The sergeant was the first to speak, albeit I am certain that he understood
the less.
"I venture, M. le Capitaine, to think that your fears, though very natural,
are groundless."
"Say you so?" quoth I, with a backward glance to assure myself that we were
screened by the trees from the eyes of those behind us. "Say you so?
Well, well, mayhap you are right, though you speak of my fears being
groundless. I alluded to some possible mistake of yours--yours and M. de
Montr?sor's--not of mine. And, by Heaven, a monstrous flaw there is in
this business, for if either of you so much as whisper I'll blow your
brains out!"
And to emphasise these words, as sinister as they were unlooked-for, I
raised both hands suddenly from beneath my cloak, and clapped the cold nose
of a pistol to the head of each of them.
I was obeyed as men are obeyed who thus uncompromisingly prove the force of
their commands. Seeing them resigned, I whistled softly, and in answer
there was a rustle from among the neighbouring trees, and presently two
shadows emerged from the thicket. In less time than it takes me to relate
it, Montr?sor and his sergeant found themselves gagged, and each securely
bound to a tree.
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