“No; we have come in peace, if let alone, to rescue our friend Maxwell. If you interfere with us the worst is your own. Disarm him, Mr. Maybee.” But Thomson aimed his pistol straight at Winona’s breast, and cried: “I fire if you come a step nearer.” Warren groaned. “Oh, for a moment’s freedom and a good weapon in my hand!” Suddenly a lurid glare lighted up the hall, and Warren saw a dark shadow creeping in Thomson’s rear. Something of an extraordinary nature was about to happen. “It is Judah! It is Judah!” It was indeed Judah. He had crept along gradually advancing nearer and nearer, bending almost double in observation; then like a wild beast preparing to pounce upon his prey, he stiffened his powerful muscles, and with a bound sprang upon Thomson, seizing him in an iron grasp, and dragging him backward to the ground with such violence that his pistol flew from his hand. Placing one foot upon the breast of the prostrate man to prevent him from rising, he picked up the pistol, crying: “It is between you and me, now. Our roles are reversed. It is you who must die.” He was about to fire, when Captain Brown hastily interfered: “No, no; it won’t do. Spare him!” “Spare him! For what? To afford him an opportunity to do more mischief? No, no!” “Let us release Maxwell first and get outside the building then, if you insist upon this thing,” said Maybee. “Quick, then! I will not answer for myself. Your safety is not the only thing to be considered; I must think of myself as well. If I do not kill this man, he will murder me by inches if I fall into his hands, as he has already tried to do. I hate him, I hate him! It is my enemy I would slay, not yours.” With a rapid movement he stooped, placed the barrel of his pistol at Thomson’s forehead and--would have pulled the trigger but for the interference of John Brown, who threw himself upon the enraged black and stayed his hand. “Don’t do it; not this time, Judah. I know your feelings, but you’ll have another chance, for these fellows will be after us again. There’s too much at stake now; we owe Mr. Maxwell something for all he has suffered. Don’t do it.” “Yes,” chimed in Maybee; “if you let up now, Judah, I’ll be tee-totally smashed if I don’t lend you a hand and stand by for fair play.” “Why stay my hand? Vengeance is sweet,” replied Judah, his dark, glowing eyes fixed in a threatening gaze upon his foe bound and helpless at his feet. “There is a time for everything, my son. Stay thy hand and fear not; vengeance is mine,” said John Brown. Judah was silent for a moment, but stood as if gathering strength to resist temptation. Finally he said: “I am the Lord’s instrument to kill this man. Promise me that when this villain’s life shall lie in the gift of any man in the camp, he shall be given to me as my right, to deal with him as I see fit.” “We promise,” broke from Captain Brown and Ebenezer Maybee simultaneously.