secured, he drew aside with justifiable pride to admire
his work. This action enabled him to see the side of the cottage he had
secured so cleverly in front and behind, and there was Grace Hope coming
down from her bedroom window; she had tied two crimson curtains together
by a useful knot, which is called at sea a fisherman's bend, fastened one
end to the bed or something, and she was coming down this extemporized
rope, hand over hand alternately, with as much ease and grace as if she
were walking down marble steps. Monckton flung his arm and body wildly
over the paling and grabbed her with his finger ends, she gave a spang
with her heels against the wall, and took a bold leap away from him into
a tulip-bed ten feet distant at least: he yelled to Bartley, "To the
garden;" and not losing a moment, flung his leg over the paling to catch
her, with Bartley's help, in this new trap. Mary dashed off without a
moment's hesitation at the quick-set hedge; she did not run up to it and
hesitate like a woman, for it was not to be wriggled through; she went at
it with the momentum and impetus of a race-horse, and through it as if it
was made of blotting-paper, leaving a wonderfully small hole, but some
shreds of her dress, and across the meadow at a pace that neither
Bartley nor Monckton, men past their prime, could hope to rival even if
she had not got the start. They gazed aghast at one another; at the
premises so suddenly emptied as if by magic; at the crimson curtain
floating like a banner, and glowing beautifully amongst the green
creepers; and at that flying figure, with her hair that glittered in the
sun, and streamed horizontal in the wind with her velocity, flying to the
mine to save William Hope, and give these baffled conspirators a life of
penal servitude.

CHAPTER XX.

CALAMITY.

The baffled conspirators saw Grace Hope bound over a stile like a deer
and dash up to the mine; then there was a hurried colloquy, and some men
were seen to start from the mine and run toward Hope's cottage. What
actually took place was this: She arrived panting, and begged to be sent
down the mine at once; the deputy said, "You cannot, miss, without an
order from Mr. Hope."

"I am his daughter, sir," said she; "he has claimed me from Mr. Bartley
this day."

At that word the man took off his hat to her.

"Let me down this instant; there's a plot to fire the mine, and destroy
my dear father."

"A plot to fire the mine!" said t