Quick to catch his ruse, she struck wildly with her hands, and called for help. The Colonel laughed. “I had reserved higher honors for you!” he shouted. “You’re not worth it--go with your man!” CHAPTER XXXV Mrs. Holland rallied from her swoon and Marya helped her to rise as Zonia shouted joyfully: “Come quick! He’s alive--he’s alive!” Billy opened his eyes feebly and raised his hand to the ugly wound in his breast. Zonia caught it, bent and kissed him. Mrs. Holland staggered to the group and knelt by their side. “Oh--my boy--you’ll live--I feel it--I know it. God has heard my prayer--” She paused and turned to Marya-- “Go, darling, quick--bring some water and tell Peter to come.” Marya darted across the lawn, entered the house, summoned Peter and seized a glass of water. In ten minutes the faithful old butler had carried Billy from the lawn and was leading the stricken group toward the road for New York. Vassar’s trick succeeded. He reached his post without interference, thrust Virginia into the edge of the dense hedgerow and waited until the guards had returned to their places. Not a moment was to be lost. He seized her hand and rushed down the street lit by the glare of burning houses. “Play your part now!” he commanded. “It’s the only way and it’s safe. It’s the order of the night’s work.” They pushed through mobs of panic-stricken fleeing refugees and groups of drunken soldiers revelling in every excess. Again and again they passed brutes with captive girls as their prey. Some had them tied with cords. Others relied on a blow from their fists to insure obedience. They waved their congratulations to Vassar and his captive as they passed. They reached the outskirts of the town without accident and ran into the stream of horror-stricken humanity that was pouring now toward New York. A great murmur of mingled anguish, rage and despair rolled heavenward. It seemed a part of the leaping flames and red billowing smoke of the burning city behind them. Lost children were crying for their parents and trudging hopelessly on with the crowd. A farmer with a horrible wound across his forehead was pushing a wheelbarrow bearing his mangled child. Beside the body sat a little three-year-old girl clutching a blood-smeared doll. A big automobile came shrieking through this crowd of misery. Beside the chauffeur sat an officer in glittering uniform, behind two soldiers, their bayonets flashing in the glare of the conflagration. In the rear seat alone, in magnificent uniform with gold epaulets and cords, sat the Governor-General of the fallen nation. Waldron saw Virginia with a look of surprise and rage and lifted his hand. The car stopped instantly. The guard sprang out and opened the door of the tonneau. “Quick!” Virginia whispered. “He has seen me. He will recognize you--run for your life!” “I’ll not leave you to that beast’s mercy--”