Oneleap，oneblow，andVictorBurleighwouldcarryonlyonemorescartohisgrave。
Suddenlyafaintpipingvoicefloatedinupontheglen:
LittlechildwenpwessingnearTothefeetofThwist，theTing，HaveyouneiverdoubtnorfearOrsometwibutedoyoubwing？
AndBugBuler，flushedandsplashed，andgenerallymuddyandhappy，camearoundthefallenledgesanddebauchedintothegrassysunshinyspacebeforethecavern。Onlyatiny，tumbled-up，joyouschild，withnopowerinhispudgylittlearm；andVictorBurleigh，tall，muscularandagile。
Againstthismanoftremendousstrengththecaveman\'sclubwaslifted。
Butwiththesoundofthechild\'svoiceandthesightoftheinnocentfacetheclubfellharmless。Alookoffright，deepeningtoamaniac\'sterror，seizedthecreature，andnoiselesslyandswiftlyasaserpentwouldescapehecrawledbackintothedarknessandburroweddeepfromtheeyesofmen。
Sostrengththatdaywasruledbyweakness。
\"Iistfollowedyou，Vic，\"Bugsaid，clutchingVic\'shand。
\"Thisisn\'tasafeplacetocome，Bug。Youmustn\'tfollowmehere。”
\"Nenyoumustn\'tgointoisn\'tsafeplaces，soIwon\'tfollow。
Littlefolksdon\'tknow，\"Bugsaid，withcunninggravity。
\"Heisright，\"Elinorsaid。\"Ithinkwe\'dbetterleavenow。”
Theyknewthathenceforththisspotwouldbeholygroundforthem，buttheydidnotdaretothinkfurtherthanthat。
Theyonlywishedthatthemomentswouldstay，thatthesunwouldloiterslowlydowntheafternoonsky。
\"Iknowawayout，\"Bugdeclared。Turn，I\'llshowyou。”
Then，withachild\'ssenseofdirection，heledawayfromthecaveouttowherethedeepravineheadedinaroughmassofbrokenrock。
\"Tlimbupthatandyou\'reout，\"Bugdeclared。
TheyclimbeduptothehighlevelprairiethatsweepswestwardfromtheWalnutbluffs。
\"Doodby，folks。IwanttoBotanywivurnoverthere。
IturnwivLimpyouthere。”
BugpointedtoagroupofstudentswanderingaboutinsearchofdogtoothvioletsandotherbotanicalplunderfromNature\'sspringtimetreasury。
AmongthegroupwasBug\'schum，thecrippledstudent。
\"Well，staywiththemthistime，youlittlewanderingJew，\"Vicadmonished，nordreamedhowhisguardianangelhadcometohimthisdayintheguiseofthissamelittlewanderer。
WhenVictorandElinorhadcomeatlasttothewestbluffabovetheWalnutRiver，thelateafternoonwasalreadycastinglongshadowsacrossthegrassyleveloftheoldKickapooCorral。AndagainthecampfireswereglowingwhereaSorority\"spread\"wasmerrilyinthemaking。
Theymustgodownsoonandjoininthehilarity。Butagoldenhalfhouryethunginthewest——andthegoingdownmeantthegoingbacktoallthathadbeen。
\"Lookatthefoamonthewhirlpool，Elinor。Seehowdeliberatelyitswingsupstream。Isn\'tthatamostdeceivingbitoftreachery？\"
Vicsaidashewatchedtheriver。
Elinorlookedthoughtfullyattheslow-movingwater。
\"Icannotenduredeceit，\"shesaidatlast。\"Ilikehonestyineverything。
IsaidIwouldtellyousometimeaboutasacrificeIwasforcedtomake。
I\'lltellyounowifyouwillnotspeakofwhatIsay。”
Howdelicioustohaveherconfidenceinanything。
Vicsmiledassent。
\"Myfatherhadafortunefrommymother。Whenhediedheleftmetothecareofmytwouncles，andgaveallhismoneytoendowchairsinuniversities。Hethoughtawomancouldmarrymoney，andthathewasdoingmankindaserviceinthisendowment。
