the lost house-第10部分

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had　been　the　shout　of　warning。　Some　fresh　attack　upon　the　house
which　the　prisoners　could　not　see；　but　which　must　be　visible　to
those　in　the　houses　opposite　was　going　forward。

〃Perhaps　they　are　on　the　roof；〃'　whispered　Ford　joyfully。　〃They'll
be　through　the　trap　in　a　minute；　and　you'll　be　free！〃

〃No！〃　said　the　girl。

She　also　spoke　in　a　whisper；　as　though　she　feared　Prothero　might
hear　her。　And　with　her　hand　she　again　pointed。　Cautiously　above　the
top　of　the　ladder　appeared　the　head　and　shoulders　of　a　man。　He　wore
a　policeman's　helmet；　but；　warned　by　the　fate　of　his　comrades；　he
came　armed。　Balancing　himself　with　his　left　hand　on　the　rung　of　the
ladder；　he　raised　the　other　and　pointed　a　revolver。　It　was
apparently　at　the　two　prisoners；　and　Miss　Dale　sprang　to　one　side。

〃Standstill！〃　commanded　Ford。　〃He　knows　who　YOU　are！　You　heard　that
yell　when　they　saw　you？　They　know　you　are　the　prisoner；　and　they
are　glad　you're　still　alive。　That　officer　is　aiming　at　the　window
BELOW　us。　He's　after　the　men　who　murdered　his　mates。〃

From　the　window　directly　beneath　them　came　the　crash　of　a　rifle；
and　from　the　top　of　the　ladder　the　revolver　of　the　police　officer
blazed　in　the　darkness。　Again　the　rifle　crashed；　and　the　man　on　the
ladder　jerked　his　hands　above　his　head　and　pitched　backward。　Ford
looked　into　the　face　of　the　girl　and　found　her　eyes　filled　with
horror。

〃Where　is　my　uncle；　Pearsall？〃　she　faltered。　〃He　has　two
riflesfor　shooting　in　Scotland。　Was　that　a　rifle　that〃　Her
lips　refused　to　finish　the　question。

〃It　was　a　rifle；〃　Ford　stammered；　〃but　probably　Prothero〃

Even　as　he　spoke　the　voice　of　the　Jew　rose　in　a　shriek　from　the
floor　below　them；　but　not　from　the　window　below　them。　The　sound　was
from　the　front　room　opening　on　Sowell　Street。　In　the　awed　silence
that　had　suddenly　fallen　his　shrieks　carried　sharply。　They　were
more　like　the　snarls　and　ravings　of　an　animal　than　the　outcries　of
a　man。

〃Take　THAT！〃　he　shouted；　with　a　flood　of　oaths；　〃and　THAT；　and
THAT！〃

Each　word　was　punctuated　by　the　report　of　his　automatic；　and　to　the
amazement　of　Ford；　was　instantly　answered　from　Sowell　Street　by　a
scattered　volley　of　rifle　and　pistol　shots。

〃This　isn't　a　fight；〃　he　cried；　〃it's　a　battle！〃

With　Miss　Dale　at　his　side；　he　ran　into　the　front　room；　and；
raising　the　blind；　appeared　at　the　window。　And　instantly；　as　at　the
other　end　of　the　house；　there　was；　at　sight　of　the　woman's　figure；
a　tumult　of　cries；　a　shout　of　warning；　and　a　great　roar　of　welcome。
From　beneath　them　a　man　ran　into　the　deserted　street；　and　in　the
glare　of　the　gas…lamp　Ford　saw　his　white；　upturned　face。　He　was
without　a　hat　and　his　head　was　circled　by　a　bandage。　But　Ford
recognized　Cuthbert。　〃That's　Ford！〃　he　cried；　pointing。　〃And　the
girl's　with　him！〃　He　turned　to　a　group　of　men　crouching　in　the
doorway　of　the　next　house　to　the　one　in　which　Ford　was　imprisoned。
〃The　girl's　alive！〃　he　shouted。

〃The　girl's　alive！〃　The　words　were　caught　up　and　flung　from　window
to　window；　from　house…top　to　house…top；　with　savage；　jubilant
cheers。　Ford　pushed　Miss　Dale　forward。

