But Griffith did not come. It was nearly dark in the outer world when he recovered from the terrible blow he had got from Fritz's pistol in the cave, and staggered to the inner cavern. The moment he entered it a smell of burning timbers greeted his nostrils. "By Heaven! the house above is burning up, I believe!" he cried, rushing to the rope ladder and beginning to climb it rapidly. But he had only got a few feet up when it gave way, and he fell to the ground, considerably bruised. "The devil's to pay now!" he muttered, angrily. "A fellow will smother down here." For a moment the young villain stood irresolute--then he approached the door of Madge Thornton's cell. "Madge!" he called. There was no answer. "Madge!" he shouted, in a louder tone, at the same time rattling the door, savagely. "Well, what do you want?" she demanded, rising from her cot. "I want to know if you want to escape from this place alive?" "Why, what is the matter?" "Matter enough! The old house above is burning down, and if you don't want to suffocate you must leave this place at once, with me." "Well, why don't you open the door, then?" He was unlocking the great padlock even as he spoke. "I am perfectly willing to do so, and when you reveal to me the hiding-place of your father's money, which you had, when you left Leadville, you are free to go," he said, standing the doorway. "Are you foolish enough to suppose for one moment, that I will reveal that?" "If you don't do it, curse you, I will leave you here to suffocate!" "Do so! I would cheerfully pay that penalty of my folly in ever having anything to do with you, a hundred times, rather than submit to your demands." "Then--but no! I'll release you if you'll give me half of the sum." "Not a cent, you detestable wretch." "Curses on your obstinacy! You have refused to do what is right, and you shall take the the consequences." Stepping back he reclosed the door angrily, and hastily relocked the padlock; then he left the main chamber, for the outer one, and jumped into the boat. The tide was now on the ebb, and the water was now down so that he could row out of the hole into the ocean. As soon as he got out a grand sight met his gaze. The old house on top of the bluff was in a sheet of lurid flame, lighting up the early evening, which otherwise was quite dark. Showers of sparks ascended toward the heavens, and the crackling of the dancing blaze made weird music. Pulling in to shore, Griffith Gregg leaped from the boat, and clambered up the side of the bluff. The first man he met was Thornton of Leadville, who had fastened up the hut, and hurried to the scene of the conflagration, as soon as he had discovered the light. The recognition was mutual, and each uttered a cry.