“Yes. Listen. I can save you if--if I want to. Are you listening?” Outside were many voices on the lawn under the casement. “Yes, yes. Save me, Hope, save me!” “I will on one condition,” whispered Dick hoarsely, hating himself, despising himself from the bottom of his heart, yet hurrying on with his words. “The bargain you made is done with; do you understand? I’ll not give up the captaincy, Taylor, but you must promise to come back as you said you would, and help all you know how. You must promise this, and you must keep your promise!” A ladder scraped against the boards outside, rattled once, and was still. A voice called: “Hurry! He was there a moment ago; we saw him! He can’t be far away! Look, the fire’s got through!” And as the words reached him Dick heard the sound of falling mortar, of crackling woodwork, and a great glare smote his eyes and an awful heat surged toward him, making him stagger and gasp for breath. The wall dividing the room from the front apartment was at last conquered, and the flames leaped through the breach, writhing, eager for their prey. For a moment terror seized Dick, and he could only stare in horror toward the groping tongues that scorched his face and dried the breath in his nostrils. Then, stooping quickly, he lifted Taylor’s body to the sill. “Your promise!” he cried. “Quick!” “Yes, yes! For God’s sake, Hope! Anything! Oh, it’s too late, too late!” The ravening flames poured toward them, clutching at them with greedy arms. A form darkened the window and a voice cried: “Lift him out! Easy! That’s right; can you get down?” “I--I think so,” muttered Dick, fighting down the desire to let himself go and fall in a heap across the sill. “Get onto the ladder, quick, and stay there! I’ll get you out of here in a second. Here, Gus, take this chap; I guess he’s fainted.” The fireman lowered himself down a few rungs, clutching Taylor’s limp form, and Dick squirmed unsteadily onto the ladder. There he held tightly and closed his eyes. The room was red with roaring, seething flames, but to him it seemed all a vast darkness. From below--or was it not rather from miles away?--came a long cheer; died away; increased again. And then Dick felt arms about him. “Keep your head now, sir, and put your arms around my neck.” Dick obeyed as in a dream. He felt himself descending--down--down--down---- And then his head fell forward and he fainted. When he opened his eyes he found himself lying on the grass across the village street. The world was very strange, crimson and yellow, and the trees threw great wavering shadows against the sky above. Some one was holding something to his lips, and he drank because that seemed the natural thing to do. Then a recollection of it all came back, and he tried to sit up.