I shall stand behind this crate, and do you conceal yourselves behind those.

Then, when I flash a light upon them, close in swiftly.

If they fire, Watson, have no compunction about shooting them down." I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case behind which I crouched.

Holmes shot the slide across the front of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute darkness as I have never before experienced.

The smell of hot metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready to flash out at a moment's notice.