第6章

Ashespokeasuddensilencehadfallen，asilenceasstartlingashadbeentheshoutofwarning。Somefreshattackuponthehousewhichtheprisonerscouldnotsee，butwhichmustbevisibletothoseinthehousesoppositewasgoingforward。

"Perhapstheyareontheroof，"’whisperedFordjoyfully。"They’llbethroughthetrapinaminute，andyou’llbefree！"

"No！"saidthegirl。

Shealsospokeinawhisper，asthoughshefearedProtheromighthearher。Andwithherhandsheagainpointed。Cautiouslyabovethetopoftheladderappearedtheheadandshouldersofaman。Heworeapoliceman’shelmet，but，warnedbythefateofhiscomrades，hecamearmed。Balancinghimselfwithhislefthandontherungoftheladder，heraisedtheotherandpointedarevolver。Itwasapparentlyatthetwoprisoners，andMissDalesprangtooneside。

"Standstill！"commandedFord。"HeknowswhoYOUare！Youheardthatyellwhentheysawyou？Theyknowyouaretheprisoner，andtheyaregladyou’restillalive。ThatofficerisaimingatthewindowBELOWus。He’safterthemenwhomurderedhismates。"

Fromthewindowdirectlybeneaththemcamethecrashofarifle，andfromthetopoftheladdertherevolverofthepoliceofficerblazedinthedarkness。Againtheriflecrashed，andthemanontheladderjerkedhishandsabovehisheadandpitchedbackward。Fordlookedintothefaceofthegirlandfoundhereyesfilledwithhorror。

"Whereismyuncle，Pearsall？"shefaltered。"Hehastworifles——forshootinginScotland。Wasthatariflethat"Herlipsrefusedtofinishthequestion。

"Itwasarifle，"Fordstammered，"butprobablyProthero"

EvenashespokethevoiceoftheJewroseinashriekfromthefloorbelowthem，butnotfromthewindowbelowthem。ThesoundwasfromthefrontroomopeningonSowellStreet。Intheawedsilencethathadsuddenlyfallenhisshriekscarriedsharply。Theyweremorelikethesnarlsandravingsofananimalthantheoutcriesofaman。

"TakeTHAT！"heshouted，withafloodofoaths，"andTHAT，andTHAT！"

Eachwordwaspunctuatedbythereportofhisautomatic，andtotheamazementofFord，wasinstantlyansweredfromSowellStreetbyascatteredvolleyofrifleandpistolshots。

"Thisisn’tafight，"hecried，"it’sabattle！"

WithMissDaleathisside，heranintothefrontroom，and，raisingtheblind，appearedatthewindow。Andinstantly，asattheotherendofthehouse，therewas，atsightofthewoman’sfigure，atumultofcries，ashoutofwarning，andagreatroarofwelcome。

Frombeneaththemamanranintothedesertedstreet，andintheglareofthegas—lampFordsawhiswhite，upturnedface。Hewaswithoutahatandhisheadwascircledbyabandage。ButFordrecognizedCuthbert。"That’sFord！"hecried，pointing。"Andthegirl’swithhim！"HeturnedtoagroupofmencrouchinginthedoorwayofthenexthousetotheoneinwhichFordwasimprisoned。

"Thegirl’salive！"heshouted。

"Thegirl’salive！"Thewordswerecaughtupandflungfromwindowtowindow，fromhouse—toptohouse—top，withsavage，jubilantcheers。FordpushedMissDaleforward。

"Letthemseeyou，"hesaid，"andyouwillneverseeastrangersight。"

Belowthem，SowellStreet，glisteningwithrainandsnow，layempty，butateitherendofit，heldbackbyanarmyofpolice，wereblackmassesofmen，andbeyondthemmoremenpackeduponthetopsoftaxicabsandhansoms，stretchingasfarasthestreet—lampsshowed，andontheroofsshadowyformscreptcautiouslyfromchimneytochimney;andinthewindowsofdarkenedroomsopposite，frombehindbarricadesofmattressesandupturnedtables，riflesappearedstealthily，tobelostinasuddenflashofflame。Andwiththeseflasheswereothersthatcamefromwindowsandroofswiththereportofaburstingbomb，andthat，ontheinstant，turnednightintoday，andthenleftthedarknessmoredark。

