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entry to her。
I have not attempted to fully describe my sensations at the moment I
recognized Victory； because； I can assure you； they were entirely
indescribable。 I should never have imagined that the sight of any human
being could affect me as had this unexpected discovery of Victory in the
same room in which I was； while I had thought of her for weeks either as
dead； or at best hundreds of miles to the west； and as irretrievably lost to
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me as though she were； in truth； dead。
I was filled with a strange； mad impulse to be near her。 It was not
enough merely to assist her； or protect herI desired to touch herto take
her in my arms。 I was astounded at myself。 Another thing puzzled me
it was my incomprehensible feeling of elation since I had again seen her。
With a fate worse than death staring her in the face； and with the
knowledge that I should probably die defending her within the hour； I was
still happier than I had been for weeksand all because I had seen again
for a few brief minutes the figure of a little heathen maiden。 I couldn't
account for it； and it angered me； I had never before felt any such
sensations in the presence of a woman； and I had made love to some very
beautiful ones in my time。
It seemed ages that I stood in the shadow of that doorway； in the ill…lit
corridor of the palace of Menelek XIV。 A sickly gas jet cast a sad pallor
upon the black face of the sentry。 The fellow seemed rooted to the spot。
Evidently he would never leave； or turn his back again。
I had been in hiding but a short time when I heard the sound of distant
cannon。 The truce had ended； and the battle had been resumed。 Very
shortly thereafter the earth shook to the explosion of a shell within the city；
and from time to time thereafter other shells burst at no great distance
from the palace。 The yellow men were bombarding New Gondar again。
Presently officers and slaves commenced to traverse the corridor on
matters pertaining to their duties； and then came the emperor； scowling
and wrathful。 He was followed by a few personal attendants； whom he
dismissed at the doorway to his apartmentsthe same doorway through
which Victory had been taken。 I chafed to follow him； but the corridor
was filled with people。 At last they betook themselves to their own
apartments； which lay upon either side of the corridor。
An officer and a slave entered the very room in which I hid； forcing
me to flatten myself to one side in the darkness until they had passed。
Then the slave made a light； and I knew that I must find another hiding
place。
Stepping boldly into the corridor； I saw that it was now empty save for
the single sentry before the emperor's door。 He glanced up as I emerged
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from the room； the occupants of which had not seen me。 I walked
straight toward the soldier； my mind made up in an instant。 I tried to
simulate an expression of cringing servility； and I must have succeeded；
for I entirely threw the man off his guard； so that he permitted me to
approach within reach of his rifle before stopping me。 Then it was too
latefor him。
Without a word or a warning； I snatched the piece from his grasp； and；
at the same time struck him a terrific blow between the eyes with my
clenched fist。 He staggered back in surprise； too dumbfounded even to
cry out； and then I clubbed his rifle and felled him with a single mighty
blow。
A moment later； I had burst into the room beyond。 It was empty！
I gazed about； mad with disappointment。 Two doors opened from
this to other rooms。 I ran to the nearer and listened。 Yes； voices were
coming from beyond and one was a woman's； level and cold and filled
with scorn。 There was no terror in it。 It was Victory's。
I turned the knob and pushed the door inward just in time to see
Menelek seize the girl and drag her toward the far end of the apartment。
At the same instant there was a deafening roar just outside the palacea
shell had struck much nearer than any of its predecessors。 The noise of it
drowned my rapid rush across the room。
But in her struggles； Victory turned Menelek about so that he saw me。
She was striking him in the face with her clenched fist； and now he was
choking her。
At sight of me； he gave voice to a roar of anger。
〃What means this； slave？〃 he cried。 〃Out of here！ Out of here！
Quick； before I kill you！〃
But for answer I rushed upon him； striking him with the butt of the
rifle。 He staggered back； dropping Victory to the floor； and then he cried
aloud for the guard； and came at me。 Again and again I struck him； but
his thick skull might have been armor plate； for all the damage I did it。
He tried to close with me； seizing the rifle； but I was stronger than he；
and； wrenching the weapon from his grasp； tossed it aside and made for
his throat with my bare hands。 I had not dared fire the weapon for fear that
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its report would bring the larger guard stationed at the farther end of the
corridor。
We struggled about the room； striking one another； knocking over
furniture； and rolling upon the floor。 Menelek was a powerful man； and
he was fighting for his life。 Continually he kept calling for the guard；
until I succeeded in getting a grip upon his throat； but it was too late。 His
cries had been heard； and suddenly the door burst open； and a score of
armed guardsmen rushed into the apartment。
Victory seized the rifle from the floor and leaped between me and
them。 I had the black emperor upon his back； and both my hands were at
his throat； choking the life from him。
The rest happened in the fraction of a second。 There was a rending
crash above us； then a deafening explosion within the chamber。