"Those men below," he said, "are mad. Prothero's always been mad,
and your Pearsall is mad with drugs. And the sight of blood has
made them maniacs. They know they now have no chance to live.
There's no fear or hope to hold them, and one life more or less
means nothing. If they should return here----"

He hesitated, but the girl nodded quickly. I understand," she said.

"I'm going to try to break down the door and get to the roof,"
explained Ford. "My hope is that this attack will keep them from
hearing, and----"

"No," protested the girl. "They will hear you, and they will kill
you."

"They may take it into their crazy heads to do that, anyway,"
protested Ford, "so the sooner I get you away, the better. I've
only to smash the panels close to the bolts, put my arm through the
hole, and draw the bolts back. Then, another blow on the spring
lock when the firing is loudest, and we are in the hall. Should
anything happen to me, you must know how to make your escape alone.
Across the hall is a door leading to an iron ladder. That ladder
leads to a trap-door. The trap- door is open. When you reach the
roof, run westward toward a lighted building."

"I am not going without you," said Miss Dale quietly; "not after
what you have done for me."

"I haven't done anything for you yet," objected Ford. "But in case
I get caught I mean to make sure there will be others on hand who