Maybehewas，butI\'vealwaysrebelledagainstbeingdependent。
I\'vealwayswantedmyown。UncleJoshuathinksIamfrivolous，andhehastoldUncleLloydthatit\'sjustmyloveofspendingandextravagantnotionsthatmakesmerebelagainstconditions。
Itisn\'t。It\'sthesenseofbeingrobbed，asitwere。
Itwasn\'trightandhonesttowardme，eveninagreatcause，toleavemedependent。UncleLloydwouldneverhavedoneit。
Ihopehedoesn\'tthinkI\'masbadasUncleJoshuadoes。
Youwon\'tmindmytellingyouthis，northinkmeungratefultomyrelativesfortheircareofme。Nobodyquiteunderstandsmebutyou。”
ThetimehadcomeforthemtojointhejollypicniccrowdintheCorral。ShewouldgobacktoVincentBurgessinalittlewhile，andthisgloriousdaywouldbeonlyamemory。
Andyet，downintheprettyglen，Victorhadheldherhandsandkissedherredlips。Andshehadbeengladdownthere。
Thevoidinhislifeseemedblackerthantheblacknessbehindthecavern。
\"Elinor，\"heasked，suddenly，\"areyouboundbyanypromise——
hasProfessorBurgess——？\"Hehesitated。
\"No，\"sheanswered，turningherfaceaway。
\"Pardonmyrudeness。YouknowIamnotwell-bred，\"hesaid，gently。
\"VictorBurleigh，youill-bred，ofallthegentle，manlyfellowsinSunrise!Youknowyouarenot。”
Agreathopeleapedtolifenow，asVicrecalledthequery，\"IfVictorBurleighhadhiscornersknockedoffandwassandpapereddownandhadmoney？\"——andofElinor\'sblushingconfessionthatitwouldmakeadifferenceshecouldnothelpifthesethingswere。
Thecornerswereknockedoffnow，andDeanFennebenhadgentlybutpersistentlyappliedthesandpaper。Themoneymustbehenceforththeonecondition。
\"Elinor。”Vic\'svoicewassweetaslowbarsofmusic。
\"Oh，Victor，there\'ssomethingIcan\'tprevent。”
ShewasthinkingofUncleJoshua，whosemoneyhadsupportedheralltheseyearsandofherobligationtoheedhiswishes。
Itwasallsettledforhernow。AndallthewhileVictorwasthinkingofhisownlimitedmeansastherockthatwaswreckinghimwithher。
Forallhislifeafterwardheneverforgotthesorrowofthatmoment。
HelookedintoElinor\'sface，andallthelonging，alltheheart-hungerofthedaysgoneby，andofthedaystocomeseemedtolieinthosewide-openeyesshadedbylongblacklashes。
\"Elinor，myfather\'scruelmurderandmymotherdyingalonewereonekindofgrief。MyfightwiththosedeadlypoisonthingstorescuelittleBugwasanotherkind。Mydaysofhardshipandpovertyontheclaim，withonlyBugandmeinthatdesolateloneliness，wasstillanother。
ButnoneoftheseseemasorrowbesidewhatImustfacehenceforth。
AndyetIhaveonejoyminenow。Youdidcaredownintheglen。
MayIkeepthatonegraciousjoy——minealways？\"
\"Youhavealwayswonineverygame。Youwillinthisstruggle。
Don\'tforgetthenameyourmothergaveyou。”Hereyeswereluminouswithtears。\"WemustgodowntotheCorralnow。
Tomorrowwillmakethingsallright。Ishallbeproudofyouandyoursuccesseverywhere，foryouwillsucceed。”
\"Imaynotbeworthyofvictory，\"hesaid，sadly。
\"Youhaveneverbeenunworthy。Don\'tbenow。”Shesmiledbravely。
Theyturnedfromthewestprairieandthesunset，andslowlytheypassedoutofitspassingradiancedowntothedarkeningspacesoftheoldKickapooCorral。
