By Right of Sword

my rooms met me in the street and told me I was to meet him on the south side of the Cathedral Square at nine o'clock t

heir attacks, I must make an impression on them; and I saw at once that the safest thing that could happen was at the same time the most daring-I must take the lead. If some desp

e, wherever it might be-and that was highly improbable-I did not think they would venture to kill me at the

aution; but I had little doubt abou

iences I have ever passed through. Whether I was really in danger of death at any time, or whether the whole business was merely intended to try and scare

abyrinth of streets, leading from the Cathedral down to the river in the lowest quarter of the town. The place was ill lit and worse dr

a sign to me not to speak, pointed to a dark tumbling doorway. As I entered i

irway just ahead of us. Taking it for granted that I was to go up these, ignorant whether I was supposed to know the place, and quite unwilling even to appear to wish to hang back, I stumbled up the

under my feet, when suddenly a voice said in a loud

you value

er, while currents of cold air caused by the moving water, were wafted up full in my face. I strained my ears to listen and my eyes to

nt, and I was told to go forward. I went on until I was again called to a halt; and after a minute the sound of the rushing water came again clear and distinct,

be unsteady. As a matter of act it had rather the opposite effect. I have generally found that when men are really dangerous they are least demonstrative. These

er me, they had ample means of doing it safely, and t

m of a disused and tumbling riverside warehouse; the side next the river being quite open and over-hanging the waters. The place was

gloom, though care was taken to let me see that each man carried a knife: and when I entered,

see whom to address, o

s spoken. The only sounds audible were these which came from the ri

sper; but I thought I could recognise it as that of the man who had been in my rooms.

red promptly. "I am as ready to lo

wn," said

olver on the floor in a little spot where a glint of moonlight fell on it. Then I threw off my coat and waistcoat and turning back my shirt bared the heart side of my b

trike,"

the man, after

and the light from the river. As he laid his hands on me, the clasp was like

holding it in a grip I thought no man on earth could possess, and bending me backwards held

zed and a finger pressed on my pulse. In this position I stayed for a full minute. I do n

e man who had before sp

ssing me. "I withdraw that. You can

d t

you sw

r nothing,"

ken the oath

ht like a swarm of bees. You have had a proof whether I'm true or not; and when I turn traitor, you can run a blade into my heart or lodge a

e sunk his voice and whispered right int

cess, and mine alone the danger, or mine alone the disgrace of failure." I looked on the whole thing now as more or less of a burlesque; but I played the part I had chosen as well as I could. And when the little puny rebel

ad been the real intentions in regard to myself. One of my chief regrets was not to be able to see the burly giant who had twisted me about on

e Moscow once more, and I was soon busy with my thoughts as to how long a shr

heir schemes. But I could not foresee the strange chain of events which was fated to fasten on me this new character tha