IN EVIL PLIGHT 191

Charlie waited a short time, then went to the pile of logs
and picked out a straight stick about a yard long and two
inches in diameter. With one of the heavier ones he
could have killed the man, but the fellow was only acting
under the orders of his employer, and although he would
doubtless, at Ben Soloman’s commands, have roasted him
alive without compunction, he had not behaved with any
unkindness, and had, indeed, seemed to do his best for
him. ‘Taking the stick, he went to the door. He trod
lightly, but in the stillness of the forest the man heard him,
and glanced round as he came out. Seeing the stick in
his hand he leaped up, exclaiming, “‘ You young fool!” and
sprang towards him. He had scarce time to feel surprise
as Charlie quickly raised the club. It described a swift
sweep, fell full on his head, and he dropped to the ground
as if shot.

Charlie ran in again, seized a coil of rope, bound his
hands and feet securely, and dragged him into the hut.
Then he dashed some cold water on his face. The man
opened his eyes and tried to move. ‘You are too tightly
bound to move, Pauloff,” he said. “I could have killed
you if I had chosen, but I did not wish to. You have not
been unkind to me, and I owe you no grudge; but tell your
rascally employer that I will be even with him some day
for the evil he has done me.”

“Vou might as well have killed me,” the man said, “ for
he will do so when he finds I let you escape.”

“Then my advice to you is, be beforehand with him.
You are as strong a man as he is, and if I were in your
place, and a man who meant to kill me came into a lonely
hut like this, I would take precious good care that he had
no chance of carrying out his intentions.”

Charlie then took two loaves of black bread and a portion
of goat’s flesh from the cupboard, found a bottle about a
quarter full of coarse spirits, filled it up with water and put