Andthedaywithitsgladnessandsorrow，whetherforlossorgain，slippedintotheshadowybeautyofanApriltwilight。
CHAPTERIX
GAIN，ORLOSS？
_YeknowhowhardanIdoldies，an\'whatthatmeanttome——
E\'entakeitforasacrifice，acceptabletoThee_——
KIPLING
THEballgameonFriday，thethirteenth，wasagreateventthisyear。
TheSunrisefootballelevenhadheldthechampionshiprecordwithanuncrossedgoallineintheautumn。Thebasket-ballteamhadhadnodefeatthisyear。DebatingtestshadgivenSunrisethevictory。
ThatcamethroughTrenchandthecrippledstudent。Andthestateoratoricalstrugglerepeatedthestory，aconquest，allthegreaterbecauseVictorBurleigh，theathlete，worealsothelaurelsoforatory。
Andwhyshouldhenot，withthatfinepresenceandmagnificentvoice？
AsDr。Fennebenlistenedtohisforcefullogichesawclearlythelinefortheboy\'sfuture，aline，hethought，thatcouldendatlastonlyinthepulpit。
OnemorebattletofightnowandLagondaLedgeandthewholeWalnutValleywouldgodowninhistoryasfamoussoil。
ItwasabanneryearforSunrise，andenthusiasmwasatfeverpitch，whichincollegeistheonlyhealthytemperature。
InthislastbattleSunriseturnedagaintoVictorBurleighasitshighesthope。Althoughthiswashisfirstgamefortheseason，hehadneverfailedtobringvictorytotheSunrisebanners，andinallhisbase-ballpracticehewasasunerringashewasspeedy。
Andthensuccesswashishabitanyhow。So\"Burleighatthebat\"
wastheslogannowfromthesummitofthecollegeridgetothefarthestcornersofLagondaLedge；andidolworshipwereinsignificantcomparedtotheadulationpouredoutonhim。
AndBurleigh，beingyoungandveryhuman，hadallthepleasuretheadorationofacommunitycanbringtoitslocalhero。
Fortruly，fewtriumphsinlife\'slateryearscanbefraughtwithhalfthekeenjoytheseschooldayvictoriesbring。
Andtheapplauseoflisteningsenatesmeanslessthangoodoldcomrades\'yells。
VincentBurgess，A。B。，GreekProfessorfromBoston，seemedtohaveforgottenentirelyabouttypesandgeographicalbreadthsandseclusionforprofoundresearchamidbarrenprairies。
HewasfacultymemberontheAthleticboardnowandenthusiasticaboutallcollegesports。Sunrisehaddonethismuchforhimanyhow。
Inaddition，theyoungeducatorwastakingonalittleroundness，suggestiveofastoutforminmiddlelife。
ButVincentBurgesshadnotforgottenallofthemotivesthathadpulledhimKansas-ward，althoughunknowntoDr。Fenneben，hehadalreadyrefusedtoconsiderapositionhigherupinaneasterncollege。
HewasnotquitereadytoleavetheWestyet。Ofcourse，not。
ElinorWreamwasonlyhalfthroughschoolandgrowingmorepopularasshewasgrowingmorewomanlyandmorebeautifuleachyear。
Hissalvationlayinkeepingonthegroundsifhewouldholdhisclaimundisturbed。
BurgesshadcometoKansas，hehadtoldFenneben，inordertoknowsomethingofthestatewherehisonlysisterhadlived。
Hedidnotknowyetallhewishedtoknowaboutherlifeanddeathhere。
Hernamewasneverspokeninhisfather\'spresenceaftershecameWest，sogreatwasthatfather\'sangeroverherleavingtheEast。AnddeepinVincent\'smindhefixedtheimpressionthathisdaughterhaddiedasunreconciledtoherbrotherastoherfatherhimself。
Thiswasallhisownbusiness，however，andhiddendeep，almostoutofsightofhimself，wasaselfishmotivethathadnotyetputavisiblemarkonthesurface。
