would creep along the ledge and gain the old woman's vantage
ground, as, indeed, was his intention.

But he had hardly commenced this perilous transit before he felt
himself pulled back by his father, who said, in a strange, muffled
voice:

"It is useless, Reuben; we can do nothing. We must leave her to her
fate. Either she is truly a witch, as men say, or else her brain is
turned by the fearsome sight."

And Reuben, following his father's glance, saw that the redoubtable
Lady Scrope had drawn forth a pistol from pocket or girdle, and was
pointing it full at him, with a light in her eyes which plainly
betokened her intention of using it if he dared to thwart her
beyond a certain point.

When she saw the action of James Harmer, she smiled a sardonic
smile.

"Farewell, gentlemen," she said, with a wave of her hand. "I thank
you for your good offices, and for your kindly thought for me. But
no man has ever yet moved me from my purpose, and no man has laid
hands on me against my will--nor ever shall. Go! farewell! Save
yourselves, and take my blessing and good wishes with you; but I
move not an inch from where I stand. I defy the fire, as I defied
the plague!"

It was useless to remain. Words were thrown away, and to attempt
force would but bring certain death upon whoever attempted it. The
fire was already almost upon them. Father and son, after one
despairing look at each other, darted down the stairs again, and
had but just time to make their escape ere a great wave of flame
came rolling along overhead, and the house itself was wrapped in
the fiery mantle.

Dorcas, waiting with the men in the boat, devoured them with her
eyes as they appeared, and uttered a little cry of horror and
amazement when she saw them appear, choked and blackened, but
alone.

"She would not come! she would not come! Oh, I feared it from the
first; but it seemed so impossible! Oh, how could she stay there
alone in that sea of fire! O my mistress! my mistress! my poor
mistress! She was always kind to me."

Neither father nor brother spoke as they got into the boat and
pushed off into the glowing river. It was terrible to think of that
intrepid old woman facing her self-chosen and fiery doom alone up
there upon the roof of that blazing house.

"She must have been mad!" sobbed Dorcas; and her father answered
with grave solemnity:

"Methinks that self-will, never checked, never guided, breeds in
the mind a sort of madness. Let us n