第7章

Oneleap，oneblow，andVictorBurleighwouldcarryonlyonemorescartohisgrave。

Suddenlyafaintpipingvoicefloatedinupontheglen:

LittlechildwenpwessingnearTothefeetofThwist，theTing，HaveyouneiverdoubtnorfearOrsometwibutedoyoubwing？

AndBugBuler，flushedandsplashed，andgenerallymuddyandhappy，camearoundthefallenledgesanddebauchedintothegrassysunshinyspacebeforethecavern。Onlyatiny，tumbled-up，joyouschild，withnopowerinhispudgylittlearm；andVictorBurleigh，tall，muscularandagile。

Againstthismanoftremendousstrengththecaveman"sclubwaslifted。

Butwiththesoundofthechild"svoiceandthesightoftheinnocentfacetheclubfellharmless。Alookoffright，deepeningtoamaniac"sterror，seizedthecreature，andnoiselesslyandswiftlyasaserpentwouldescapehecrawledbackintothedarknessandburroweddeepfromtheeyesofmen。

Sostrengththatdaywasruledbyweakness。

"Iistfollowedyou，Vic，"Bugsaid，clutchingVic"shand。

"Thisisn"tasafeplacetocome，Bug。Youmustn"tfollowmehere。”

"Nenyoumustn"tgointoisn"tsafeplaces，soIwon"tfollow。

Littlefolksdon"tknow，"Bugsaid，withcunninggravity。

"Heisright，"Elinorsaid。"Ithinkwe"dbetterleavenow。”

Theyknewthathenceforththisspotwouldbeholygroundforthem，buttheydidnotdaretothinkfurtherthanthat。

Theyonlywishedthatthemomentswouldstay，thatthesunwouldloiterslowlydowntheafternoonsky。

"Iknowawayout，"Bugdeclared。Turn，I"llshowyou。”

Then，withachild"ssenseofdirection，heledawayfromthecaveouttowherethedeepravineheadedinaroughmassofbrokenrock。

"Tlimbupthatandyou"reout，"Bugdeclared。

TheyclimbeduptothehighlevelprairiethatsweepswestwardfromtheWalnutbluffs。

"Doodby，folks。IwanttoBotanywivurnoverthere。

IturnwivLimpyouthere。”

BugpointedtoagroupofstudentswanderingaboutinsearchofdogtoothvioletsandotherbotanicalplunderfromNature"sspringtimetreasury。

AmongthegroupwasBug"schum，thecrippledstudent。

"Well，staywiththemthistime，youlittlewanderingJew，"Vicadmonished，nordreamedhowhisguardianangelhadcometohimthisdayintheguiseofthissamelittlewanderer。

WhenVictorandElinorhadcomeatlasttothewestbluffabovetheWalnutRiver，thelateafternoonwasalreadycastinglongshadowsacrossthegrassyleveloftheoldKickapooCorral。AndagainthecampfireswereglowingwhereaSorority"spread"wasmerrilyinthemaking。

Theymustgodownsoonandjoininthehilarity。Butagoldenhalfhouryethunginthewest——andthegoingdownmeantthegoingbacktoallthathadbeen。

"Lookatthefoamonthewhirlpool，Elinor。Seehowdeliberatelyitswingsupstream。Isn"tthatamostdeceivingbitoftreachery？"

Vicsaidashewatchedtheriver。

Elinorlookedthoughtfullyattheslow-movingwater。

"Icannotenduredeceit，"shesaidatlast。"Ilikehonestyineverything。

IsaidIwouldtellyousometimeaboutasacrificeIwasforcedtomake。

I"lltellyounowifyouwillnotspeakofwhatIsay。”

Howdelicioustohaveherconfidenceinanything。

Vicsmiledassent。

"Myfatherhadafortunefrommymother。Whenhediedheleftmetothecareofmytwouncles，andgaveallhismoneytoendowchairsinuniversities。Hethoughtawomancouldmarrymoney，andthathewasdoingmankindaserviceinthisendowment。