BurgesswantedtomarryNorrieWream，andhewantedhertohaveallthegoodthingsoflifewhichinhersimplerearinghadbeendeniedher。
Theheritagefromhisfather\'sestateincludedcertaintrustfundsambiguouslybestowedbyaneccentricEnglishancestoruponsomeonewhohadcomeWestnotlongbeforehisdeath。
ThesefundsVincentheldbyhisfather\'swill——towhichwillJoshuaWreamwaswitness——onconditionthatnoheirtothesefundswasliving。
Ifthereweresuchpersonorpersonsliving——butBurgessknewtherewerenone。JoshuaWreamhadmadesureofthatforhimbeforeheleftCambridge。AndyetitmightbewelltostayinKansasforayearortwo——muchbettertosettleanypossibledifficultyherethantohaveanythingfollowhimEastlater。
ForBurgesshadhiseyeonDr。Wream\'schairinHarvardwhentheoldmanshouldgiveitup。Thatwasapartofthecontractbetweenthetwomen，theolddoctorandtheyoungprofessor。
UntilthenightwhenBondSaxonforcedhimtotakeanunwillingoath，Burgesshadhadacomfortableconscience，surethathisfinancialfuturewassettled，andconfidentthatthisassuredhimthehandofElinorWreamwhenthetimewasripe。WiththatOctobernight，however，aweightofanxietybeganthatincreasedwiththepassingdays。
Forashegrewnearertothestudentlifeandtookonfleshandgoodwillandabroaderknowledgeoftheworthofhumanity，sohegrewnearertothissmoothlyhiddeninnercare。And，outsideandin，hewantedtostayinKansasforthetime。
Intheweeksbeforethebigballgame，VictorBurleighseemedtohaveforgottentheglenandthewestbluffabovetheKickapooCorral。ThegirlswhowouldhavesubstitutedforElinorintheafternoonrambletookupmuchofthebigsophomore\'stime，andheneverseemedmoregaynorcarefree。
AndElinor，ifshehadaheartache，didnotshowitinherhappymanner。
Ontheafternoonbeforetheballgame，aMaythunderstormswepttheWalnutValleyandthedarknessfellearly。AsDennieSaxonwaitedontheSunriseporticobeforestartingoutintherain，ProfessorBurgesslockedthefrontdoorandjoinedher。VictorBurleighwasalsowaitingbesideastonecolumnfortheshowertolighten。
BurgessdidnotseehiminthedarkeningtwilightandBurleighneverspoketotheyounginstructorwhenitwasnotnecessary。
\"Imustbenervous，\"ProfessorBurgesssaid，tryingtomanageDennie\'sumbrellaandcatchingitinherhair。
\"Ihadalettertodaythatworriedme。”
\"Toobad!\"Denniesaidsympathetically。
\"I\'lltellyouallaboutitsometime。”
Hewastryingtoloosethewirerib-jointfromDennie\'shair，whichthedampnesswasrollinginsoftlittleringletsaboutherforeheadandneck。
Half-consciously，herememberedthesameoutlineofripplinghair，asithadlookedintheglowoftheOctobercampfiredownintheKickapooCorralwhenshewastellingtheoldlegendofSwiftElkandTheFawnoftheMorningLight。Shesmiledupathimconsolingly。
Denniewaslevel-headed，andlifewasalwaysworthlivingwhereshewas。
\"I\'llbeyourrainbeau。”Hetookherarmtoassistherdownthesteps。
Socourteouswashisaction，shemighthavebeenaladyofrankinsteadofoldBondSaxon\'sdaughtercarryingherownweightofasorrowgreaterthanLagondaLedgedreamedof。
Asthetwowalkedslowlyhomewardunderthedrippingshelterofthetrees，VincentBurgessfeltasenseofcomfortandpleasureoutofallkeepingforamaninloveelsewhere。
