!" She even laughed. "Ye mout es well entrust yourself
ter a strand of flax thread!"

Through the floor licked a tongue of flame.

"Kain't you men jump--an' catch ther limb of thet thar sycamore," she
added. "Hit hain't fur away--an' thet's how I'm aimin' ter leave
myself."

Halloway turned an eager gaze upon the girl and even in the press of
moments he remembered the role he was playing. "I reckon," he
suggested, "I'd better lead off--ef thet flyin' limb holds me, it'll
hold ther balance of ye."

What was genuinely in his mind was to be there to catch her if she
missed her grip, but to forestall objection he thrust his body through
the opening, measured the distance with a brief glance and launched
himself outward. To use that fire escape one must catch the branch,
and hold it without slipping, while he swung and groped with his feet
for another limb below.

For Halloway the matter was done without doubt or wavering. It must be
so done or result in a three-storied drop, but when he turned and
looked back, bracing himself to catch Alexander, he saw her turn again
into the room, out of his range of vision. He could see Brent and Bud
vociferously arguing with her and then she reappeared and lifted her
pack and rifle over the sill. As she played out the improvised line of
bedding her eyes were angry and Halloway guessed that it was because
the two men had refused to leave without waiting for her. Eventually
when the room showed red beyond the frame she slipped through, poised
herself as the man had done, and came outward as smoothly as an
exhibition diver. She landed so close to Halloway that her hands
clasped over his own and her breath fluttered against his cheek. For a
fraction of an instant, he thought she might fail to hold her grip and
one arm swept around her pressing her close to him. Even when he knew
that she was safe he did not release her and his veins were pounding
with the wild exaltation of contact.

Somewhat pantingly but coolly she commanded: "Move back. Give me room
ter stand on--them others kain't foller whilst we're blockin' ther way."

Halloway had forgotten the others, and when Bud Sellers jumped, the
last of all, it was only just in time. A shower of sparks puffed out
of the window and inside sounded a crash of collapsing timbers.

"Well, where do we go now?" inquired Brent a quarter of an hour later
and the girl turned on her heel. "As fer me," she replied, "I'm goin'
back t