Maybehewas，butI"vealwaysrebelledagainstbeingdependent。

I"vealwayswantedmyown。UncleJoshuathinksIamfrivolous，andhehastoldUncleLloydthatit"sjustmyloveofspendingandextravagantnotionsthatmakesmerebelagainstconditions。

Itisn"t。It"sthesenseofbeingrobbed，asitwere。

Itwasn"trightandhonesttowardme，eveninagreatcause，toleavemedependent。UncleLloydwouldneverhavedoneit。

Ihopehedoesn"tthinkI"masbadasUncleJoshuadoes。

Youwon"tmindmytellingyouthis，northinkmeungratefultomyrelativesfortheircareofme。Nobodyquiteunderstandsmebutyou。”

ThetimehadcomeforthemtojointhejollypicniccrowdintheCorral。ShewouldgobacktoVincentBurgessinalittlewhile，andthisgloriousdaywouldbeonlyamemory。

Andyet，downintheprettyglen，Victorhadheldherhandsandkissedherredlips。Andshehadbeengladdownthere。

Thevoidinhislifeseemedblackerthantheblacknessbehindthecavern。

"Elinor，"heasked，suddenly，"areyouboundbyanypromise——

hasProfessorBurgess——？"Hehesitated。

"No，"sheanswered，turningherfaceaway。

"Pardonmyrudeness。YouknowIamnotwell-bred，"hesaid，gently。

"VictorBurleigh，youill-bred，ofallthegentle，manlyfellowsinSunrise!Youknowyouarenot。”

Agreathopeleapedtolifenow，asVicrecalledthequery，"IfVictorBurleighhadhiscornersknockedoffandwassandpapereddownandhadmoney？"——andofElinor"sblushingconfessionthatitwouldmakeadifferenceshecouldnothelpifthesethingswere。

Thecornerswereknockedoffnow，andDeanFennebenhadgentlybutpersistentlyappliedthesandpaper。Themoneymustbehenceforththeonecondition。

"Elinor。”Vic"svoicewassweetaslowbarsofmusic。

"Oh，Victor，there"ssomethingIcan"tprevent。”

ShewasthinkingofUncleJoshua，whosemoneyhadsupportedheralltheseyearsandofherobligationtoheedhiswishes。

Itwasallsettledforhernow。AndallthewhileVictorwasthinkingofhisownlimitedmeansastherockthatwaswreckinghimwithher。

Forallhislifeafterwardheneverforgotthesorrowofthatmoment。

HelookedintoElinor"sface，andallthelonging，alltheheart-hungerofthedaysgoneby，andofthedaystocomeseemedtolieinthosewide-openeyesshadedbylongblacklashes。

"Elinor，myfather"scruelmurderandmymotherdyingalonewereonekindofgrief。MyfightwiththosedeadlypoisonthingstorescuelittleBugwasanotherkind。Mydaysofhardshipandpovertyontheclaim，withonlyBugandmeinthatdesolateloneliness，wasstillanother。

ButnoneoftheseseemasorrowbesidewhatImustfacehenceforth。

AndyetIhaveonejoyminenow。Youdidcaredownintheglen。

MayIkeepthatonegraciousjoy——minealways？"

"Youhavealwayswonineverygame。Youwillinthisstruggle。

Don"tforgetthenameyourmothergaveyou。”Hereyeswereluminouswithtears。"WemustgodowntotheCorralnow。

Tomorrowwillmakethingsallright。Ishallbeproudofyouandyoursuccesseverywhere，foryouwillsucceed。”

"Imaynotbeworthyofvictory，"hesaid，sadly。

"Youhaveneverbeenunworthy。Don"tbenow。”Shesmiledbravely。

Theyturnedfromthewestprairieandthesunset，andslowlytheypassedoutofitspassingradiancedowntothedarkeningspacesoftheoldKickapooCorral。

Andthedaywithitsgladnessandsorrow，whetherforlossorgain，slippedintotheshadowybeautyofanApriltwilight。

