to do?”’ ‘Crazy ?”’ rejoined Guy. ‘‘No; I have a strange faith in that man, _ Melton. Do just as he tells you and see what turns up tonight.’ With much grumbling Melton assumed the part of a very sick man. He rather overdid the thing in fact, for twice the guard opened the door and looked in. About noon food was brought, and from that time no one came near them. The minutes dragged along like hours. ‘They tried to forget the awful fate that stared them in the face, but in spite of the Greek’s encouraging words, the future looked very black. At last the feeble light in their dungeon began to fade away, and soon they were in darkness. ‘The fellow will never come back,’’ said Melton bitterly. ‘‘It’s all up with us, Chutney, so don’t try to raise any more false hopes. ”’ But Guy refused to give up and his faith was rewarded. Quick footsteps approached the dungeon, the bolts rattled, and Canaris entered with a rude lamp and a leather case which he placed carefully on the floor. Then he pulled a paper from his pocket and waved it gleefully. ‘“See,’’ he cried, ‘‘a permit from Rao Khan, admitting me to the prison at all times. I told him that your wound was very bad, that the Arab doctor had failed to help you, and that I knew enough of English surgery to cure you, if he would allow it. Rao Khan reluctantly consented, and here I am.”’ He listened intently for a moment, glanced round the dungeon, and then went on in a low, excited tone: ‘‘Get close together. I have something important to tell you.” They squatted down in a group on the straw, and with a strange, exult- ant sparkle in his eyes, Canaris began : (CEOMMIELOCYOLKS 3