Fordgaveacryofdelight。

"They’retakingflash—lightphotographs"hecriedjubilantly。"Welldone，youPressmen！"Theinstinctofthereporterbecamecompelling。"Ifthey’realivetodevelopthosephotographsto—night，"heexclaimedeagerly，"Cuthbertwillsendthembyspecialmessenger，intimetocatchtheMAURETANIAandtheREPUBLIC

willhavethembySunday。Imayn’tbealivetoseethem，"headdedregretfully，"butwhatafeaturefortheSundaysupplement！"

Astheeyesofthetwoprisonersbecameaccustomedtothedarkness，theysawthatthestreetwasnot，asatfirsttheyhadsupposed，entirelyempty。Directlybelowtheminthegutter，wheretoapproachitwastoinviteinstantdeathfromProthero’spistol，laythedeadbodyofapoliceman，andatthenearerendofthestreet，notfiftyyardsfromthem，werethreeotherprostrateforms。Buttheseformswereanimate，andalivetogoodpurpose。Fromapublic—houseonthecornerarowofyellowlampsshowedthemclearly。Stretchedonpiecesofboard，andmatscommandeeredfromhallwaysandcabs，eachofthethreemenlayatfulllength，nursingarifle。Theirbeltedgrayovercoats，flat，visoredcaps，andthesetoftheirshouldersmarkedthemforsoldiers。

"FortheloveofHeaven！"exclaimedFordincredulously，"they’vecalledouttheGuards！"

Asunconcernedlyasthoughfacingthebuttsatarifle—range，thethreesharp—shooterswerefiringpoint—blankatthewindowsfromwhichProtheroandPearsallwerewagingtheirwartothedeathupontheinstrumentsoflawandorder。Besidethem，onhiskneesinthesnow，ayoungmanwiththesilverhiltofanofficer’sswordshowingthroughtheslitinhisgreatcoat，wasgivingcommands;andattheotherendofthestreet，abrotherofficerineveningdresswasdirectingothersharp—shooters，bendingoverthemlikethecoachofatug—of—warteam，pointingwithwhite—glovedfingers。OnthesideofthestreetfromwhichProtherowasfiring，huddledinadoorway，wereagroupofofficials，inspectorsofpolice，firechiefsinbrasshelmets，moreofficersoftheGuardsinbear—skins，and，wrappedinafurcoat，theyouthfulHorneSecretary。Fordsawhimwavehisarm，andathisbiddingthecordonofpolicebroke，andslowlyforcingitswaythroughthemassofpeoplecameahugetouring—car，itstwoblazingeyessendingbeforeitgreatshaftsoflight。Thedriverofthecarwastednotimeintakinguphisposition。Dashinghalf—waydownthestreet，heasswiftlybackedtheautomobileoverthegutteranduponthesidewalk，sothatthelightsinfrontfellfullonthedoorofNo。40。Then，coveredbythefirefromtheroofs，hesprangtothelampsandtiltedthemuntiltheythrewtheirshaftsintothewindowsofthethirdstory。

Prothero’shiding—placewasnowasclearlyexposedasthoughitwereheldinthecircleofaspot—light，andatthesuccessofthemaneuverthegreatmobraisedanapplaudingcheer。Butthetriumphwasbrief。Inaminutetheblazinglampshadbeenshatteredbybullets，andoncemore，saveforthefierceflashesfromriflesandpistols，SowellStreetlayindarkness。

ForddrewMissDalebackintotheroom。

"Thosemenbelow，"hesaid，"aremad。Prothero’salwaysbeenmad，andyourPearsallismadwithdrugs。Andthesightofbloodhasmadethemmaniacs。Theyknowtheynowhavenochancetolive。

There’snofearorhopetoholdthem，andonelifemoreorlessmeansnothing。Iftheyshouldreturnhere"

Hehesitated，butthegirlnoddedquickly。Iunderstand，"shesaid。

"I’mgoingtotrytobreakdownthedoorandgettotheroof，"

explainedFord。"Myhopeisthatthisattackwillkeepthemfromhearing，and"

