He found himself looking into the dark , triumphant eyes of Aniska Stoltz .sx " You !sx Don't you ever go to bed at all , Fraulein ?sx " he said in exasperation .sx " Oh , yes , " she nodded .sx " When I've finished with you .sx I think I'll deserve it then .sx " She whistled shrilly , a note that cleft the night air like the stroke of a sword .sx CHAPTER XX .sx THE INFERNAL FEMININE .sx A MAN slipped out of the shadows and came towards her .sx " What is it , Aniska ?sx " he asked , as he approached .sx " I've made a capture , " the girl returned .sx " I was right , and neither of you would believe me .sx I thought those leaves on the ground meant something .sx They don't fall off a tree of their own accord at this time of the year .sx " Terrel bit his lip with chagrin .sx That was what had betrayed him , then , that and the girl's sharp eyes .sx The infernal feminine .sx The men hadn't noticed it , apparently , didn't think much of it even when it was pointed out to them .sx He seemed to have behaved with rather less than his usual acumen .sx Well , one lives and learns or dies learning .sx " Who is it ?sx " the man asked curiously .sx " Have a look , " the girl invited .sx " Here's the torch .sx I'm tired of holding it .sx The revolver's quite enough to keep my hands occupied .sx " Stoltz Terrel recognised the voice as his took the torch and played the white beam up and down his face .sx " Don't know him , " he said .sx " Yes , I do .sx " He bent closer .sx " I've seen him before .sx At the inn to-night .sx The fellow I told you about .sx " " Are you sure ?sx " That was Sargasta's voice .sx He had come up silently , unperceived .sx His revolver was held negligently in his sound hand .sx Stoltz seemed to have one , too .sx Terrel had not noticed it before .sx He was glad now that he had not tried to make a break for it the instant he had realised that it was only a girl holding him up .sx He would have been shot down before he had gone two yards .sx They had tricked him into thinking that they had gone back into the house .sx That was the girl's sharp wits .sx He had not heard her , could not account for her presence .sx She had not been one of the pair he had seen emerge in the first place .sx The figures had been those of men , that was the only thing of which he had been sure then .sx She must have stolen out very quietly a little later .sx At first he was inclined to associate her with that dim face he thought he had seen pressed against the window pane .sx Later he was to learn his error , though not from her .sx " Sure ?sx Certainly .sx " Stoltz answered Sargasta's question .sx " So ?sx " Sargasta turned on Terrel , running his eyes over the Englishman's face .sx " What is your name , fellow ?sx " he demanded .sx Terrel kept stubbornly silent .sx He had no intention of speaking if he could avoid it .sx He thought now that his vocal recognition of the girl had been a mistake , though it had been surprised out of him in a moment of exasperation .sx Of course if the pedlar happened to turn up he would be able to identify him as his acquaintance William Jones .sx That was bad enough , since it would label him as English .sx " You won't speak ?sx You won't tell me who you are ?sx " Sargasta took a step forward , moved in a threatening way .sx " Don't worry .sx I'll tell you .sx " This was Aniska .sx " You !sx " Her brother turned on her .sx " What do you .sx know about him ?sx You can't know the man .sx You've never seen him before to-night .sx " " Yes , " she said gently .sx She nodded , smiling , plainly pleased with herself .sx " I've seen him before .sx This morning .sx I had a word or two with him then .sx His isn't a voice I'd forget .sx He has eyes to remember , too , for that matter .sx It's your friend , Terrel .sx " She looked towards Sargasta .sx The man stared from her to Terrel .sx Terrel said nothing .sx There was nothing to say .sx Already he had said too much .sx Then , too , there was just the odd chance now that he might yet bluff through if he kept quiet .sx Plainly the two men were incredulous , inclined to think that the girl was a victim of her own vivid imagination .sx " You're mad , " said Sargasta sharply .sx " Terrel was killed this morning , shot through the head .sx Doimo said so .sx He was positive .sx " " I can't help that .sx " Aniska spoke in unruffled tones .sx " But shot through the head , you say ?sx " She seemed to be thinking .sx " Well " before any of them could divine her intention she leaned forward and whipped Terrel's hat from his head " look !sx " The light of the torch in Stoltz's hand played on the place where the bullet had torn the skin .sx A trace of dried blood still showed there , and the beginnings of a blue weal were apparent .sx Sargasta murmured something inaudible .sx He seemed more than half-convinced .sx His revolver jabbed forward in a direct line with the pit of Terrel's stomach .sx He stared his captive squarely in the face , then spoke .sx " He doesn't look like Terrel , " he said , " but he answers the description of the man Kaspar picked up on the road to-day .sx William Jones , an Englishman .sx " Terrel felt it odd hearing himself thus discussed so impersonally , but he had passed the point where he resented anything of the kind .sx He had most to gain by remaining stolid .sx His one hope was that Kaspar that,not Johann Wyss , was the pedlar's name seemingly had said nothing about the English shoes .sx If they should get curious and take them away .sx .. Terrel had all he could do to repress a shiver at the thought .sx " Doesn't look like anybody !sx " Aniska snapped .sx " Of course not !sx Why do you always expect a man to look the same every time you see him ?sx Haven't either of you ever heard of the people disguising themselves ?sx " .sx Sargasta nodded , still searching Terrel's face with his eyes .sx " Now , Aniska " her brother turned on her , mildly protesting " you may be right , but if you are he's done it so artistically .sx .. " " Exactly , " the girl cut in .sx " Anyway , if he isn't what I think , why doesn't he say so ?sx He understands every word we've said , I'm sure of that .sx " " Answer then .sx " Sargasta