CHAPTERIX

GAIN，ORLOSS？

_YeknowhowhardanIdoldies，an"whatthatmeanttome——

E"entakeitforasacrifice，acceptabletoThee_——

KIPLING

THEballgameonFriday，thethirteenth，wasagreateventthisyear。

TheSunrisefootballelevenhadheldthechampionshiprecordwithanuncrossedgoallineintheautumn。Thebasket-ballteamhadhadnodefeatthisyear。DebatingtestshadgivenSunrisethevictory。

ThatcamethroughTrenchandthecrippledstudent。Andthestateoratoricalstrugglerepeatedthestory，aconquest，allthegreaterbecauseVictorBurleigh，theathlete，worealsothelaurelsoforatory。

Andwhyshouldhenot，withthatfinepresenceandmagnificentvoice？

AsDr。Fennebenlistenedtohisforcefullogichesawclearlythelinefortheboy"sfuture，aline，hethought，thatcouldendatlastonlyinthepulpit。

OnemorebattletofightnowandLagondaLedgeandthewholeWalnutValleywouldgodowninhistoryasfamoussoil。

ItwasabanneryearforSunrise，andenthusiasmwasatfeverpitch，whichincollegeistheonlyhealthytemperature。

InthislastbattleSunriseturnedagaintoVictorBurleighasitshighesthope。Althoughthiswashisfirstgamefortheseason，hehadneverfailedtobringvictorytotheSunrisebanners，andinallhisbase-ballpracticehewasasunerringashewasspeedy。

Andthensuccesswashishabitanyhow。So"Burleighatthebat"

wastheslogannowfromthesummitofthecollegeridgetothefarthestcornersofLagondaLedge；andidolworshipwereinsignificantcomparedtotheadulationpouredoutonhim。

AndBurleigh，beingyoungandveryhuman，hadallthepleasuretheadorationofacommunitycanbringtoitslocalhero。

Fortruly，fewtriumphsinlife"slateryearscanbefraughtwithhalfthekeenjoytheseschooldayvictoriesbring。

Andtheapplauseoflisteningsenatesmeanslessthangoodoldcomrades"yells。

VincentBurgess，A。B。，GreekProfessorfromBoston，seemedtohaveforgottenentirelyabouttypesandgeographicalbreadthsandseclusionforprofoundresearchamidbarrenprairies。

HewasfacultymemberontheAthleticboardnowandenthusiasticaboutallcollegesports。Sunrisehaddonethismuchforhimanyhow。

Inaddition，theyoungeducatorwastakingonalittleroundness，suggestiveofastoutforminmiddlelife。

ButVincentBurgesshadnotforgottenallofthemotivesthathadpulledhimKansas-ward，althoughunknowntoDr。Fenneben，hehadalreadyrefusedtoconsiderapositionhigherupinaneasterncollege。

HewasnotquitereadytoleavetheWestyet。Ofcourse，not。

ElinorWreamwasonlyhalfthroughschoolandgrowingmorepopularasshewasgrowingmorewomanlyandmorebeautifuleachyear。

Hissalvationlayinkeepingonthegroundsifhewouldholdhisclaimundisturbed。

BurgesshadcometoKansas，hehadtoldFenneben，inordertoknowsomethingofthestatewherehisonlysisterhadlived。

Hedidnotknowyetallhewishedtoknowaboutherlifeanddeathhere。

Hernamewasneverspokeninhisfather"spresenceaftershecameWest，sogreatwasthatfather"sangeroverherleavingtheEast。AnddeepinVincent"smindhefixedtheimpressionthathisdaughterhaddiedasunreconciledtoherbrotherastoherfatherhimself。

Thiswasallhisownbusiness，however，andhiddendeep，almostoutofsightofhimself，wasaselfishmotivethathadnotyetputavisiblemarkonthesurface。

BurgesswantedtomarryNorrieWream，andhewantedhertohaveallthegoodthingsoflifewhichinhersimplerearinghadbeendeniedher。

Theheritagefromhisfather"sestateincludedcertaintrustfundsambiguouslybestowedbyaneccentricEnglishancestoruponsomeonewhohadcomeWestnotlongbeforehisdeath。