"No，"protestedthegirl。"Theywillhearyou，andtheywillkillyou。"

"Theymaytakeitintotheircrazyheadstodothat，anyway，"

protestedFord，"sothesoonerIgetyouaway，thebetter。I’veonlytosmashthepanelsclosetothebolts，putmyarmthroughthehole，anddrawtheboltsback。Then，anotherblowonthespringlockwhenthefiringisloudest，andweareinthehall。Shouldanythinghappentome，youmustknowhowtomakeyourescapealone。

Acrossthehallisadoorleadingtoanironladder。Thatladderleadstoatrap—door。Thetrap—doorisopen。Whenyoureachtheroof，runwestwardtowardalightedbuilding。"

"Iamnotgoingwithoutyou，"saidMissDalequietly;"notafterwhatyouhavedoneforme。"

"Ihaven’tdoneanythingforyouyet，"objectedFord。"ButincaseIgetcaughtImeantomakesuretherewillbeothersonhandwhowill。"

Hepulledhispencilandaletterfromhispocket，andonthebackoftheenvelopewroterapidly:"IwilltrytogetMissDaleupthroughthetrapintheroof。YoucanreachtheroofbymeansoftheapartmenthouseinDevonshireStreet。Sendmentomeether。"

Inthegroupsofofficialshalfhiddeninthedoorwayfartherdownthestreet，hecouldmakeoutthebandagedheadofCuthbert。

"Cuthbert！"hecalled。Weightingtheenvelopewithacoin，hethrewitintotheair。Itfellinthegutter，underalamp—post，andfullinview，andatoncethetwomadmenbelowsplashedthestreetarounditwithbullets。But，indifferenttothebullets，apolicemansprangfromadarkareawayandflunghimselfuponit。Thenextmomenthestaggered。Thenlimping，butholdinghimselferect，heranheavilytowardthegroupofofficials。TheHomeSecretarysnatchedtheenvelopefromhim，andheldittowardthelight。

Inhisdesiretolearnifhismessagehadreachedthoseontheoutside，Fordleanedfaroverthesillofthewindow。Hisimprudencewasallbutfatal。Fromtheroofoppositetherecameasuddenyellofwarning，fromdirectlybelowhimaflash，andabulletgrazedhisforeheadandshatteredthewindow—paneabovehim。

Hewasdelugedwithashowerofbrokenglass。Stunnedandbleeding，hesprangback。

Withacryofconcern，MissDalerantowardhim。

"It’snothing！"stammeredFord。"ItonlymeansImustwastenomoretime。"Hebalancedhisironrodashewouldapikestaff，andaimeditattheupperhalfofthedoortothehall。

"Whenthenextvolleycomes，"hesaid，"I’llsmashthepanel。"

Withthebarraisedhigh，hismusclesonastrain，hestoodalertandpoised，waitingforashotfromtheroombelowtocallforthanansweringvolleyfromthehouse—tops。Butnosoundcamefrombelow。

Andthesharp—shooters，waitingforthemadmentoexposethemselves，heldtheirfire。

Ford’smusclesrelaxed，andheloweredhisweapon。Heturnedhiseyesinquiringlytothegirl。"What’sTHISmean？"hedemanded。

Unconsciouslyhisvoicehadagaindroppedtoawhisper。

"They’reshortofammunition，"saidthegirl，inatoneaslowashisown;"ortheyarecomingHERE。"

Withaperemptorygesture，Fordwavedhertowardtheroomadjoiningandthenrantothewindow。

Thegirlwasleaningforwardwithherfaceclosetothedoor。Sheheldthefingerofonehandtoherlips。Withtheotherhandshebeckoned。Fordrantoherside。

"Someoneismovinginthehall，"shewhispered。"Perhapstheyareescapingbytheroof？No，"shecorrectedherself。"Theyseemtoberunningdownthestairsagain。Nowtheyarecomingback。Doyouhear？"sheasked。"Itsoundslikesomeonerunningupanddownthestairs。Whatcanitmean？"

FromthedirectionofthestaircaseFordheardacuriouscreakingsoundasofmanylightfootsteps。Hegaveacryofrelief。

"Thepolice！"heshoutedjubilantly。"They’veenteredthroughtheroof，andthey’regoingtoattackintherear。You’reSAFE！"hecried。