VictorBurleighwatchedthemfromtheshadowoftheporticocolumn。
\"IbelieveTrenchisright。HeinsiststhatBurgesslikesDennie，orthatheismeanenoughtodeceiveDennieintolikinghim。
Amanlikethatoughttobekilled——ascholar，andarichman，andDenniesuchabravelittlepoorgirlwithakind，weak-kneed，oldfatheronherheart。Norrieoughttoknowthis，butwhoamItosayaword？\"
\"VictorBurleigh，won\'tyoureleasethefairprincessfromthetower？\"
agirl\'svoicecalled。
VicturnedtoseeElinorframedinthehalf-waywindowofthesouthturret。
Andinthatdrippingshadowylight，noframecouldwantararerpicture。
\"I\'vefallenintothepitandamfarontheroadtoperdition，\"
Elinorsaid。\"IhurrieddownthiswayfromchoirpracticeandUncleLloyd\'sgoneandleftthelowerdoorlocked。
Itthunderedso，andDenniedidn\'tcomeintothestudy，andnobodyheardmyscreams。ButifIperish，Iperish，\"
sheaddedwithmockresignation。
\"Ifyou\'llletuponperishingforhalfaminute，Rapunzel，I\'lltotherescue，\"Viccried，\"ifIhavetoclimbthedomeandknockthe_peraspera_outoftheStateSealandcomedownthroughthehole，_perastraadaspera_。”Andthenherushedofftofindanunlockedexittothebuilding。
FromtheChapelendofthecircularstairs，hecalledpresently。
\"Curfewmustnotringforacoupleofseconds。
Risetothesurface，fairmermaid。”
Elinorcameupthewindingstairintothedimlylightedchapelathiscall。
ThetwohadavoidedeachothersincetheAprildayintheglen。
Theywerenottoblameforthischancemeetingnow。
\"Whenyouareintroubleandthenightsaredarkandrainy，callme，Elinor，\"Vicsaidastheywerecrossingtherotunda。
\"IfIshowyousometimeshowtolookupandfindthelight，asyoushowedmetheSunrisebeacononthenightofthestormoutonWestBluff，youmaybegladyouheardme。Seethatglowonthedome!
YouwouldhavemissedthatdowninLagondaLedge。”
Alevelrayfromamomentarycloudriftinthewesternskysmotethestainedglassofthedome，lightingitsgleaminginscriptionwithafleetingradiance。
\"Butthelightcomesrarelyandissofaraway，andbetweentimes，onlythecave，andthedarkwaysbehinditleadingtotheriver，\"
hesaidgravely。Thesorrowofhopelessnesswashistone。
\"Notunlessonechoosestoburrowdownward，\"sherepliedsoftly。
\"Let\'shurryhome。Tomorrowyouwillbe`VictortheFamous\'again。
Ihopethisshowerwon\'tspoiltheballgame。”
Asnightdeepened，therainfellsteadily。UpinVictorBurleigh\'sroomBugBulergrewdrowsyearly。
\"Iwanttosaymypwayersnow，Vic，\"hesaid。
Thebigfellowputdownhisbookandtookthechildinhisarms。
Bughadageniusforprayingbrieflyandforothersratherthanforhimself。
Tonighthemerelyclaspedhischubbyhandsandsaid，reverently:
\"DearDod，pleaseistmakeVicdoodasfolksfinksheis，forThwist\'ssake。Amen-n-n。”
Whenhefellasleep，VictorsatalongwhilestaringatthewindowwheretheMayrainwasbeatingheavily。Atlength，hebentoverlittleBugandpushedbackthecurlsfromhisbrow。
Bugsmiledupdrowsilyandwentonsleeping。
\"AsgoodasfolksthinkIam，Bug!\"hemused。\"Youhavegottenbetweenmeandtherattlesnakesthatwereaftermysoulagoodmanytimes，littlebrother-of-mine。AsgoodasfolksthinkIam!
