And he's half winded as it is."
"You must not take that for granted!" growled Purceville, himself not
immune to the rigors of the climb. "Did you bring the flask as I told
you?"
"Of course." And a look of reproach.
"Then give it to me. Now
!"
Ballard glared at him, but the other was not even looking. He lifted
the tin from his pocket, and placed it in Purceville's outstretched
hand.
Burning with rage, Henry Purceville took the fine embroidered
handkerchief from the breast pocket of the crumpled man. Then soaked
it with water, and brought it slowly toward his face.
"What are you going to do?" ejaculated Arthur helplessly. But his
voice had been reduced to a cracked whisper, and his imagined safety
deserted him.
"This is for the soldiers, your Highness
. And for me." And the son of a sailor stuffed the cloth full into his
mouth. Then with one great hand holding the jaw shut, he pinched off
the nose with the other, and stopped all flow of air.
The old man could not endure it long. Suffocating, struggling to
breathe and break free, his heart gave one last, violent pump, then
seized and ceased forever.
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