Reaching Melita he pulled the rope from round her body and lifted her off the chair.
“You have come,” she whispered. “I was praying you would come and – now you are here.”
He could hardly hear her voice, but he could see the tears in her eyes.
“It’s all right, darling,” Sir John said. “No one will hurt you now.”
Three of his men were standing behind him with pointed guns.
The others stood at the door in case the noise of the shot should bring in the other kidnappers.
But as Sir John had hoped, they were all on the other side of the hill from the cave.
Or else they were in the wood waiting to snatch up the ten thousand pounds if it was left, as their Chief had assured them it would be, on the bridge over the stream.
He then ordered his men to round up the rest of the kidnappers, di
