There was a great shock, and the cabin seemed to totter on the brink of the chasm. Then the door fell, and the ruffians swarmed into the cabin. Frank Merriwell was right behind the girl, and he seemed to lift her and fling her into the loft. "There they go!" rang the voice of the real Black Harry. "Up the stairs!" "This is no time for talk!" cried Frank, as he crouched at the head of the flight, his teeth set, and the light of desperation in his eyes. The braves came rushing up the stairs, and the boy above thrust out both hands, each of which held a revolver. Frank fired four shots, and the smoke shut out the faces of the fierce rascals on the stairs. He heard cries of pain and the sound of falling bodies. "I didn't waste my bullets," came grimly from his lips. But what could he do now? He had repulsed them for the time, but they were in the cabin, and it would not be for long that he could keep them back. They would soon find a way to reach him. He leaped to the swinging window and flung it open, thrusting the revolvers lightly into the side pockets of the coat he wore. He looked down into the depths of the chasm, through which ran the stream of water. "It is a long distance down there," came hoarsely from the lad's lips. "I will try it! It is our last hope." With a bound, he caught up the coil of rope, then he rushed to the window and flung it out. As one end was made fast to a rafter, it hung dangling from the window. Frank looked out, and he saw that the rope reached to the stream of water. At the same time, he heard Black Harry calling on his braves to follow him up the stairs. "Come!" said Frank, hurrying to the side of the girl, and grasping her arm. "There is one chance in a thousand that we may do the trick and escape alive. We'll make a try for that chance." She did not question him, she did not hold back, but she bravely trusted everything to his judgment. Frank passed through the window in advance. He twisted the rope around one leg, and he secured a good hold on it with his hands. Then he said to the girl: "Be lively now! Get through the window, put your arms about my neck, cling for your life, and trust to Frank Merriwell and Providence." She did so, and they were soon descending the rope. Frank went down, hand under hand, as he did not dare slide at first, knowing that his hands would be torn and bleeding, and that he must lose his hold before the bottom was reached. With the twist about his leg to aid him, he managed to sustain himself and his living burden very well. The girl whispered in his ear: "Courage! You are the noblest fellow I ever saw--the greatest hero in the whole wide world!" He made no reply, for his teeth were set, and he was mentally praying for strength and time. Down they went--down, down. And then, when nearly half the distance had been covered, a shout came from above. "Here they are! Ten thousand fiends! They shall not get away alive!" It was the voice of Black Harry himself.