ThesefundsVincentheldbyhisfather"swill——towhichwillJoshuaWreamwaswitness——onconditionthatnoheirtothesefundswasliving。

Ifthereweresuchpersonorpersonsliving——butBurgessknewtherewerenone。JoshuaWreamhadmadesureofthatforhimbeforeheleftCambridge。AndyetitmightbewelltostayinKansasforayearortwo——muchbettertosettleanypossibledifficultyherethantohaveanythingfollowhimEastlater。

ForBurgesshadhiseyeonDr。Wream"schairinHarvardwhentheoldmanshouldgiveitup。Thatwasapartofthecontractbetweenthetwomen，theolddoctorandtheyoungprofessor。

UntilthenightwhenBondSaxonforcedhimtotakeanunwillingoath，Burgesshadhadacomfortableconscience，surethathisfinancialfuturewassettled，andconfidentthatthisassuredhimthehandofElinorWreamwhenthetimewasripe。WiththatOctobernight，however，aweightofanxietybeganthatincreasedwiththepassingdays。

Forashegrewnearertothestudentlifeandtookonfleshandgoodwillandabroaderknowledgeoftheworthofhumanity，sohegrewnearertothissmoothlyhiddeninnercare。And，outsideandin，hewantedtostayinKansasforthetime。

Intheweeksbeforethebigballgame，VictorBurleighseemedtohaveforgottentheglenandthewestbluffabovetheKickapooCorral。ThegirlswhowouldhavesubstitutedforElinorintheafternoonrambletookupmuchofthebigsophomore"stime，andheneverseemedmoregaynorcarefree。

AndElinor，ifshehadaheartache，didnotshowitinherhappymanner。

Ontheafternoonbeforetheballgame，aMaythunderstormswepttheWalnutValleyandthedarknessfellearly。AsDennieSaxonwaitedontheSunriseporticobeforestartingoutintherain，ProfessorBurgesslockedthefrontdoorandjoinedher。VictorBurleighwasalsowaitingbesideastonecolumnfortheshowertolighten。

BurgessdidnotseehiminthedarkeningtwilightandBurleighneverspoketotheyounginstructorwhenitwasnotnecessary。

"Imustbenervous，"ProfessorBurgesssaid，tryingtomanageDennie"sumbrellaandcatchingitinherhair。

"Ihadalettertodaythatworriedme。”

"Toobad!"Denniesaidsympathetically。

"I"lltellyouallaboutitsometime。”

Hewastryingtoloosethewirerib-jointfromDennie"shair，whichthedampnesswasrollinginsoftlittleringletsaboutherforeheadandneck。

Half-consciously，herememberedthesameoutlineofripplinghair，asithadlookedintheglowoftheOctobercampfiredownintheKickapooCorralwhenshewastellingtheoldlegendofSwiftElkandTheFawnoftheMorningLight。Shesmiledupathimconsolingly。

Denniewaslevel-headed，andlifewasalwaysworthlivingwhereshewas。

"I"llbeyourrainbeau。”Hetookherarmtoassistherdownthesteps。

Socourteouswashisaction，shemighthavebeenaladyofrankinsteadofoldBondSaxon"sdaughtercarryingherownweightofasorrowgreaterthanLagondaLedgedreamedof。

Asthetwowalkedslowlyhomewardunderthedrippingshelterofthetrees，VincentBurgessfeltasenseofcomfortandpleasureoutofallkeepingforamaninloveelsewhere。

VictorBurleighwatchedthemfromtheshadowoftheporticocolumn。

"IbelieveTrenchisright。HeinsiststhatBurgesslikesDennie，orthatheismeanenoughtodeceiveDennieintolikinghim。

Amanlikethatoughttobekilled——ascholar，andarichman，andDenniesuchabravelittlepoorgirlwithakind，weak-kneed，oldfatheronherheart。Norrieoughttoknowthis，butwhoamItosayaword？"

"VictorBurleigh，won"tyoureleasethefairprincessfromthetower？"

agirl"svoicecalled。

VicturnedtoseeElinorframedinthehalf-waywindowofthesouthturret。

Andinthatdrippingshadowylight，noframecouldwantararerpicture。

"I"vefallenintothepitandamfarontheroadtoperdition，"

