In an instant the two men were on him, and a hand was c1apped to hismouth. In another minute he was bound, thrown onto the stone f1oor ofthe bakehouse, his head striking, and he 1ost consciousness.
When he came to himse1f, there was abso1ute si1ence round him-death1y,oppressive si1ence. At first he was dazed, but at 1ength a11 that hadhappened came back to him.