tions to keep the
enemy out, that in this time of peril, they had kept themselves in.
Even now Scarlett felt that, by making a bold rush through the fire and
smoke gathering in force to right and left, he might escape, singed and
scorched, perhaps, but with life. To attempt this, however, with a
wounded man, was impossible; and, with the strong desire for life
thrilling every fibre, he uttered a despairing groan.

As the mournful sound escaped his lips, he caught tightly hold of his
father's hands, to cling to them as if seeking strength, and asking him
to keep his weak nature from repeating its former act and taking refuge
in so cowardly a flight.

The hands he grasped felt wet and cold, and in the misty choking gloom
Scarlett could see that his father's eyes were nearly closed, and that
there was in them a fixed and glassy stare.

"He's dying!" he groaned; "he's dying!"

His son's cry seemed to rouse Sir Godfrey to a knowledge of his danger,
for his eyes opened wildly, and he gazed before him, and then struggled
to rise, but sank back against his son's arm.

"You have not gone!" he groaned. "Scarlett, my boy, escape!"

"I cannot leave you, father. Let me try and help you. If we could get
to the upper windows!"

"And ask our enemy to take us prisoners! No, no; my poor old home is
crumbling around me--where could I die better?"

"Oh, father!"

"But you, my boy, with all your young life before you! There is yet
time. God bless you, Scar! Good-bye!"

He made a faint effort to thrust his son away, but Scarlett still held
his hands, while the fire crackled and roared in the rooms on either
side, and kept on narrowing the space they occupied, as the great smoke
wreaths, pierced by ruddy tongues, rolled heavily overhead.

Scarlett set his teeth and closed his eyes for a moment, as a feeling of
horror ran through him, and there before him, beyond the smoke of the
burning woodwork, he saw in a instant the bright sunshiny paths of life
inviting him on and on for a long career, such as youth may look forward
to in its growing vigour; but he made a desperate effort to crush out
the temptation, clinging frantically to his father's hands as he groaned
despairingly--

"I cannot leave him. It would be too base."

Till that moment the shock of their position had robbed him of energy,
but no sooner had he come to the brave determination to stop and die
that horrible death by his father's side, than the strong cu