Elinorsaid。"IhurrieddownthiswayfromchoirpracticeandUncleLloyd"sgoneandleftthelowerdoorlocked。

Itthunderedso，andDenniedidn"tcomeintothestudy，andnobodyheardmyscreams。ButifIperish，Iperish，"

sheaddedwithmockresignation。

"Ifyou"llletuponperishingforhalfaminute，Rapunzel，I"lltotherescue，"Viccried，"ifIhavetoclimbthedomeandknockthe_peraspera_outoftheStateSealandcomedownthroughthehole，_perastraadaspera_。”Andthenherushedofftofindanunlockedexittothebuilding。

FromtheChapelendofthecircularstairs，hecalledpresently。

"Curfewmustnotringforacoupleofseconds。

Risetothesurface，fairmermaid。”

Elinorcameupthewindingstairintothedimlylightedchapelathiscall。

ThetwohadavoidedeachothersincetheAprildayintheglen。

Theywerenottoblameforthischancemeetingnow。

"Whenyouareintroubleandthenightsaredarkandrainy，callme，Elinor，"Vicsaidastheywerecrossingtherotunda。

"IfIshowyousometimeshowtolookupandfindthelight，asyoushowedmetheSunrisebeacononthenightofthestormoutonWestBluff，youmaybegladyouheardme。Seethatglowonthedome!

YouwouldhavemissedthatdowninLagondaLedge。”

Alevelrayfromamomentarycloudriftinthewesternskysmotethestainedglassofthedome，lightingitsgleaminginscriptionwithafleetingradiance。

"Butthelightcomesrarelyandissofaraway，andbetweentimes，onlythecave，andthedarkwaysbehinditleadingtotheriver，"

hesaidgravely。Thesorrowofhopelessnesswashistone。

"Notunlessonechoosestoburrowdownward，"sherepliedsoftly。

"Let"shurryhome。Tomorrowyouwillbe`VictortheFamous"again。

Ihopethisshowerwon"tspoiltheballgame。”

Asnightdeepened，therainfellsteadily。UpinVictorBurleigh"sroomBugBulergrewdrowsyearly。

"Iwanttosaymypwayersnow，Vic，"hesaid。

Thebigfellowputdownhisbookandtookthechildinhisarms。

Bughadageniusforprayingbrieflyandforothersratherthanforhimself。

Tonighthemerelyclaspedhischubbyhandsandsaid，reverently:

"DearDod，pleaseistmakeVicdoodasfolksfinksheis，forThwist"ssake。Amen-n-n。”

Whenhefellasleep，VictorsatalongwhilestaringatthewindowwheretheMayrainwasbeatingheavily。Atlength，hebentoverlittleBugandpushedbackthecurlsfromhisbrow。

Bugsmiledupdrowsilyandwentonsleeping。

"AsgoodasfolksthinkIam，Bug!"hemused。"Youhavegottenbetweenmeandtherattlesnakesthatwereaftermysoulagoodmanytimes，littlebrother-of-mine。AsgoodasfolksthinkIam!

Doyouknowwhatitcoststobethatgood？"

TenminuteslaterhesatinLloydFenneben"slibrary。

"Ihavecomeforhelp，"hesaidinreplytotheDean"squestioningface。

"IhopeIcangiveit，"Fennebenresponded。

"It"sabouttomorrow"sgame。Therearesuretobesomeprofessionalplayersontheotherteam。IwantSunrisetowin。

Iwanttowinmyself。”Vic"svoicewasharshtonight。

AndtheDeancaughtthehardtone。

"IwantSunrisetowin。Iwantyoutowin。Therewillprobablybesomeprofessionalstoplayagainst，butwehavenowayofprovingthis，"Fennebensaid。

"Whatdoyouthinkofsuchplaying，Doctor？"Vicasked。

"Ithinktheruleaboutprofessionalismisoftenastrainedpieceoffoolishness。Itisviolatedpersistentlyandpersistentlywinkedat，butsolongasitistherulethereisonlyonesquarethingtodo，andthatistoliveuptothelaw。Youshouldnotdreadanyprofessionalisminthegametomorrow，however。You"llbringusthroughanyhow，andkeeptheSunrisenameandfameuntarnished。”

