Page 123 (1/1)

They were not there, and on silent feet that disturbed not even the lightly slu curs the man passed out by the front entrance into the street beyond

Through a second and third hut he made his precarious way In the fourth a man stirred as Byrne stood upon the opposite side of the room from the door--with a catlike bound the mucker was beside him Would the felloake? Billy scarce breathed The samurai turned restlessly, and then, with a start, sat up ide-open eyes At the sa sword of his dead daih his heart

Byrne held the corpse until he was positive that life was extinct, then he dropped it quietly back upon its pallet, and departed to search the adjoining dwelling Here he found a large front rooement similar to that in the dai men Within the smaller, rear room Byrne heard the subdued hum of whispered conversation just as he was about to open the door Like a graven ilued to the frail door For a ave a throb of exultation, and he could have shouted aloud in thanksgiving--the lish!

Quietly Byrne pushed open the door far enough to ad i until he felt one of the occupants of the roouess we're done for, Mallory," said the man in a low tone; "they've come for us"

"Sh-sh," warned the mucker "Are you and Mallory alone?"

"Yes--for God's sake who are you and where did you co

"Be still," ad for the cords that he knew must bind the captive

He found them presently and with his jackknife cut them asunder Then he released Mallory

"Follow o quietly Take off your shoes if you have 'e 'eether"

Thethe men, women, children, and do swords Byrne removed tithout the faintest suspicion of a noise He handed one to each of his coesture