〃Let　them　see　you；〃　he　said；　〃and　you　will　never　see　a　stranger
sight。〃

Below　them；　Sowell　Street；　glistening　with　rain　and　snow；　lay
empty；　but　at　either　end　of　it；　held　back　by　an　army　of　police；
were　black　masses　of　men；　and　beyond　them　more　men　packed　upon　the
tops　of　taxicabs　and　hansoms；　stretching　as　far　as　the　street…lamps
showed；　and　on　the　roofs　shadowy　forms　crept　cautiously　from
chimney　to　chimney；　and　in　the　windows　of　darkened　rooms　opposite；
from　behind　barricades　of　mattresses　and　upturned　tables；　rifles
appeared　stealthily；　to　be　lost　in　a　sudden　flash　of　flame。　And
with　these　flashes　were　others　that　came　from　windows　and　roofs
with　the　report　of　a　bursting　bomb；　and　that；　on　the　instant；
turned　night　into　day；　and　then　left　the　darkness　more　dark。

Ford　gave　a　cry　of　delight。

〃They're　taking　flash…light　photographs〃　he　cried　jubilantly。　〃Well
done；　you　Pressmen！〃　The　instinct　of　the　reporter　became
compelling。　〃If　they're　alive　to　develop　those　photographs
to…night；〃　he　exclaimed　eagerly；　〃Cuthbert　will　send　them　by
special　messenger；　in　time　to　catch　the　MAURETANIA　and　the　REPUBLIC
will　have　them　by　Sunday。　I　mayn't　be　alive　to　see　them；〃　he　added
regretfully；　〃but　what　a　feature　for　the　Sunday　supplement！〃

As　the　eyes　of　the　two　prisoners　became　accustomed　to　the　darkness；
they　saw　that　the　street　was　not；　as　at　first　they　had　supposed；
entirely　empty。　Directly　below　them　in　the　gutter；　where　to
approach　it　was　to　invite　instant　death　from　Prothero's　pistol；　lay
the　dead　body　of　a　policeman；　and　at　the　nearer　end　of　the　street；
not　fifty　yards　from　them；　were　three　other　prostrate　forms。　But
these　forms　were　animate；　and　alive　to　good　purpose。　From　a
public…house　on　the　corner　a　row　of　yellow　lamps　showed　them
clearly。　Stretched　on　pieces　of　board；　and　mats　commandeered　from
hallways　and　cabs；　each　of　the　three　men　lay　at　full　length；
nursing　a　rifle。　Their　belted　gray　overcoats；　flat；　visored　caps；
and　the　set　of　their　shoulders　marked　them　for　soldiers。

〃For　the　love　of　Heaven！〃　exclaimed　Ford　incredulously；　〃they've
called　out　the　Guards！〃

As　unconcernedly　as　though　facing　the　butts　at　a　rifle…range；　the
three　sharp…shooters　were　firing　point…blank　at　the　windows　from
which　Prothero　and　Pearsall　were　waging　their　war　to　the　death　upon
the　instruments　of　law　and　order。　Beside　them；　on　his　knees　in　the
snow；　a　young　man　with　the　silver　hilt　of　an　officer's　sword
showing　through　the　slit　in　his　greatcoat；　was　giving　commands；　and
at　the　other　end　of　the　street；　a　brother　officer　in　evening　dress
was　directing　other　sharp…shooters；　bending　over　them　like　the
coach　of　a　tug…of…war　team；　pointing　with　white…gloved　fingers。　On
the　side　of　the　street　from　which　Prothero　was　firing；　huddled　in
a　doorway；　were　a　group　of　officials；　inspectors　of　police；　fire
chiefs　in　brass　helmets；　more　officers　of　the　Guards　in　bear…skins；
and；　wrapped　in　a　fur　coat；　the　youthful　Horne　Secretary。　Ford　saw
him　wave　his　arm；　and　at　his　bidding　the　cordon　of　police　broke；
and　slowly　forcing　its　way　through　the　mass　of　people　came　a　huge
touring…car；　its　two　blazing　eyes　sending　before　it　great　shafts　of
light。　The　driver　of　the　car　wasted　no　time　in　taking　up　his
position。　Dashing　half…way　down　the　street；　he　as　swiftly　backed
the　automobile　over　the　gutter　and　up　on　the　sidewalk；　so　that　the
lights　in　front　fell　full　on　the　door　of　No。　40。　Then；　covered　by
the　fire　from　the　roofs；　he　sprang　to　the　lamps　and　tilted　them
until　they　threw　their　shafts　into　the　windows　of　the　third　story。
Prothero's　hiding…place　was　now　as　clearly　exposed　as　though　it
were　held　in　the　circle　of　a　spot…light；　and　at　the　success　of　the
maneuver　the　great　mob　raised　an　applauding　cheer。　But　the　triumph
was　brief。　In　a　minute　the　blazing　lamps　had　been　shattered　by
bullets；　and　once　more；　save　for　the　fierce　flashes　from　rifles　and
pistols；　Sowell　Street　lay　in　darkness。