TheDeansmiledgenially。

Burleigh"sfacewasverypaleandastrangefireburnedinhiseyes。

"Dr。Fenneben"——hismusicalvoicerangclear——"I"monlyapoordevilfromtheshort-grasscountrywherelifeeachyeardependsonthatyear"scrop。

Threeyearsoutoffour，thewindanddrouthbringonlyfailureatharvesttime。Thenwestarveourbodiesandgripontohopeanddeterminationwithoursoulstillseedtimecomesagain。Iwantacollegeeducation。

Lastsummerburnedusoutasusualwithinamonthofharvest。

ThenthemortgagegotinitsworkonmyclaimandIhadtogiveitup。

Ihadbarelyenoughtogetthroughhereatpauperratesthisyear——

butIcouldn"tdoitandkeepBug，too。IwentintoColoradoandplayedbaseballforpay，soIcouldcomehereandbringhimwithme。That"swhyIcanout-batourteam，andcouldwindeadeasyforSunrisetomorrow。

NobodyinKansasknowsit。Now，whatshallIdo？"

Thewordswereshotoutlikebullets。

"Whatshallyoudo？"LloydFenneben"sblackeyesheldBurleigh。"Thereisonlyonethingtodo。Whenyourankedhighingradeswithonlythetrivialmatterofexcusableabsenceagainstyou——nobrokenlaw——youtookProfessorBurgessgentlybythethroatandtoldhimyoumeanttoplayanyhow。

Youstoodyourgroundlikeaman，foryourownsakeandforthehonorofSunrise。StandlikeamanforyourownsakeandthehonorofSunrise，now。GotoProfessorBurgessandtakehimgently——

bythehand，thistime——andtellhimyoudonotmeantoplay，andwhyyoucannot。”

Burleighsatstillasstone，hisfacewhiteasmarble，hiswide-openeyesunderhisblackbrowsseeingnothing。

"Butourproudrecord——theglorioushonorofthiscollege，"hesaidatlength，andbackofhiswordswasthethoughtofVictorBurleigh，theidolofSunrise，dethroned，wherehehadbeenadored。

"Thereisnohonorforacollegelikethehonestyofitsstudents。

Thereisnoprouderrecordthantherecordofdaringtodotheright。

Youcouldgetintothegameoncebyabrute"sstrength。

Getoutofitnowbyagentleman"shonor。”

BehindthespeechwasLloydFennebenhimself，sympathetic，firm，upright，beforewhomtheharshnessofVictorBurleigh"sfaceslowlygaveplacetoanexpressionofsorrow。

"Myboy，"Fennebensaidgently，"NaturegaveustheWalnutValleywithitslimestoneledgesandfineforesttrees。ButbeforeourSunrisecouldbebuildedtheledgehadtobeshapenintothehewnstone，thegreentreetotheseasonedlumber，quarter-sawedoak——

quarter-sawed，mindyou。Mill，forgeandtry-pit，axandsawandchisel，withcleftandblowandfurnaceheat，shapedthemallforService。OverourdoorwayistheSunriseinitial。

ItstandsalsoforStrife，partofwhichyouknowalready；

butitstandsforSacrificeaswell。Youareintheshaping。

GodgrantyoumaybeturnedoutamanfittedbySacrificeforServicewhentheshapingisdone。”

Burleighrose，silentstill，andthetwowentouttogether。

Atthedoorway，heturnedtoFenneben，whograspedhishandwithoutaword。Andonceagain，thefirmhandclaspoftheDeanofSunriseseemedtobindthecountryboytothefinerthingsoflife。

IthaddonethesameonthatdayaftertheThanksgivinggamewhenhesatinFenneben"sstudy，andunderstoodforthefirsttimewhatgivestherighttoprideinbrawnyarmandsteel-springnerve。

