His knees bent under him, but he had just strength enough to exclaim for the last time, "Master Uncle! Master Uncle!" "What is the matter with you ?" asked Uncle Prudent.
Perhaps the disputants would not have been sorry to have relieved their fury at the expense of the unfortunate valet.

But they had no time; and neither even had he time to answer.
A whistle was heard.

A flash of electric light shot across the clearing.
A signal, doubtless?
The moment had come for the deed of violence.

In less time that it takes to tell, six men came leaping across from under the trees, two onto Uncle Prudent, two onto Phil Evans, two onto Frycollin--there was no need for the last two, for the Negro was incapable of defending himself.

The president and secretary of the Weldon Institute, although taken by surprise, would have resisted.
They had neither time nor strength to do so.