"
"I suppose you sprang out of bed and gave the alarm?"
"No, I didn't," St. Vincent answered, with a defiant toss of the head,
as though he might as well get the worst over with. "I just lay there
and waited."
"What did you think?"
"That Bella was in collusion with the Indian, and that Borg was to be
murdered. It came to me at once."
"And you did nothing?"
"Nothing." His voice sank, and his eyes dropped to Frona, leaning
against the box beneath him and steadying it. She did not seem to be
affected. "Bella came over to me, but I closed my eyes and breathed
regularly. She held the slush-lamp to me, but I played sleep naturally
enough to fool her. Then I heard a snort of sudden awakening and
alarm, and a cry, and I looked out. The Indian was hacking at Borg
with a knife, and Borg was warding off with his arms and trying to
grapple him. When they did grapple, Bella crept up from behind and
threw her arm in a strangle-hold about her husband's neck. She put her
knee into the small of his back, and bent him backward and, with the
Indian helping, threw him to the floor."
"And what did you do?"
"I watched."
"Had you a revolver?"
"Yes."
"The one you previously said John Borg had borrowed?"
"Yes; but I watched."
"Did John Borg call for help?"
"Yes."
"Can you give his words?"
"He called, 'St.
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