"You on a
rope o' sheets!" She even laughed. "Ye mout es well entrust yourself
ter a strand of flax thread!"
Through the floor licked a tongue of flame.
"Kain't you men jump--an' catch ther limb of thet thar sycamore," she
added. "Hit hain't fur away--an' thet's how I'm aimin' ter leave
myself."
Halloway turned an eager gaze upon the girl and even in the press of
moments he remembered the role he was playing. "I reckon," he
suggested, "I'd better lead off--ef thet flyin' limb holds me, it'll
hold ther balance of ye."
What was genuinely in his mind was to be there to catch her if she
missed her grip, but to forestall objection he thrust his body through
the opening, measured the distance with a brief glance and launched
himself outward. To use that fire escape one must catch the branch,
and hold it without slipping, while he swung and groped with his feet
for another limb below.
For Halloway the matter was done without doubt or wavering. It must be
so done or result in a three-storied drop, but when he turned and
looked back, bracing himself to catch Alexander, he saw her turn again
into the room, out of his range of vision.
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