AfterBurleighlefthim，LloydFennebenstoodforalongtimeonhisverandainthelightofthedoorwaywatchingthesteadydownpourofthewarmMayrain。Asheturnedatlengthtoenterthehousearough-lookingmanwithrain-soakedclothingandslouchedhat，sprangoutoftheshadows。

"Stranger，"hecalledhastily。"There"salittlechildfellintheriverroundthebend，andhismothergotholdofhim，butshecan"tpullhimout，andcan"tholdonmuchlonger。

Willyoucomehelpme，quick？I"veonlygotonearmorIwouldn"thavehadtoaskforhelp。”

Anemptysleevewasflappingintherain，andFennebendidnotnoticethenthatthemankeptthatsideofhimselfallthetimeintheshadows。

Fennebenhadonlyonethoughtashehurriedawayinthedarkness，tosavethewomanandchild。Hiscompanionsaidlittle，directingthecoursetowardthebendintheriverbeforethegatewayofPigeonPlace。Astheypushedonwithallspeedthroughrainandmud，FennebenwashardlyconsciousthatDennieSaxon"swordsaboutthelonelygray-hairedhermitwomanwererecurringcuriouslytohismind。

"IftalkingaboutSunrisemadehercrylikethat，maybeyoumightdosomethingforher，"Denniehadsaid。Hehadnevertriedtodoanythingforher。

Somehowsheseemedtobethewomanwhowasinperilnow，andhewashalf-consciouslyblaminghimselfthathehadnevertriedtohelpher，hadnoteventhoughtofherformonths。Womenwerenotinhisline，exceptthekindlyimpersonalinteresthefeltforalltheSunrisegirls，andhissenseofresponsibilityforNorrie，andthememoryofagirl——

oh，thehungryhauntingmemory!

Allthisinasemi-consciousfleetnesssweptacrosshismind，thatwasbentonreachingtheriver，andonthatwomanholdingadrowningchild。

Atthebendintheriver，themanhaltedsuddenly。

"Lookout!There"sastone；don"tstumble!"hesaidhoarsely，dodgingbackashespoke。

ThenFennebenwasconsciousofhisownfeetstrikingtheslabofstonebytheroadside，ofasuddenshovefromsomebodybehindhim，atwo-armedmanitmusthavebeen，ofstumblingblindly，tryingtocatchattheelmtreethatstoodthere，offallingthroughtheunderbrush，headforemost，intotheriver，evenofstrikingthewater。Ashefell，hewasveryfaintlyconsciousofasenseofpityforVictorBurleighfightingoutabattlewithhisownhonortonight，andthenhemusthaveheardadog"sfierceyelp，andawoman"sscream。Somehow，itseemedtocomethroughdistanceoftime，asoutofpastyears，andnotthroughlengthofspace——

andthenofabrutallaughandanoathwiththewords:

"NowforJoshWream，and——"

ButFenneben"sheadhadstruckthestoneledgeagainstwhichtheWalnutripplesatlowtide，andforalongtimeheknewnomore。

ItwasrainingstillwhenVictorBurleighreachedtheSaxonHouse。AtthedoorhemetProfessorBurgess，whowasjustleaving。Strangelyenough，thememoryoftheirfirstmeetingatthecampusgateonaSeptemberdayflashedintothemindofeachastheycamefacetofacenow。

Theyneverspoketoeachotherexceptwhenitwasnecessary。

Andyettonight，somethingmadethemgreeteachothercourteously。

"Professor，willyoubekindenoughtocomeuptomyroomafewminutes？"

Burleighasked，liftinghiscaptohisinstructorwiththewords。

"Certainly，"VincentBurgesssaidwithequalgrace。

BugBulerhadkickedoffthebedcoveringandlayfastasleeponhislittlecotwithhisstubbyarmsbare，andhislittlefathands，dimpledineachknuckle，thrownwideapart。

"Isawapicturelikethisonceforthesignofthecross，"

Vicsaidashedrewthecoveringoverthelittleform。

"Bughasbeenacrosstomesometimes，buthe"softenermysalvation。”

