nd shut the door. I
sprang up and pulled and wrenched at the brace with all my strength.
The handcuffs cut into my wrists, but I did not feel it. The brace
stayed as firm as ever. I sat down weak and trembling with my last
hope gone. A minute later there was a loud explosion in the bank,
which shook the building I was in. Next came a cheer from the men.
Then voices, and I heard Pike shout:

"It's all afire here--bring a pail of water, Joe!"

The well windlass creaked and I heard a man start in from the back.
Next I heard Pike say, "We'll soon fix that fire," then came an
explosion and a crash, like an earthquake, and the wall came down upon
me, and the counter came over and I was half under it. I heard the
cries of the men, and, wriggling about, I got out from under the
counter and found my hands free from the brace, and the snowflakes
coming in my face through where half the side of the building had been
blown away.

CHAPTER XXI

After the Explosion: some cheerful Talk with the Thieves, and a
strange but welcome Message out of the Storm.

As I struggled to my feet out of the wreck I was so dazed that I had
to lean against the wall to keep from falling. I felt something
running down my face and at first wondered what it was; then I saw it
was blood. One of my arms felt numb and I was afraid it was broken;
and my hands were all torn and bruised. I could not see into the other
building for the smoke and falling snow, but I could hear the groans
and curses of the men. I thought that if any of them were able they
might come to take revenge on me, and that I best go away, especially
as I was helpless with the handcuffs still on my wrists. I managed to
pull open the front door and ran to Taggart's, thinking that I might
get the handcuffs off in some way.

I found the box from which Pike had got them. There were two other
pairs, with keys. I took the keys in my teeth and tried, but neither
would fit mine. Then I went to the tin shop up-stairs. There was a
file on the bench and I managed to get this into the vise and began
rubbing the chain up and down on the edge of it. It was the hardest
work I ever did, but I soon saw that I could get my hands free in time
if I kept on. Once or twice I heard Pike shouting something and I
could still hear Kaiser barking in the hotel.

I don't know how long it took, but at last I got my hands separated,
though of course the clasps were still tightly around my wrists. I
looked