ntrance into warmth, and light, and the cheery hum of
voices. A sudden unforeseen anguish assailed him, as now first he
entertained the possibility of being overmatched by her wiles and
her daring, if at the approach of pure death she should start up
at bay transformed to a terrible beast, and achieve a savage glut
at the last. He looked with horror and pity on the harmless,
helpless folk, so unwitting of outrage to their comfort and
security. The dreadful Thing in their midst, that was veiled from
their knowledge by womanly beauty, was a centre of pleasant
interest. There, before him, signally impressive, was poor old
Trella, weakest and feeblest of all, in fond nearness. And a
moment might bring about the revelation of a monstrous horror--a
ghastly, deadly danger, set loose and at bay, in a circle of girls
and women and careless defenceless men: so hideous and terrible a
thing as might crack the brain, or curdle the heart stone dead.

And he alone of the throng prepared!

[Illustration: White Fell's Escape]

For one breathing space he faltered, no longer than that, while
over him swept the agony of compunction that yet could not make
him surrender his purpose.

He alone? Nay, but Tyr also; and he crossed to the dumb sole
sharer of his knowledge.

So timeless is thought that a few seconds only lay between his
lifting of the latch and his loosening of Tyr's collar; but in
those few seconds succeeding his first glance, as lightning-swift
had been the impulses of others, their motion as quick and sure.
Sweyn's vigilant eye had darted upon him, and instantly his every
fibre was alert with hostile instinct; and, half divining, half
incredulous, of Christian's object in stooping to Tyr, he came
hastily, wary, wrathful, resolute to oppose the malice of his
wild-eyed brother.

But beyond Sweyn rose White Fell, blanching white as her furs, and
with eyes grown fierce and wild. She leapt down the room to the
door, whirling her long robe closely to her. "Hark!" she panted.
"The signal horn! Hark, I must go!" as she snatched at the latch
to be out and away.

For one precious moment Christian had hesitated on the
half-loosened collar; for, except the womanly form were exchanged
for the bestial, Tyr's jaws would gnash to rags his honour of
manhood. Then he heard her voice, and turned--too late.

As she tugged at the door, he sprang across grasping his flask,
but Sweyn dashed between, and caught him back irresistibly, so