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None of them appeared to be at all alarirl laughed heartily, pointing at Jain to feel rather foolish," Ja the pistol, he stepped back warily "Wer seid Ihr?" he said

"I don’t think they’re Gerirl, as now eyeing Ja up his potential for sport in the straw--"didna seeh perhaps she was pretending"

The er in an atte At the word "French," though, he seehten

"Coer had ever heard

"Parlez-vous Francais?" Jaiant ser an inch apart

"Un peu"

A very little peu, as they shortly discovered The h to introduce hihter, Karina

"Rooshki," Che a hand across his beefy chest

"Russians?" Roger stared at theh Jamie seemed fascinated

"I’ve never met a Russian before," he said "What in Christ’s nah?"

With some difficulty, this question was conveyed to Mr Che toward the wharf

"Les cochons," he said "Pour le Monsieur Wylie" He looked expectantly at Ja off all three of the Russians, the reat surprise The connection between Russian swineherds and Phillip Wylie was soone into, though, there was a loud thue wooden object had struck the dock This was succeeded i chorus of bellows and squeals--mostly porcine, but so speed for his size, though Jah the door of the shed

Roger had barely time to see that there were two boats now tied up at the wharf; the Russian’s s with knives and pistols, were swar this, Jae of a srabbed his pistol, but hesitated, not sure whether to fire or run Hesitated aout his breath, and hands snatched at his belt, taking pistols and dirk

"Don’tthe h your backbone"

He spoke with no particular anier wasn’t inclined to test it He stood still, hands half-raised, watching

Che about him with hands like ha been knocked off the wharf, and the Russian had another in his grip, throttling hinored all shouts, threats, and blows, his concentration fixed on the

Screams rent the air; Iva and Karina had rushed toward their boat, where two of the invaders had appeared on deck, each clutching a slightly smaller version of Karina One of the men pointed a pistol at the Russian woer saw a spark, and a sun failed to fire The wo, he dropped the gun and the girl he was holding, and juer’s attention froure, had clubbed Cheun The Russian blinked, nodded, and his grip on his victihter hold on the gun, and sain The Russian’s eyes rolled up into his head and he dropped to the dock, shaking the boards with the iently ah, there was no trace of the Gloriana’s erstwhile captain

What rong? Bonnet was no coward, and he was a natural fighter It wasn’t thinkable that he would sendheads, trying to keep track of er, as the chaos quickly died down Stephen Bonnet wasn’t there

Roger hadn’t time to decide whether he was disappointed or relieved by this discovery The man who had clubbed Chenized David Anstruther, the sheriff of Orange County Anstruther recognized him, too--he saw the man’s eyes narrow--but didn’t seeht--such as it rapping up quickly The four Russian woest shed, a of curses, and the fallen Che s the boards in his wake

At this point, a pair of well-kept hands appeared on the edge of the dock, and a tall, elegantly lean er had no difficulty in recognizing Mr Lillywhite, one of the Orange County reen coat

Lillywhite had dressed for the occasion in plain black broadcloth, though his linen was as fine as ever and he had a gentleman’s sword at his side Hethe disposition of hten fastidiously at sight of the trail of blood

Lillywhite gestured to the un- him to draw a deep breath

"Mr MacKenzie, is it not?" Lillywhite asked pleasantly "And where is Mr Fraser?"

He’d been expecting that question, and had had titon," he said,Lillywhite’s pleasant tone "You’re rather far afield yourself, are ye not, sir?"

Lillywhite’s nostrils pinchedbad--which he certainly was, though Roger doubted the reek of pigs was causing his disedification

"Do not trifle with istrate said curtly