hand these last several miles, ejecting from it the last few drops
of its contents, then he opened the car door, stepped out of it
and stood over his strangling victims. He kicked Mallow's revolver
off the road, and, holding his breath, relieved the other high-
jacker of his weapon. This he flung after the first, then he
withdrew himself a few paces and lighted a cigarette, for a raw,
pungent odor offended his nostrils. Both of the bawling bandits
reeked of it, but their plight left him indifferent. They reminded
him of a pair of horses he had seen disemboweled by a bursting
shell, but he felt much less pity for them.

His lack of concern made itself felt finally. Mallow, who was the
first to show signs of recovery, struggled to his feet and clawed
blindly toward the automobile. He clung to it, sick and shaking;
profanely he appealed for aid.

"So! It _is_ Mr. Mallow," Gray said. "Fancy meeting you here!"

A stream of incoherencies issued from the wretched object of this
mockery. Tony, the other man, stifled his groans, rose to his
knees, and, with his hands clasped over his eyes, shuffled slowly
away, as if to escape the sound of Gray's voice.

"Better quiet down and let me do something at once, if you wish
to save your sight," the latter suggested. "Otherwise I won't
answer for the result. And you needn't tell me how it hurts. I
know." This proffer of aid appeared to throw the sufferers into
new depths of dismay. They called to him in the name of God. They
were harmless, now, and anyhow they had intended to do him no
bodily harm. They implored him to lend succor or to put them out