"
When they reached the hut they cooked a meal, and then prepared to
keep alternate watch.
Charlie slept quietly all night, and, in the morning, remained in
his hiding place until he heard, in the distance, the sound of a
horse's tread. Then he went out and sat down, leaning against a
tree by the side of the path, in an attitude of exhaustion.
Presently he saw Ben Soloman approaching. He got up feebly, and
staggered a few paces to another tree, farther from the path. He
heard an angry shout, and then Ben Soloman rode up, and, with a
torrent of execrations at the carelessness of the watchers, leapt
from his horse and sprang to seize the fugitive, whom he regarded
as incapable of offering the slightest resistance.
Charlie straightened himself up, as if with an effort, and raised
his cudgel.
"I will not be taken alive," he said.
Ben Soloman drew his long knife from his girdle. "Drop that stick,"
he said, "or it will be worse for you."
"It cannot be worse than being tortured to death, as you said."
The Jew, with an angry snarl, sprang forward so suddenly and
unexpectedly that he was within the swing of Charlie's cudgel
before the latter could strike. He dropped the weapon at once, and
caught the wrist of the uplifted hand that held the knife.
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