The woman's turn it was to whiten now, and a suppressed curse escaped from between her clinched teeth. "I vas one big fool for evaire anchoring here, or having you for me agent," she replied. "Somesing must be done, and zat vera quick. What s'all it be?" "There is but one course--flight. Go to my room and get all the money and jewels there. When you come back, I will be ready." She obeyed, and in a very short space of time returned, dressed ready for escape. Leaving the house by the rear door, they skulked hurriedly along a narrow lane. This soon brought them out into the country, and into an orchard. Without pausing, the chief of smugglers made a wide _detour_, which finally brought them out upon the beach, half a mile north of the village, and directly opposite the steamer "Countess," which lay a good two miles out at sea, at anchor. A light row-boat was drawn upon the beach. This Gregg pushed off into the water, and sprung in, the countess following him. Then, seizing the oars, he pulled with all his skill and strength toward the steamer. At the same time, a boat manned by half a dozen men, pulled out from the beach in front of the village, and this, too, was headed toward the steamer. "Ha! they've suspected our dodge!" Gregg growled, on discovering the pursuit. "Curse them! I did not think discovery of our flight would be made so quickly." "Will zey reach ze boat first?" "By no means. I've got the start, and the steamer is a good half a mile farther from them than us, if not more!" * * * * * Let us look after Fritz. The roof of the old rookery on the bluff has just fallen in, and millions of sparks go up toward the cloudy sky. Is the young detective still within that old building? He had heard Hartly, when he ran through the house, setting fire to it, and had yelled at the top of his voice for assistance. But, either Hartly had not heard or did not heed his cries, for no assistance came. Out in the hall, which adjoined the doorless room, the flames soon began to crackle ominously, and the pungent smell of smoke crept through the wall to his nostrils. For a few moments Fritz stood transfixed with horror, as the peril of his situation began to dawn upon him. He knew by the smell that the house was on fire; he knew that if he did not make a hasty escape he would be consumed in the merciless flames. What was he to do? Really, what was there he _could_ do? He rushed about, scarcely aware what he was doing. Suddenly his foot caught upon something, and he fell violently to the floor. In all his after life he could look back with gladness upon that mishap, as it was the means of saving him from an awful death. Quickly scrambling to his feet, he searched the floor; a moment later his hand came in contact with an iron ring. Pulling upon it, he raised a trap in the floor, disclosing a large aperture leading down into another pit below, which he concluded was a cellar.