"I think no one is below," said he; "but I will go first. There is a good place close by. We will run there. If I fall, you must run on and try to get there. It is the bank just opposite. Once there, you are in the woods. Do you understand?" "Oh yes, yes!" cried Mrs. Willoughby. "Haste! Oh, haste!" Dacres turned, and Mrs. Willoughby had just grasped Minnie's hand to follow, when suddenly they heard footsteps below. They stopped, appalled. The robbers had not all gone, then. Some of them must have remained on guard. But how many? Dacres listened and the ladies listened, and in their suspense the beating of each heart was audible. The footsteps below could be heard going from room to room, and pausing in each. "There seems to be only one man," said Dacres, in a whisper. "If there is only one, I'll engage to manage him. While I grapple, you run for your lives. Remember the bank." "Oh yes; but oh, Sir, there may be more," said Mrs. Willoughby. "I'll see," said Dacres, softly. He went cautiously to the front window and looked out. By the increased light he could see quite plainly. No men were visible. From afar the noise of the strife came to his ears louder than ever, and he could see the flashes of the rifles. Dacres stole back again from the window and went to the door. He stood and listened. And now the footsteps came across the hall to the foot of the stairs. Dacres could see the figure of a solitary man, but it was dark in the hall, and he could not make him out. He began to think that there was only one enemy to encounter. The man below put his foot on the lowest stair. Then he hesitated. Dacres stood in the shadow of the other doorway, which was nearer to the head of the stairs, and prepared to spring as soon as the stranger should come within reach. But the stranger delayed still. At length he spoke: "Hallo, up there!" The sound of those simple words produced an amazing effect upon the hearers. Dacres sprang down with a cry of joy. "Come, come!" he shouted to the ladies; "friends are here!" And running down the stairs, he reached the bottom and grasped the stranger by both arms. In the dim light he could detect a tall, slim, sinewy form, with long, black, ragged hair and white neck-tie. "You'd best get out of this, and quick, too," said the Rev. Saul Tozer. "They're all off now, but they'll be back here in less than no time. I jest thought I'd look in to see if any of you folks was around." By this time the ladies were both at the bottom of the stairs. "Come!" said Tozer; "hurry up, folks. I'll take one lady and you take t'other." "Do you know the woods?" "Like a book." "So do I," said Dacres. He grasped Mrs. Willoughby's hand and started. "But Minnie!" said Mrs. Willoughby. "You had better let him take her; it's safer for all of us," said Dacres. Mrs. Willoughby looked back as she was dragged on after Dacres, and saw Tozer following them, holding Minnie's hand. This reassured her.