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With groping hands he felt about the room--it was unoccupied. Then he passed to

the door at the far end. Cautiously he opened it until a narrow crack gave him a

view of the dimly lighted chamber beyond. Within all seemed asleep. The mucker

pushed the door still further open and stepped within--so must he search every

hut within the village until he had found those he sought?

They were not there, and on silent feet that disturbed not even the lightly

slumbering curs the man passed out by the front entrance into the street beyond.

Through a second and third hut he made his precarious way. In the fourth a man

stirred as Byrne stood upon the opposite side of the room from the door--with a

catlike bound the mucker was beside him. Would the fellow awake? Billy scarce

breathed. The samurai turned restlessly, and then, with a start, sat up with wide-

open eyes. At the same instant iron fingers closed upon his throat and the long

sword of his dead daimio passed through his heart.

Byrne held the corpse until he was positive that life was extinct, then he dropped

it quietly back upon its pallet, and departed to search the adjoining dwelling.

Here he found a large front room, and a smaller chamber in the rear--an

arrangement similar to that in the daimio's house.

The front room revealed no clue to the missing men. Within the smaller, rear

room Byrne heard the subdued hum of whispered conversation just as he was

about to open the door. Like a graven image he stood in silence, his ear glued to

the frail door. For a moment he listened thus and then his heart gave a throb of

exultation, and he could have shouted aloud in thanksgiving--the men were

conversing in English!

Quietly Byrne pushed open the door far enough to admit his body. Those within

ceased speaking immediately. Byrne closed the door behind him, advancing until

he felt one of the occupants of the room. The man shrank from his touch.

"I guess we're done for, Mallory," said the man in a low tone; "they've come for

us."

"Sh-sh," warned the mucker. "Are you and Mallory alone?"

"Yes--for God's sake who are you and where did you come from?" asked the

surprised Mr. Harding.

"Be still," admonished Byrne, feeling for the cords that he knew must bind the

captive.

He found them presently and with his jackknife cut them asunder. Then he

released Mallory.

127

The Mucker