"Mr. Crosby," she said firmly, clasping his arm; "you are not to leave
this beam. Do you think I'll permit you to go down there and be torn to
pieces by that beast, just for the sake of letting me cut and run, as
you call it? I'd be a bigger brute than the dog and--and--"

"Mrs. Delancy, my mind is made up. I'm going down!"

"That settles it! I'm coming too," she proclaimed emphatically.

"To be sure. That's the plan. You'll escape while I hold Swallow."

"I'll do nothing of the sort. You shall not sacrifice yourself for my
sake. I'd stay up here with you all the rest of my life before I'd
permit you to do that."

"I'll remind you of that offer later on, my dear Mrs. Delancy, when we
are not so pressed for time. Just now you must be practical, however. We
can't stay up here all night."

"Please, Mr. Crosby, for my sake, don't go down there. To please me,
don't be disfigured. I know you are awfully brave and strong, but he is
such a huge, vicious dog. Won't you please stay here?"

"Ten minutes from now it will be too dark to see the dog and he'll have
an advantage over me. Listen: I'll meet you at the depot in an hour and
a half. This is final, Mrs. Delancy. Will you do as I tell you? Run for
the road and then to town. I'll promise to join you there."

"Oh, dear! Oh, dear!" she moaned, as he drew away from her and swung one