Hesprangawayfromthedoorand，withtwoswingingblows，smashedthebroadpanel。Andthen，withacry，hestaggeredbackward。Fullinhisface，throughthebreakhehadmade，sweptahotwaveofburningcinders。Throughthebrokenpanelhesawthehallchokedwithsmoke，thestepsofthestaircaseandthestair—railswrappedinflame。

"Thehouseisonfire！"hecried。"They’vetakentotheroofandsetfiretothestairsbehindthem！"Withthefullstrengthofhisarmsandshouldershestruckandsmashedtheironbaragainstthedoor。Buttheboltsheld，andthrougheachfreshopeninghemadeinthepanelstheburningcinders，drawnbythedraftfromthewindows，sweptintotheroom。Fromthestreetamightyyellofconsternationtoldthemthefirehadbeendiscovered。MissDalerantothewindow，andtheyellturnedtoagreatcryofwarning。Theairwasrentwithfranticvoices。"Jump！"criedsome。"Goback！"

entreatedothers。Thefirechiefranintothestreetdirectlybelowherandshoutedatherthroughhishands。"Waitforthelife—net！"

hecommanded。"Waitfortheladders！"

"Ladders！"pantedFord。"Beforetheycangettheirenginesthroughthatmob"

Throughthejaggedopeninginthedoorhethrusthisarmandjerkedfreetheupperbolt。Aninstantlaterhehadkickedthelowerpanelintosplintersandwithdrawnthesecondbolt，andatlast，underthesavageonslaughtofhisironbar，thespringlockflewapart。

Thehalllayopenbeforehim。Ononesideofittheburningstaircasewasawellofflame;athisfeet，themattingonthefloorwasburningfiercely。Heracedintothebedroomandreturnedinstantly，carryingablanketandatoweldrippingwithwater。Hepressedthetowelacrossthegirl’smouthandnostrils。"Holditthere！"hecommanded。Blindedbythebandage，MissDalecouldseenothing，butshefeltherselfsuddenlywrappedintheblanketandthenliftedhighinFord’sarms。Shegaveacryofprotest，butthenextinstanthewasrunningwithherswiftlywhiletheflamesfromthestair—wellscorchedherhair。Shewassuddenlytumbledtoherfeet，thetowelandblanketsnatchedaway，andshesawFordhangingfromanironladderholdingouthishand。Sheclaspedit，andhedrewherafterhim，theflamesandcinderspursuingandsnatchinghungrily。

Butaninstantlaterthecoldnightairsmoteherintheface，fromhundredsofhoarsethroatsayellofwelcomegreetedher，andshefoundherselfontheroof，dazedandbreathless，andfree。

Atthesamemomenttheliftingfire—ladderreachedthesillofthethird—storywindow，andafireman，shieldinghisfacefromtheflames，peeredintotheblazingroom。Whathesawshowedhimtherewerenolivestorescue。Stretchedonthefloor，withtheirclothingincindersandtheflameslickingattheflesh，werethebodiesofthetwomurderers。

Abullet—holeintheforeheadofeachshowedthatself—destructionandcremationhadseemedabetterchoicethanthegallowsandagraveofquick—lime。

Ontheroofabove，twoyoungpeoplestoodbreathingheavilyandhappily，staringincredulouslyintoeachother’seyes。Runningtowardthemacrosstheroofs，stumblingandfalling，weremanyblue—coated，helmetedangelsofpeaceandlawandorder。

"HowcanItellyou？"whisperedthegirlquickly。"HowcanIeverthankyou？AndIwasangry，"sheexclaimed，withself—reproach。"I

didnotunderstandyou。"Shegavealittlesighofcontent。"NowI

thinkIdo。"

Hetookherhand，andshedidnotseemtoknowthatheheldit。

"And，"shecried，inwonder，"IDON’TEVENKNOWYOURNAME！"

Theyoungmanseemedtohavelosthisconfidence。Foramomenthewassilent。"Thename’sallright！"hesaidfinally。Hisvoicewasstillalittleshaken，alittletremulous。"Ionlyhopeyou’lllikeit。It’sgottolastyoualongtime！"