I -- I -- prithee , Dick , I must begone . On the true cross of Holywood , I am clean innocent alike of violence or treachery . Content ye , good lad . Farewell ! '' And he made his escape from the apartment with unusual alacrity . Dick remained rooted to the spot , his eyes wandering about the room , his face a changing picture of various emotions , wonder , doubt , suspicion , and amusement . Gradually , as his mind grew clearer , suspicion took the upper hand , and was succeeded by certainty of the worst . He raised his head , and , as he did so , violently started . High upon the wall there was the figure of a savage hunter woven in the tapestry . With one hand he held a horn to his mouth ; in the other he brandished a stout spear . His face was dark , for he was meant to represent an African . Now , here was what had startled Richard Shelton . The sun had moved away from the hall windows , and at the same time the fire had blazed up high on the wide hearth , and shed a changeful glow upon the roof and hangings . In this light the figure of the black hunter had winked at him with a white eyelid . He continued staring at the eye . The light shone upon it like a gem ; it was liquid , it was alive . Again the white eyelid closed upon it for a fraction of a second , and the next moment it was gone . There could be no mistake . The live eye that had been watching him through a hole in the tapestry was gone . The firelight no longer shone on a reflecting surface .
And instantly XXXXX awoke to the terrors of his position .
African Dick Holywood Shelton escape fire hangings prithee treachery violence