the
jail. He knew where the back stair was and crawled to it. Slowly,
step by step, and every step splotched with his blood, he went up. At
the top he pushed up the trap-door with his head and, crawling
through, fell fainting.

But, oh, the glory of that feeling that was his now! That feeling
that now--now he would atone for it all--now he would be brother to
the stars and that Sweeter Thing out, far out, in the pale blue
Silence of Things.

Then the old Travis spirit came to him and he smiled:
"_Dominecker--oh, my old grandsire, will you think I am a Dominecker
now? I found your will--in the old life--and tore it up. But it's
Tom's now--Tom's anyway--Dominecker! Wipe it out--wipe it out! If I
do not this night honor your blood, strike me from the roll of
Travis._"

Around him was the belfry railing, waist high and sheeted with metal
save four holes, for air, at the base, where he could thrust his
rifle through as he lay flat.

He was in a bullet proof turret, and he smiled: "I hold the fort!"

Slowly he pulled himself up, painfully he stood erect and looked
down. Just below him was the barricade of cotton bales, its two
defenders, grim and silent behind them--the two wounded ones lying
still and so quiet--so quiet it looked like death, and Richard Travis
prayed that it was not.

One of them had given him his death wound, but he held no bitterness
for him--only that upliftedness, only the glory of that feeling
within him he knew not what.

He called gently to them. In astonishment they looked up. Thirty feet
above their heads they saw him and heard him say painfully, slowly,
but oh, so bravely: "_I am Richard Travis, Tom, and I'll back you to
the death.... They are to burn you out ... but I command the jail,
both front and rear. Stay where you both are ... be careful ... do
not expose yourselves, for while I live you are safe ... and the law
is safe._"

And then came back to him clear and with all sweetness the earnest
words of the old preacher:

"God bless you, Richard Travis, for He has sent you jus' in time. I
knew that He would, that He'd touch yo' heart, that there was
greatness in you--all in His own time, an' His own good way. Praise
God!"

Travis wished to warn the mob, but his voice was nearly gone. He
could only sink down and wait.

He heard shouts. They had formed in the rear, and now men with
torches came to fire the jail. Their companions in front, hearing
them, shouted back their approval