brought the revolver a little nearer to Terrel .sx " Answer what ?sx " said Terrel .sx He made his voice as hoarse and rough as possible .sx " What we've asked you .sx " " What was that ?sx I don't remember .sx " He looked round vacantly at the others .sx " One moment .sx " The interruption came from the girl .sx " What were you doing up that tree ?sx " Terrel looked at her , trying hard to keep the glow of intelligence out of his face .sx He smiled , a slow smile that spread almost from ear to ear .sx " Birds'-nesting , " he said .sx She made a quick movement of angry impatience , then laughed softly .sx " Go on , Sargasta , " she said mockingly .sx " Your turn now .sx I've failed .sx " She was candid enough to admit that .sx She did not require the fact of her defeat to be pressed home .sx A dangerous woman , Terrel thought .sx The men were fools to her .sx " Right .sx " Sargasta's voice had a rasp in it .sx " You're Terrel , aren't you ?sx " What do you mean ?sx What's that ?sx A disease ?sx " Sargasta shook himself angrily .sx His face went purple .sx Stoltz looked on as though he only half-comprehended .sx But about the corners of Aniska's mouth there hovered a wicked little smile .sx " Don't play with me .sx " Sargasta found his voice .sx " When we take you inside and search you , we'll learn soon enough who you are .sx You're only postponing the evil day .sx But it would be better if you told us now , better for you , better for all of us .sx Your name is Timothy Terrel , isn't it ?sx " Terrel did not answer .sx He simply stared straight past Sargasta as though the man did not exist .sx " All right " a dangerous note crept into Sargasta's voice " we'll take you inside then .sx There's another madman there .sx You'll be company for each other .sx " Terrel shivered .sx For the moment he fancied Sargasta was speaking literally .sx CHAPTER XXI .sx ALLIANCE .sx " GOING quietly ?sx " Sargasta snapped the question at him .sx " Why ?sx " said Terrel blandly .sx " Because if you're not " Aniska leaned forward and spoke urgently " they'd just as soon shoot you here .sx " " Stoltz " Sargasta did not even turn his head " shut up that sister of yours .sx " " Aniska , " said her brother , " you keep quiet and stop interfering .sx " " Well , I like that !sx " The girl sounded almost breathless .sx " If it hadn't been for me in the first place youwouldn't have him now .sx I do the work and you take the credit , that's life all over .sx " The other two ignored her .sx " It's quite true what she says , " Sargasta pointed out to Terrel .sx " We'd just as soon shoot you here as not .sx You've got your choice .sx March straight ahead , as I tell you , or else .sx .. " He waved his revolver threateningly .sx " I'll count five .sx I'm starting now .sx One , two .sx .. " " Which way ?sx " said Terrel quickly .sx There was no sense in dying just for the sake of being stubborn .sx " There .sx No , stay .sx " Sargasta turned to the girl .sx " You go ahead and show him the way .sx That's some-thing useful now .sx We'll follow behind close enough to tickle his ribs if he shows any signs of not doing as he's told .sx " Aniska gave a toss of her head and went off .sx A girl of spirit , Terrel thought with a wry smile , spirit enough to give in at the right moment as well as breathe defiance when she had anything to gain by it .sx " Now , straight ahead .sx " The revolver muzzle jabbing into the small of his back showed Terrel that Sargasta was addressing him .sx He moved off , the two men treading almost on his heels .sx Aniska crossed the width of the yard , the door opened and light streamed out .sx She stood aside to let them enter .sx There were other men hanging about the passage-way , henchmen of Sargasta's , waiting to pounce .sx There was no need .sx Terrel could see that the odds against him were too great to make it worth while starting anything .sx " Don't be too rough with him , " Aniska said as they went by .sx From her tone Terrel was not sure whether she was being sarcastic or merely solicitous .sx " We'll treat him just as he deserves , " said her brother .sx " If he asks for it , he'll get it .sx " He was pushed into a little windowless room on the ground floor .sx His two captors and two of the men in the passage-way entered with him .sx The room was well- .sx lighted .sx There was not a shadowed corner anywhere .sx " Now !sx " Sargasta spat the word out .sx The two new-comers evidently knew what he meant , for at once they .sx flung themselves on Terrel .sx He was pushed violently back against the wall and held there .sx Sargasta stood over him with the revolver .sx Stoltz , by way of preliminary , undid the straps of his rucksack .sx He lifted .sx the contents out in two handfuls and dumped them on the ground .sx " Anything there ?sx " Sargasta inquired .sx Stoltz shook his head .sx There was a varied assortment , but nothing , from their point of view , of any .sx moment .sx Toilet articles , an odd change of underclothing there was little room in the rucksack for anything else .sx Sargasta grunted .sx He was not disappointed as yet .sx There was still the man's pockets .sx Stoltz's practised fingers extracted rather more interesting material from them .sx A wad of notes Yugo-Slavian money .sx " Here .sx " Sargasta put out his hand .sx Stoltz tossed them over to him , and he pocketed them .sx There was .sx something of the opportunist about Sargasta .sx He did not like to miss the chances of loot .sx " Ah !sx " Stoltz's tone told that he had made a discovery .sx It was Terrel's passport .sx He opened it , began .sx to glance through .sx Sargasta came nearer , looking over his shoulder .sx " Terrel , that's right .sx " Sargasta stared straight at .sx him .sx " There's no doubt now .sx You're the man .sx What are you doing in this country ?sx Spying ?sx " Terrel laughed softly , partly to cover his own un- .sx easiness .sx He could see that there was no use trying to bluff any further now .sx " Of course not .sx Think the authorities would have let me in if that had been the case ?sx " " No , " Sargasta agreed .sx " But then they hadn't an idea who you were .sx If they'd known .sx .. " .sx