While Minnie was saying this her sister was embracing her and kissing her and crying over her.

“Oh, come, Minnie, come!” she cried; “make haste.  We must fly!”

“Where to?” said Minnie, wonderingly.

“Any where—­any where out of this awful place:  into the woods.”

“Why, I don’t see the use of going into the woods.  It’s all wet, you know.  Can’t we get a carriage?”

“Oh no, no; we must not wait.  They’ll all be back soon and kill us.”

“Kill us!  What for?” cried Minnie.  “What do you mean?  How silly you are, Kitty darling!”

At this moment Dacres entered.  The image of the immeasurable ass was still very prominent in his mind, and he had lost all his fever and delirium.  One thought only remained (besides that of the ass, of course), and that was—­escape.

“Are you ready?” he asked, hurriedly.

“Oh yes, yes; let us make haste,” said Mrs. Willoughby.

“I think no one is below,” said he; “but I will go first.  There is a good place close by.  We will run there.  If I fall, you must run on and try to get there.  It is the bank just opposite.  Once there, you are in the woods.  Do you understand?”

“Oh yes, yes!” cried Mrs. Willoughby.  “Haste!  Oh, haste!”

Dacres turned, and Mrs. Willoughby had just grasped Minnie’s hand to follow, when suddenly they heard footsteps below.

They stopped, appalled.

The robbers had not all gone, then.  Some of them must have remained on guard.  But how many?

Dacres listened and the ladies listened, and in their suspense the beating of each heart was audible.  The footsteps below could be heard going from room to room, and pausing in each.

“There seems to be only one man,” said Dacres, in a whisper.  “If there is only one, I’ll engage to manage him.  While I grapple, you run for your lives.  Remember the bank.”

“Oh yes; but oh, Sir, there may be more,” said Mrs. Willoughby.

“I’ll see,” said Dacres, softly.

He went cautiously to the front window and looked out.  By the increased light he could see quite plainly.  No men were visible.  From afar the noise of the strife came to his ears louder than ever, and he could see the flashes of the rifles.

Dacres stole back again from the window and went to the door.  He stood and listened.

And now the footsteps came across the hall to the foot of the stairs.  Dacres could see the figure of a solitary man, but it was dark in the hall, and he could not make him out.

He began to think that there was only one enemy to encounter.

The man below put his foot on the lowest stair.

Then he hesitated.

Dacres stood in the shadow of the other doorway, which was nearer to the head of the stairs, and prepared to spring as soon as the stranger should come within reach.  But the stranger delayed still.