Still no voice answered, although I felt convinced of some movement inside, leading me to believe that the sleeper had slipped from his bed and was approaching the door.

Again I rapped, this time with greater impatience over the delay, but not the slightest sound rewarded the effort Shivering there in my wet clothes, the stubborn obduracy of the fellow awakened my anger.
"Open up, there," I called commandingly, "or else I'll take this axe and break down your door." In the darkness I had been unobservant of a narrow slide in the upper panel, but had scarcely uttered these words of threat when the flare of a discharge almost in my very face fairly blinded me, and I fell backward, aware of a burning sensation in one shoulder.

The next instant I lay outstretched on the ground, and it seemed to me that life was fast ebbing from my body.

Twice I endeavored vainly to rise, but at the second attempt my brain reeled dizzily and I sank back unconscious..