I stood erect, gaping, suffocated, rising as from a long submersion.
Godfrey's finger had slipped from the button of his torch, and we were
in darkness; but suddenly a dim figure hurled itself past us, up the
ladder.

With a low cry, Godfrey snatched at it, but his hand clutched only the
empty air. The next instant, the figure poised itself on the coping of
the wall and then plunged forward out of sight. I heard the crash of
breaking branches, a scramble, a patter of feet, and all was still.

"It's Swain!" said Godfrey, hoarsely; "and that's a twelve-foot drop!
Why, the man's mad! Hand me that ladder, Lester!" he added, for he
was already at the top of the wall.

I lifted it, as I had done once before that night, and saw Godfrey
slide it over the wall.

"Come on!" he said. "We must save him if we can!" and he, too,
disappeared.

The next instant, I was scrambling desperately after him. The
lawyer-Tartarin had vanished!




CHAPTER VII

THE TRAGEDY