Hook. Left everything to save his troops. Washington,
realizing the uselessness of holding them longer, sent most of his
militia home. About six miles out there on the pike road a half-crazy
preacher named Jenks came up with us. He was too badly frightened to tell
a straight story, but we got out of him that there was a fight on here,
and came over as fast as our horses would travel." His eyes swept the
hall. "Five minutes later would have been too late."

The name of Jenks recalled everything to my mind instantly. In spite of
Duval I gripped the broken rail and gained my feet, swaying slightly but
able to stand. My hand still grasped the twisted rifle barrel, which I
used as a cane.

"But Farrell, the girl! Do you know anything about the girl?"

"What girl? Do you mean Claire Mortimer? Is she here?"

"Yes, her father is lying helplessly wounded up stairs, and she must be
with him. Eric is somewhere in the hall, either dead or wounded. I saw
him fall just as we retreated to the stairs."

Farrell leaned over and called to some one below.

"Not yet, sir," was the answer.

"Well, hunt for him. Now, we'll go up and find Claire. Major, can you
climb the rest of the stairs? Help him, Duval."

I experienced no great difficulty, my strength coming back rapidly. There
was a wounded Dragoon leaning against the wall, and half-way down the
hall lay another body, face down. Without doubt this was the guard Fagin
had stationed there. Duval paused to help the wounded man, but Farrell
and I moved on across the dead guard to the open door beyond. Colonel
Mortimer, unable to move, was propped up on his pillow, one hand grasping
a pistol. With shaking arm he levelled it at us.

"Who are you? Quick, now!" he quavered. "I've shot one, and I'm good for
more."

"You know me, Colonel," and Farrell stepped inside. "I am 'Bull' Farrell;
this is Major Lawrence." He looked at us with dull eyes, his hand falling
weakly.

"Farrell--Farrell--surely, the blacksmith. What Lawrence? The--the
officer Claire knows?"

"Yes; he's a rough-looking object I admit, but there has been a fight
down below, sir, in which he had a share. We've just cleaned out Red
Fagin's gang. We came up here to tell the good news to you and your
daughter."

The Colonel's head sank back upon the mussed pillow.

"My daughter--Claire--she is not here."

"Not here!" I cried, aroused by the admission. "Did she not return to
you?"

"No; they came for her to go down