t see that I am much better off up here," he muttered, grimly,
as he walked cautiously along without any very good idea of what he
expected to find.

Just then a twinkling star was seen, and he discovered that one of the
roof-boards was badly rotted.

Now, there was something tangible in the way of escape, and he eagerly
began to tear away the decayed wood, laying the pieces gently on the
flooring, until there was an aperture sufficiently large to admit of
his passing through.

An instant later he was seated astride the ridge-pole, looking down
into the yard where the ferocious dogs were running wildly to and fro
as if having already scented their prey.

Now indeed was Jet at a loss to know what to do.

Even if the animals had not been below he would have hesitated to leap
from the roof of the building lest he should strike upon the barricade
of cord-wood with which the house was surrounded.

He must go down regardless of the many dangers, or return to the room
where the men could murder him whenever they felt so disposed, and
after a few second's reflection he chose the former course.

"There is one chance of getting away from the dogs, an' no show
whatever that I'll ever leave here alive unless I go now," he said, to
himself.

Clutching at the rough boards literally with his finger-nails, he slid
slowly down toward the edge of the roof at a point farthest from the
stable.

He could see the wall of wood directly beneath him, and hear the low
growling of the dogs as they sniffed the air to discover the cause of
the sounds which had aroused their suspicions.

To remain very long deliberating would be to run the risk of the
animals giving an alarm, and Jet gathered himself for a spring.

Putting forth all his strength in order to clear the obstacle, he
leaped.

The ends of the cord-wood just grazed his clothing as he passed over
them, and Jet struck the soft ground, which gave forth no warning sound
to those who were in the building, on that side of the clearing where
the trees were nearest.

He was unhurt, although badly shaken up, and would have started at full
speed to gain the partial shelter of the forest, but for the fact that
just then a heavy body leaped over the barricade.

It was one of the dogs, and Jet knew he must now fight desperately if
he would live.

A stick of wood about as thick as his wrist was the first weapon which
came to his hand as he clutched at the top of the pile to draw him