Ford　drew　Miss　Dale　back　into　the　room。

〃Those　men　below；〃　he　said；　〃are　mad。　Prothero's　always　been　mad；
and　your　Pearsall　is　mad　with　drugs。　And　the　sight　of　blood　has
made　them　maniacs。　They　know　they　now　have　no　chance　to　live。
There's　no　fear　or　hope　to　hold　them；　and　one　life　more　or　less
means　nothing。　If　they　should　return　here〃

He　hesitated；　but　the　girl　nodded　quickly。　I　understand；〃　she　said。

〃I'm　going　to　try　to　break　down　the　door　and　get　to　the　roof；〃
explained　Ford。　〃My　hope　is　that　this　attack　will　keep　them　from
hearing；　and〃

〃No；〃　protested　the　girl。　〃They　will　hear　you；　and　they　will　kill
you。〃

〃They　may　take　it　into　their　crazy　heads　to　do　that；　anyway；〃
protested　Ford；　〃so　the　sooner　I　get　you　away；　the　better。　I've
only　to　smash　the　panels　close　to　the　bolts；　put　my　arm　through　the
hole；　and　draw　the　bolts　back。　Then；　another　blow　on　the　spring
lock　when　the　firing　is　loudest；　and　we　are　in　the　hall。　Should
anything　happen　to　me；　you　must　know　how　to　make　your　escape　alone。
Across　the　hall　is　a　door　leading　to　an　iron　ladder。　That　ladder
leads　to　a　trap…door。　The　trap…　door　is　open。　When　you　reach　the
roof；　run　westward　toward　a　lighted　building。〃

〃I　am　not　going　without　you；〃　said　Miss　Dale　quietly；　〃not　after
what　you　have　done　for　me。〃

〃I　haven't　done　anything　for　you　yet；〃　objected　Ford。　〃But　in　case
I　get　caught　I　mean　to　make　sure　there　will　be　others　on　hand　who
will。〃

He　pulled　his　pencil　and　a　letter　from　his　pocket；　and　on　the　back
of　the　envelope　wrote　rapidly：　〃I　will　try　to　get　Miss　Dale　up
through　the　trap　in　the　roof。　You　can　reach　the　roof　by　means　of
the　apartment　house　in　Devonshire　Street。　Send　men　to　meet　her。〃

In　the　groups　of　officials　half　hidden　in　the　doorway　farther　down
the　street；　he　could　make　out　the　bandaged　head　of　Cuthbert。
〃Cuthbert！〃　he　called。　Weighting　the　envelope　with　a　coin；　he　threw
it　into　the　air。　It　fell　in　the　gutter；　under　a　lamp…post；　and　full
in　view；　and　at　once　the　two　madmen　below　splashed　the　street
around　it　with　bullets。　But；　indifferent　to　the　bullets；　a
policeman　sprang　from　a　dark　areaway　and　flung　himself　upon　it。　The
next　moment　he　staggered。　Then　limping；　but　holding　himself　erect；
he　ran　heavily　toward　the　group　of　officials。　The　Home　Secretary
snatched　the　envelope　from　him；　and　held　it　toward　the　light。

In　his　desire　to　learn　if　his　message　had　reached　those　on　the
outside；　Ford　leaned　far　over　the　sill　of　the　window。　His
imprudence　was　all　but　fatal。　From　the　roof　opposite　there　came　a
sudden　yell　of　warning；　from　directly　below　him　a　flash；　and　a
bullet　grazed　his　forehead　and　shattered　the　window…pane　above　him。
He　was　deluged　with　a　shower　of　broken　glass。　Stunned　and　bleeding；
he　sprang　back。

With　a　cry　of　concern；　Miss　Dale　ran　toward　him。

〃It's　nothing！〃　stammered　Ford。　〃It　only　means　I　must　waste　no　more
time。〃　He　balanced　his　iron　rod　as　he　would　a　pikestaff；　and　aimed
it　at　the　upper　half　of　the　door　to　the　hall。

〃When　the　next　volley　comes；〃　he　said；　〃I'll　smash　the　panel。〃

With　the　bar　raised　high；　his　muscles　on　a　strain；　he　stood　alert
and　poised；　waiting　for　a　shot　fro