CHAPTER XXII
DEEPER STILL
So startled was Geoffrey that he felt the moisture spurt from every porelike a rash. But, fully conscious of his danger, he suppressed the crythat rose to his lips, nor did he move as he felt a thick cloak thrownover his head. He slipped his revolver into his hand and fumbled itagainst the cold cheek of his antagonist.
But the antagonist took it coolly. A pair of lips were close toGeoffrey's ear and the smallest, faintest voice spelt out the letters,T-c-h-i-g-o-r-s-k-y. Geoffrey put the weapon back in his pocket. At thesame time he felt about till his fingers touched the hand of hiscompanion. No doubt about it. The other was Tchigorsky beyond question.Perhaps he had been testing Geoffrey's courage and resolution; perhapsthe danger had deepened unexpectedly.
Presently the light of the lantern popped up again, in response to somesubtle signal, and once more the conspirators moved on to the vaultabove. Tchigorsky lifted his head.
"Where are they going?" Geoffrey asked.
Tchigorsky responded with one of his diabolical chuckles.
"They imagine that they are going into the castle," he said. "But theyare not going to accomplish that part of the program."
"But what do they want there?"
"What should they want? You know something of those now whose businessit is to wipe you out root and branch. More artistic methods havingfailed, they may deem it necessary to fall back on more vulgar plans.There are five people sleeping in the castle--six with your UncleRalph--who stand in the way. It is possible if the fiends are lucky thatthe castle may be devoid of life by daybreak."
Geoffrey could not repress a shudder.
"Fiends, indeed!" he said. "But why not stop it? Why not let them enterand then take them all red-handed?"
"What could we gain by that? We could not connect them with past crimes!At worst they would get a few months in gaol as suspects. When the timecomes we must smash them all. And the time is coming."
Tchigorsky rose as if to go.
"I follow them," he said, "you remain here, in the darkness. And if anyone attempts to pass you do not let him do so. Don't forget this thing.At all hazards you are not to let any one pass."
Geoffrey nodded as Tchigorsky passed on his way. For a long time all wasquiet, and then from above there came a startled cry followed by thesound of strife and a scream of pain and terror. It was all thatGeoffrey could do to restrain himself from yelling in response andrushing to the spot. Then he became conscious that somebody was comingrapidly through the cave. He reached out his hand and grabbed at andcaught a sinewy, slippery brown ankle.
It only needed that touch to tell Geoffrey that he was at grips with thenative. Down the fellow came on the slippery rocks, and the next instantthe two were engaged in a life or death struggle.
Young, strong, vigorous as he was, his muscle knitted like iron withhealthy exercise, Geoffrey knew that he had met his match. The nativehad a slight advantage of him in point of years; he was greased fromhead to foot, rendering a grip difficult, and his flying robe cameasunder like cobwebs at the first strain. He fought with the _abandon_of a man who is reckless of life.
Over and over on the slippery rocks they rolled, each striving to getthe other by the throat. By this time they were both breathing thick andfast, and Geoffrey's mind began to wander toward his revolver. But torelease his grip to get that might be fatal. He could hear hisantagonist gasping as he rolled off a ledge of rock, and then Geoffreylifted his opponent's head and brought it down with a bang on thegranite.
In the very instant of his triumph something whistled behind him, and ajagged piece of stone came smashing on to his temple.
He had a confused view of a native on his feet again, fast hurryingaway, heard the rustle of garments and a further rustle of moregarments, and then his arm was closed upon a female figure whom hepulled to the ground by his side.
He felt the woman open her lips to scream, but he clapped his hand overher mouth.
"No, you don't," he said grimly. "One of you has escaped and my friendthe nigger has had a narrow escape, but I've got you, my lady. I've gotyou safe and I don't mean to let you go."
He felt the slight figure in his arms tremble and palpitate; he heardvoices above. Once more the slim figure shivered. His hand was torn fromher mouth and the woman spoke.
"They are calling you," she said; "for God's sake let me go, Geoffrey."
For an instant Geoffrey was too dazed and stunned to speak.
"Marion?" he gasped presently. "Marion?"
Marion cowered down, sobbing bitterly.
"You are surprised," she said. "No wonder. You wonder what I am doinghere and I will tell you presently. But not now; I will place my secretin your hands; I will disguise nothing from you. For the present leaveme."
"Leave you here! Impossible!"