Doyouknowwhatitcoststobethatgood？\"
TenminuteslaterhesatinLloydFenneben\'slibrary。
\"Ihavecomeforhelp，\"hesaidinreplytotheDean\'squestioningface。
\"IhopeIcangiveit，\"Fennebenresponded。
\"It\'sabouttomorrow\'sgame。Therearesuretobesomeprofessionalplayersontheotherteam。IwantSunrisetowin。
Iwanttowinmyself。”Vic\'svoicewasharshtonight。
AndtheDeancaughtthehardtone。
\"IwantSunrisetowin。Iwantyoutowin。Therewillprobablybesomeprofessionalstoplayagainst，butwehavenowayofprovingthis，\"Fennebensaid。
\"Whatdoyouthinkofsuchplaying，Doctor？\"Vicasked。
\"Ithinktheruleaboutprofessionalismisoftenastrainedpieceoffoolishness。Itisviolatedpersistentlyandpersistentlywinkedat，butsolongasitistherulethereisonlyonesquarethingtodo，andthatistoliveuptothelaw。Youshouldnotdreadanyprofessionalisminthegametomorrow，however。You\'llbringusthroughanyhow，andkeeptheSunrisenameandfameuntarnished。”
TheDeansmiledgenially。
Burleigh\'sfacewasverypaleandastrangefireburnedinhiseyes。
\"Dr。Fenneben\"——hismusicalvoicerangclear——\"I\'monlyapoordevilfromtheshort-grasscountrywherelifeeachyeardependsonthatyear\'scrop。
Threeyearsoutoffour，thewindanddrouthbringonlyfailureatharvesttime。Thenwestarveourbodiesandgripontohopeanddeterminationwithoursoulstillseedtimecomesagain。Iwantacollegeeducation。
Lastsummerburnedusoutasusualwithinamonthofharvest。
ThenthemortgagegotinitsworkonmyclaimandIhadtogiveitup。
Ihadbarelyenoughtogetthroughhereatpauperratesthisyear——
butIcouldn\'tdoitandkeepBug，too。IwentintoColoradoandplayedbaseballforpay，soIcouldcomehereandbringhimwithme。That\'swhyIcanout-batourteam，andcouldwindeadeasyforSunrisetomorrow。
NobodyinKansasknowsit。Now，whatshallIdo？\"
Thewordswereshotoutlikebullets。
\"Whatshallyoudo？\"LloydFenneben\'sblackeyesheldBurleigh。\"Thereisonlyonethingtodo。Whenyourankedhighingradeswithonlythetrivialmatterofexcusableabsenceagainstyou——nobrokenlaw——youtookProfessorBurgessgentlybythethroatandtoldhimyoumeanttoplayanyhow。
Youstoodyourgroundlikeaman，foryourownsakeandforthehonorofSunrise。StandlikeamanforyourownsakeandthehonorofSunrise，now。GotoProfessorBurgessandtakehimgently——
bythehand，thistime——andtellhimyoudonotmeantoplay，andwhyyoucannot。”
Burleighsatstillasstone，hisfacewhiteasmarble，hiswide-openeyesunderhisblackbrowsseeingnothing。
\"Butourproudrecord——theglorioushonorofthiscollege，\"hesaidatlength，andbackofhiswordswasthethoughtofVictorBurleigh，theidolofSunrise，dethroned，wherehehadbeenadored。
\"Thereisnohonorforacollegelikethehonestyofitsstudents。
Thereisnoprouderrecordthantherecordofdaringtodotheright。
Youcouldgetintothegameoncebyabrute\'sstrength。
Getoutofitnowbyagentleman\'shonor。”
BehindthespeechwasLloydFennebenhimself，sympathetic，firm，upright，beforewhomtheharshnessofVictorBurleigh\'sfaceslowlygaveplacetoanexpressionofsorrow。
\"Myboy，\"Fennebensaidgently，\"NaturegaveustheWalnutValleywithitslimestoneledgesandfineforesttrees。ButbeforeourSunrisecouldbebuildedtheledgehadtobeshapenintothehewnstone，thegreentreetotheseasonedlumber，quarter-sawedoak——
quarter-sawed，mindyou。Mill，forgeandtry-pit，axandsawandchisel，withcleftandblowandfurnaceheat，shapedthemallforService。OverourdoorwayistheSunriseinitial。
ItstandsalsoforStrife，partofwhichyouknowalready；
butitstandsforSacrificeaswell。Youareintheshaping。
GodgrantyoumaybeturnedoutamanfittedbySacrificeforServicewhentheshapingisdone。”
Burleighrose，silentstill，andthetwowentouttogether。
