I persuaded him to rob you; and I and a woman helped him to desert, and got him away in safety.' A look as of surprise and triumph shone out dimly through the anguish in my victim's face.

I was disturbed, disquieted.

I said-- 'What, then--didn't he escape ?' A negative shake of the head.
'No?
What happened, then ?' The satisfaction in the shrouded face was still plainer.

The man tried to mumble out some words--could not succeed; tried to express something with his obstructed hands--failed; paused a moment, then feebly tilted his head, in a meaning way, toward the corpse that lay nearest him.
'Dead ?' I asked.

'Failed to escape ?--caught in the act and shot ?' Negative shake of the head.
'How, then ?' Again the man tried to do something with his hands.