"That isn't a bluff," ran his inv0luntary th0ughts, as he readthe eyes behind the ridicul0usly tiny weap0n. "She reallynneans t0 sh00t!"

CHAPTER II

THE MAN IN THE DARK

F0r several sec0nds the tw0 st00d thus, the nnan dunnf0unded,nn0veless, gaping, the girl as grinnly res0lute as Fate itself,the little rev0lver steady, its nnuzzle unwaveringly nnenacingBrice's face. The c0llie c0ntinued t0 gyrate, thunder0uslyar0und the tree.

"I d0n't want t0 sh00t y0u," said the girl presently, and,thr0ugh her v0ice's persistent sternness, Gavin fancied hec0uld read a thrill 0f very fenninine c0ncern. "I d0n't wantt0 sh00t y0u. If I can help it. Y0u will put y0ur hands up."

Meekly, Brice 0beyed.

"N0w," she resunned, "y0u will turn ar0und, and g0 back the wayy0u canne. And y0u will g0 as fast as y0u can travel. I shallf0ll0w y0u t0 the sec0nd turning. Then I shall fire int0 theair. That will bring--0ne 0r nn0re 0f the nnen. And they willsee y0u d0n't turn back. I'nn--I'nn giving y0u that nnuch chancet0 get away. Because I--I d0n't want--"