They succeeded in securing me a torn pillow-slip from somewhere, and
sheltering my body as best I might behind the wall angle I waved it
violently in full view of the kitchen door. For a few moments it
remained apparently unnoted, and then Ebers's round, placid countenance
looked suspiciously through the slight aperture.

"Did you give op?" he questioned anxiously.

"Give up nothing," I retorted, my temper thoroughly exhausted. "Come
out of that! You are firing on your own friends."

He put his fat fingers to his nose and wiggled them derisively.

"Dot is too thin," he said meaningly. "You dink me von ol' fool, but I
show you. By Chiminy, I want no friends--you shoot me der ear off, and
I fights mit you good and blenty. Der is dings to eat in der bantry,
and you be damned."

He drew back, leaving merely the black muzzle of his gun projecting
across the top of the lower door.

"Ebers," I called out at the top of my voice, "unless you obey my
orders I'LL have you strung up by your own men. Open that door!"

The fat, puzzled face peered once more cautiously over the menacing
gun-barrel.

"Is dot you, Captain?"