in through the window. Again he tried to call to the
governess, but his tongue lay stiff in his mouth and no sound came.

Meanwhile the children began to draw closer, hemming him in. They moved
almost imperceptibly, but he saw plainly that the circle was growing
smaller and smaller. His legs began to tremble, and he felt that soon he
would collapse and drop at their feet, for his strength was failing and
the power to act and move was slowly leaving him.

The little shadowy figures were almost touching him, when suddenly a new
sound broke the stillness and set every nerve tingling in his body.

Something was shuffling along the landing. He heard it outside, pushing
against the door. The handle turned with a rattle, and a moment later
the door slowly opened.

For a second Jimbo's breath failed him, and he nearly fell in a heap
upon the floor. Round the edge of the door he saw a dim huge figure come
crawling into the room--creeping along the floor--and trailing behind it
a pair of immense black wings that stretched along the boards. For one
brief second he stared, horror-stricken, and wondering what it was. But
before the whole length of the creature was in, he knew. It was Fright
himself! _And he was making steadily for the window!_

The shock instantly galvanised the boy into a state of activity again.
He recovered the use of all his muscles and all his faculties. His
voice, released by terror, rang out in a wild shriek for help to the
governess, and he dashed forward across the room in a mad rush for the
window. Unless he could reach it before the other, he would be a
prisoner for the rest of his life. It was now or never.

The instant he moved, the children came straight at him with hands
outstretched to stop him; but he passed through them as if they were
smoke, and with almost a single bound sprang upon the narrow
window-sill. To do this he had to clear the head and shoulders of the
creature on the floor, and though he accomplished it successfully, he
felt himself clutched from behind. For a second he balanced doubtfully
on the window ledge. He felt himself being pulled back into the room,
and he combined all his forces into one tremendous effort to rush
forward.

There was a ripping, tearing sound as he sprang into the air with a yell
of mingled terror and exultation. His prompt action and the fierce
impetus had saved him. He was free. But in the awful hand that seized
him he had left behind the end feathers