There was no need for any further exhortations. Pattie's strength proved equal to the moment's need so far; but the instant both feet were over, it failed her. She fell sideways, helplessly; and Cragg caught her, as he had promised. Though the height was not great, the ceilings being low, her weight brought him to the ground. He was undermost, however, and started up again, regardless of bruises. "Not hurt, are you?" he asked anxiously. Pattie seemed to be awakened by the shock of her fall. She sat up, looking with troubled eyes. "No, I'm not hurt," she said slowly. "What does it mean? What has happened? Where is father?" To this serious question Cragg dared not attempt at once to find an answer. "Come a little way farther off," he said. "That wall might go down too. Come this way. You're feeling queasy, aren't you?" "Yes. I don't know where I am. I don't know what it means." Pattie spoke slowly, like one bewildered. Then her eyes went to the ruined house, and recollection flashed up. Till then she had been stunned. A cry broke from her. "Father! father! He was on the roof. Where is he?" But for Cragg's detaining grasp she would have rushed to the edge of the depth. He caught her, and held her back by main force. She struggled fiercely, then fell back, senseless. "Thank God for that!" muttered Cragg, tears in his eyes. CHAPTER IV A Rescue IT is only fair to Anthony Cragg to say that in this first hour his thoughts were not of himself, nor of the heavy loss he would suffer. That part of the matter had to await later attention. Without delay he carried Pattie farther off, and laid her down, senseless still, upon the grass. Then he walked quickly to the side of the ruin, studying with troubled eyes the open gulf into which his new structure had descended. He could conjecture what had happened. This had been in the past, to some extent—never a large extent—a mining neighbourhood; and two or three disused mines not far off were known to the people of Putworth. Here probably was another old mine, long forgotten; and the weight of the house had broken through the thin roofing. Otherwise it might have stood the danger undiscovered. The greater part of the building had descended, and the rest might at any moment follow. That depended on whether the front wall of the house rested on a firmer basis than the other walls, or whether it too lay over a hollow, with only a thin roof to hold it up. As to what had become of Mr. Dale and the maid-servant, Cragg could feel in his own mind little doubt. He believed both to have gone down with the ill-fated house; and if so, both must surely have met their death. Yet, as he said this to himself, his ears were saluted by a terrified—"Oh, sir!" "What! You're safe?" cried Cragg.