ProfessorBurgesswonderedagain，whyaboylikeBurleighshouldhavebeengivenavoiceofsuchrarecharm。

"Iwillnotkeepyoulong，"Vicsaid，turningfromBug。"Icannotplayintomorrow"sgame，andbeaman。”

Then，briefly，heexplainedthereason。

"Itisrainingstill。Takemyumbrella，"hesaidatthecloseofhissimplytoldstory。"Buttomorrow"ssunshinewilldrythefieldforthegame，allright。Goodnight。”

"Goodnight，"VincentBurgesssaidhoarsely，andplungedintothedarknessandtherain。

TenstepsfromtheSaxonHouse，hecameplumpintoBondSaxon，whostaggeredalittletoavoidhim。

"Myluckonrainynights，"Vincentthought。"Theoldfellow"sspreesseemtorunwiththestorms。Hehasn"tbeen`off"foralongtime。”

ButBondSaxonwasnevermoresoberinhislife，andheclutchedtheyoungman"sarmeagerly。

"ProfessorBurgess，won"tyouhelpme!"hecried。

"Whatdoyouwanttodoonanightlikethis？"Burgessasked，rememberingthevowhehadbeenforcedtomake，bythissameman。

"Comehelpmesaveaman"slife!"Bondurged。

"Lookhere，Saxon。You"vegotsomewildnotionoutofaboot-legger"sbottle。Straightenupnow。

It"saninfamousthinginacollegetownlikeLagondaLedge，whereneitherasaloonnorajointwouldbeallowed，thatsomeimpofSatanshouldforeverbebringingyouwhisky。

Whodoesit，anyhow？"

"I"mnotdrunkandhaven"tbeenforsixmonths。Comeon，forGod"ssake，andhelpmetosavealife，maybetwolives，fromtheverymanthat"sdonetheboot-leggin"androbbin"inthistownformonthsandmonths。”

Saxon"swordswereconvincingenough。

"WhatcanIdo？"Burgessasked。"I"mnotapoliceman。”

"Comeon!Comeon!"Saxonurged，tuggingattheprofessor"sarm。

"It"salife，Itellyou。”

Vincentyieldedunwillingly，thenight，thebeatingrain，themanwhoaskeditofhim，thepurpose，hisownunfitness——allholdinghimback。

Beforetheyhadgonefar，BondSaxonsuddenlyexclaimed:

"Say，Professor，doyourememberthenightIaskedyoutotakecareofDennieifanythingshouldhappentome？"

"DoYOUrememberit？"Burgessresponded。"Youdidn"task；youdemanded。”

"Iwasdrunkthen。I"msobernow。Burgess，ifanythingshouldhappentomenow，wouldyoustillbewilling？"

BondSaxonaskedintenseanxiety。

"I"vealreadytakenoath，"Burgesssaid。"Ithinkyourdaughtermayneedsomebody"scarebeforeanythinghappensifyoukeepupthisgait。”

Theyhurriedonthroughtherainuntiltheyhadlefttheboardwalkandthetownlights，andwerestaggeringalongthecinder-madepath，whenBurgesshalted。

"Saxon，who"stheman，ortwomen，youwanttosave？

Ibelieveyouaredrunk。”

BondSaxongraspedhisarm，andsaidhoarsely:

"Don"tshriekhere。Weareindanger，now。It"snottwomen。

It"samanandawoman，maybe。It"sDeanFunnybone。Comeon!"

CHAPTERX

THETHIEFINTHEMOUTH

_O，thouinvisiblespiritofwine，ifthouhastno，nametobeknownby，letuscallthee，devil!_——

SHAKESPEARE

WHENLloydFennebencouldthinkagain，thewatershadreceded，therockledgehadturnedtoapillowunderhishead，theriverbankwasastraightwhitehospitalwall，sunlightandsweetairforthedarknessandtherain，andNorrieWreamwasbesidehiminsteadofthebrutalstranger。

Hisheavyblackhairwasshornawayandhisheadwasboundwithmuchsoftcottonstuffs。Hisleftarmwasfullofprickles，asifthebloodhadjustresumedcirculation。