arnestly applied. He snorted, leaped, and plunged forward, the clatter of
his hoofs bringing lancelike streaks of fire out of the surrounding
blackness. Behind him Trevison heard Corrigan raging impotently,
profanely. There came another scattering volley. Trevison reeled, caught
himself, and then hung hard to the saddle-horn, as Nigger fled into the
night, running as a coyote runs from the daylight.

CHAPTER XXIV

ANOTHER WOMAN LIES

Shortly before midnight Aunt Agatha Benham laid her book down, took off
her glasses, wiped her eyes and yawned. She sat for a time stretched out
in her chair, her hands folded in her lap, meditatively looking at the
flicker of the kerosene lamp, thinking of the conveniences she had given
up in order to chaperon a wilful girl who did not appreciate her services.
It was the selfishness of youth, she decided--nothing less. But still
Rosalind might understand what a sacrifice her aunt was making for her.
Thrilling with self-pity, she got up, blew out the light and ascended the
stairs to her room. She plumped herself in a chair at one of the front
windows before beginning to undress, that she might again feel the
delicious thrill, for that was the only consolation she got from a
contemplation of her sacrifice, Rosalind never offered her a word of
gratitude!

The thrill she anticipated was not the one she experienced--it was a
thrill of apprehension that seized her--for a glowing midnight sky met her
gaze as she stared in the direction of Manti, vast, extensive. In its
center, directly over the town, was a fierce white glare with off-shoots
of licking, leaping tongues of flame that reached skyward hungrily.

Agatha watched for one startled instant, and then she was in Rosalind's
room, leaning over the bed, shaking her. The girl got up, dressed in her
night clothes, and together they stood at one of the windows in the girl's
room, watching.

The fierce white center of the fire seemed to expand.

"It's a fire--in Manti!" said the girl. "See! Another building has caught!
Oh, I _do_ hope they can put it out!"

They stood long at the window. Once, when the glow grew more brilliant,
the girl exclaimed sharply, but after a time the light began to fade, and
she drew a breath of relief.

"They have it under control," she said.

"Well, come to bed," advised Agatha.

"Wait!" said the girl. She pressed her face against the window and peered
intently into the darkness. Then she threw up t