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 up. "Cap'n 'Bijah has brought them out, just as I said. Lie still, belovéd." She ran to the head of the stairs, "Hello! Hello!" she called.

There was utter silence. No—a creak, a faint sound, in the living-room.

"Is that you, Jim and Elspeth?" she cried sharply.

Silence still, and then there was suddenly turned upon her, from the foot of the stairs, the dazzling glare of an electric search-light.

"What is it?" called Garth. "Why don't they come up?"

There was a rush of heavy feet on the stairs. Joan dashed into Garth's room and flung herself against the door. But before she could lock it, it was steadily pushed open; she was forced back, back. She could see nothing except that blinding search-light, but out of the darkness behind it spoke the soft voice of Count Stysalski.

"We are not the friends you were expecting, hein? No, they are taking a little pleasure sail, quite safe, quite safe, I assure you. Himmel! What a wild beast for struggle it is! Hold the lady, Schmidt."

Two iron arms pinned Joan fast. The heart-