Ferrol seemed almost oblivious of the threatening crowd, which once or
twice jostled him more than was accidental. He came into the post-
office, got an envelope, put his letter inside it, stamped it, addressed
it to Christine, and dropped it into the letter-box.
CHAPTER XX
An hour later he stood among a few companies of British soldiers in front
of the massive stone store-house of the Lavilettes' abandoned farmhouse,
with its thick shuttered windows and its solid oak doors. It was too
late to attempt the fugitive's escape, save by strategy. Over half an
hour Nic had kept them at bay. He had made loopholes in the shutters and
the door, and from these he fired upon his assailants. Already he had
wounded five and killed two.
Men had been sent for timber to batter down the door and windows.
Meanwhile, the troops stood at a respectful distance, out of the range of
Nic's firing, awaiting developments.
Ferrol consulted with the officers, advising a truce and parley, offering
himself as mediator to induce Nic to surrender. To this the officers
assented, but warned him that his life might pay the price of his
temerity. He laughed at this. He had been talking, with his head and
throat well muffled, and the collar of his greatcoat drawn about his
ears.
Pages:
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100