From the black eyes shot a glare of defiance, and advancing upon Mohun,
he delivered a blow at him which nearly shattered his opponent's sword.
Mohun struck in turn, aiming a furious cut at Darke; but as he did so,
he stumbled over the dead orderly, and nearly fell. For the moment he
was at Darke's mercy.
I rushed forward, sword in hand, to ward off the mortal stroke which I
was certain his adversary would deliver, but my intervention was
useless.
Darke recoiled from his stumbling adversary, instead of striking at
him. I could scarcely believe my own eyes, but the fact was
unmistakable.
Then the Federal colonel looked around, and his eye fell upon the
woman.
"Kill him!" she said, coldly. "Do not mind me!--only kill him!"
"No!" growled Darke. And seizing the woman in his arms:--
"They shall not take you prisoner!" he said.
And the swarthy Hercules passed through the door in rear at a single
bound, bearing off the woman like a feather.
A moment afterward the hoof-strokes of a horse were heard.
Darke had disappeared with the gray woman.
I turned to look at Mohun. He was standing perfectly motionless, and
looking after Darke with a strange expression of gloom and
astonishment.
"You are unhurt!" I said.
He turned quickly, and held out his hand.
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