"Tell me first," I said, "how the Indian in the armoury met his death, and what those last words meant, when he pointed to the
dagger in your hand."
The first black foot that is planted upon this platform sends my dagger into Issus' heart."
Almost of its own volition, my dagger flew up above that putrid heart.
The Captain's hand hesitated and dropped; and the other added with the same icy candour: "If I find I haven't the nerve to do it with that
dagger I can do it in a month with drink."
The panthan's fingers dropped from the
dagger's hilt.
They'll get their
dagger back, and then I'll explain to you how the thing was done."
This scene lasted but a few seconds: the shark returned, and, turning on his back, prepared himself for cutting the Indian in two, when I saw Captain Nemo rise suddenly, and then,
dagger in hand, walk straight to the monster, ready to fight face to face with him.
Instead I took a firm grasp upon the rail with my left hand and drew my
dagger.
"I am just going to call him, senora," said Leonela; "but you must first give me that
dagger, lest while I am gone you should by means of it give cause to all who love you to weep all their lives."
Then Grimaud, lifting the
dagger from the pool of blood which was gliding along the room, to the horror of all present, made a sign to the host to follow him, paid him with a generosity worthy of his master and again mounted his horse.
Six of them there were, clothed in dirty leather, and wearing swords and
daggers at their sides.
Our retreat inspired them with courage; they redoubled their cries, and posted themselves on an eminence near at hand that overlooked us; there they insulted us by brandishing their lances and
daggers. We were fortunately not above a stone's cast from the sea, and could therefore have retreated to our bark had we found ourselves reduced to extremities.
In an instant all was confusion; a thousand drawn swords menaced me from every quarter, and Sab Than sprang upon me with a jeweled
dagger he had drawn from his nuptial ornaments.
When they had finished their song the girl in white went up to the prompter's box and a man with tight silk trousers over his stout legs, and holding a plume and a
dagger, went up to her and began singing, waving his arms about.
I looked
daggers at the husband; he looked
daggers at me, and occasionally looking at his wife, gave her a glance which was like the opening of Bluebeard's closet.