"But I am safe, quite safe, Geoffrey. Oh, if you have any feeling forone of the most miserable creatures in the world, leave me. Tell themabove that those abandoned wretches have gone, that no sign of themremains. Consider what I have suffered and am suffering for your family,and try to help me."
Conscious of his own weakness, Geoffrey pondered. He might be doing aserious injury to the delicate plans formed by Ralph Ravenspur, but hehad given the promise and there was an end of the matter.
Marion was in some way bound up with these people, but Marion was pureas the angels and Marion would do no wrong. Why, then, should her goodname be dragged in the mire?
"You are so good, so good to me," Marion murmured. "Go before theybecome alarmed at your silence and leave me here. Say that you sawnothing. And when the house is quiet I shall make my way back again."
Geoffrey retired upwards without further words. In the basement of thecastle he found Tchigorsky and Ralph Ravenspur.
"They managed to elude you?" asked the former.
Geoffrey pointed to the ugly bruise on the side of his head.
"Yes," he said, "they both got away. But for this bit of an accidentfighting in the dark I might have captured the dusky conspirator."
"Rather you had not, on the whole," Ralph said. "Something gave them thealarm as they reached the passages. Of course their idea was to murdersome or all of us in our beds, and our idea was to take them in the act.But they got the alarm and vanished. One of the fellows attacked me inthe shrubbery just before dark, but I fancy he will not do it again."
"I saw him," said Geoffrey. "He came to Mrs. May's for assistance. Shepretended that I was mistaken, but she had to give in at last whencircumstances became too strong for her. How did you manage to deal himthat blow on the head, uncle?"
Ralph smiled grimly.
"I have my own means of protection," he said. "What became of thefellow?"
Geoffrey explained all that had happened during and after the dinner atJessop's farm. His two listeners followed his statement with flatteringinterest. Yet all the time Geoffrey was listening intently for signs ofMarion. Was she still in the vaults or had she managed to slip away toher bedroom? The thought of the delicate girl down there in the darknessand cold was by no means pleasant.
"We have managed to make a mess of it to-night," said Ralph. "How thosepeople contrived to discover that there was danger afoot I can'tunderstand. But one thing is certain, they will not be content to leavethings as they are. They may try the same thing again or their effortsmay take a new and more ingenious direction."
"Which direction we shall discover," said Tchigorsky. "Can you let meout here, or shall I go by the same means that I entered?"
To Geoffrey's relief Ralph volunteered to open the hall door for hisfriend.
"Come this way," he said. "All the bolts and bars have been oiled andwill make no noise."
They slipped away quietly together. Geoffrey listened intently. Hefancied that he could hear footsteps creeping up the stairs, and in thecorridor a door softly closed. Then Ralph Ravenspur came back again.
"Tchigorsky has gone," he said. "After this it will be necessary for usto vary our plan
of campaign a little. You have learned somethingto-night. You know now that our antagonists are two Indians and a womanwho is dangerous as she is lovely and fascinating. Ah, what a woman sheis!"
"Who is she?" Geoffrey asked.
"Ah, that I cannot tell you. You must be content to wait. I do not wantyou to know too much, and then there is no chance of your being takenoff your guard. When the surprise comes it will be a dramatic one. Themore you see of that woman and the more you cultivate her the more youwill find to wonder at."
"But can I cultivate her after to-night?"
"Why not? She does not know the extent of your knowledge; she has notthe remotest idea that you have been helping to foil her schemes. Nexttime she will meet you as if nothing had happened."
Geoffrey thought of Marion and was silent. That one so pure and sweetshould be mixed up with a creature like that was horrible. RalphRavenspur rose with a yawn. He seemed to have lapsed into his woodenstate. He felt his way down the big flagged hall toward the staircase.
"We can do nothing more," he said. "I am going to bed. Good-night."
The door closed and then Geoffrey was free to act. He could go down intothe vault and bring Marion up. But first he would try to ascertain ifshe was in her room. He passed up the stairs and along the corridor.Outside Marion's door he coughed gently.
The door opened and Marion stood there clad in a fair white wrap, withher glorious hair hanging free over her shoulders. Her eyes were full oftears.
"Geoff," she whispered. "Geoff, dear Geoff."
She fell into his arms, and pressed her lips long and clingingly to his.Her hole frame was quivering with mingled love and emotion. Then shesnatched herself away from his embrace and, with the single whisperedword, "To-morrow," closed the door behind her.