"You shet up! I'm no chicken." And Franz drew his dirk and ran his finger along the keen edge. "Here's my plan: You two give me the bearings of the new hen-roost, an' then start out, keepin' a little ahead, an' goin' toward the drink. I'll rouse up the gal an' boost her along, keepin' close enough to ye to have ye on hand, to prove that I'm takin' home my drunken sister if any one asks questions. When we get near the drink, you'll be likely to miss me." "Oh!" "An' after a while I may overtake ye, somewhere about hen-roost, _alone_!" "Oh," said Mamma, "you'll finish the job in the drink?" "I'll finish _with_ the drink but I'll _begin_ with this." And he poised the naked dagger above Mamma's head with a gesture full of significance. "But the other," said Papa, with nervous eagerness; "what shall we do with him?" "The other," replied Franz, slowly putting away his knife, "we will leave here." "What!" screamed Mamma. "But--" objected Papa. "Are ye a pack o' fools after all?" snarled Franz. "A dead cop'll make us more trouble than a livin' one. Ye kin kill ten ordinary mortals an' be safer than if ye kill one cop. Kill ten men, they detail a squad to hunt ye up mebby. Kill one peeler, an' you've got the whole police force agin ye. No, sir; we bring him out o' that closet, and leave him ter take his chances. Before morning, we'll be where he can't track us; and somebody'll let him loose by to-morrow. He'll have plenty o' time to meditate, and mebby it'll do him good." There was a look of dissatisfaction in Mamma's eyes; and Papa's assent was feeble. But already this strong-willed ruffian had gained an ascendency over them, and his promptitude in taking Nance so completely off their hands, assured them that it would not be well to cross him. Nevertheless, as they made their preparations for a midnight flitting, Papa and Mamma, unseen by Franz, exchanged more than one significant glance. CHAPTER XXXI. FLAMES. It was past midnight when the muffled figures of Papa and Mamma Francoise emerged stealthily from the tenement house, and took their way toward the river. Now and then they looked anxiously back, and constantly kept watch to the right and left. [Illustration: "Franz and Nance, poor Nance, going--whither?"--page 230.] A little way behind them, two other figures followed; the man half supporting, half dragging, a reeling, stupefied girl, and urging her along by alternate coaxing and threats. Franz and Nance, poor Nance, going--whither? Keeping the same path, and always the same brief space between them, the four moved onward until they were almost at the river. Then, in obedience to a low whistle, Papa and Mamma turned, passed the other two, and retraced their steps swiftly and silently. When they had gone by, Franz Francoise turned and looked after them until their figures had vanished in the darkness.