Atthedoorway，heturnedtoFenneben，whograspedhishandwithoutaword。Andonceagain，thefirmhandclaspoftheDeanofSunriseseemedtobindthecountryboytothefinerthingsoflife。
IthaddonethesameonthatdayaftertheThanksgivinggamewhenhesatinFenneben\'sstudy，andunderstoodforthefirsttimewhatgivestherighttoprideinbrawnyarmandsteel-springnerve。
AfterBurleighlefthim，LloydFennebenstoodforalongtimeonhisverandainthelightofthedoorwaywatchingthesteadydownpourofthewarmMayrain。Asheturnedatlengthtoenterthehousearough-lookingmanwithrain-soakedclothingandslouchedhat，sprangoutoftheshadows。
\"Stranger，\"hecalledhastily。\"There\'salittlechildfellintheriverroundthebend，andhismothergotholdofhim，butshecan\'tpullhimout，andcan\'tholdonmuchlonger。
Willyoucomehelpme，quick？I\'veonlygotonearmorIwouldn\'thavehadtoaskforhelp。”
Anemptysleevewasflappingintherain，andFennebendidnotnoticethenthatthemankeptthatsideofhimselfallthetimeintheshadows。
Fennebenhadonlyonethoughtashehurriedawayinthedarkness，tosavethewomanandchild。Hiscompanionsaidlittle，directingthecoursetowardthebendintheriverbeforethegatewayofPigeonPlace。Astheypushedonwithallspeedthroughrainandmud，FennebenwashardlyconsciousthatDennieSaxon\'swordsaboutthelonelygray-hairedhermitwomanwererecurringcuriouslytohismind。
\"IftalkingaboutSunrisemadehercrylikethat，maybeyoumightdosomethingforher，\"Denniehadsaid。Hehadnevertriedtodoanythingforher。
Somehowsheseemedtobethewomanwhowasinperilnow，andhewashalf-consciouslyblaminghimselfthathehadnevertriedtohelpher，hadnoteventhoughtofherformonths。Womenwerenotinhisline，exceptthekindlyimpersonalinteresthefeltforalltheSunrisegirls，andhissenseofresponsibilityforNorrie，andthememoryofagirl——
oh，thehungryhauntingmemory!
Allthisinasemi-consciousfleetnesssweptacrosshismind，thatwasbentonreachingtheriver，andonthatwomanholdingadrowningchild。
Atthebendintheriver，themanhaltedsuddenly。
\"Lookout!There\'sastone；don\'tstumble!\"hesaidhoarsely，dodgingbackashespoke。
ThenFennebenwasconsciousofhisownfeetstrikingtheslabofstonebytheroadside，ofasuddenshovefromsomebodybehindhim，atwo-armedmanitmusthavebeen，ofstumblingblindly，tryingtocatchattheelmtreethatstoodthere，offallingthroughtheunderbrush，headforemost，intotheriver，evenofstrikingthewater。Ashefell，hewasveryfaintlyconsciousofasenseofpityforVictorBurleighfightingoutabattlewithhisownhonortonight，andthenhemusthaveheardadog\'sfierceyelp，andawoman\'sscream。Somehow，itseemedtocomethroughdistanceoftime，asoutofpastyears，andnotthroughlengthofspace——
andthenofabrutallaughandanoathwiththewords:
\"NowforJoshWream，and——\"
ButFenneben\'sheadhadstruckthestoneledgeagainstwhichtheWalnutripplesatlowtide，andforalongtimeheknewnomore。
ItwasrainingstillwhenVictorBurleighreachedtheSaxonHouse。AtthedoorhemetProfessorBurgess，whowasjustleaving。Strangelyenough，thememoryoftheirfirstmeetingatthecampusgateonaSeptemberdayflashedintothemindofeachastheycamefacetofacenow。
Theyneverspoketoeachotherexceptwhenitwasnecessary。
Andyettonight，somethingmadethemgreeteachothercourteously。
\"Professor，willyoubekindenoughtocomeuptomyroomafewminutes？\"
Burleighasked，liftinghiscaptohisinstructorwiththewords。
\"Certainly，\"VincentBurgesssaidwithequalgrace。
BugBulerhadkickedoffthebedcoveringandlayfastasleeponhislittlecotwithhisstubbyarmsbare，andhislittlefathands，dimpledineachknuckle，thrownwideapart。
\"Isawapicturelikethisonceforthesignofthecross，\"
Vicsaidashedrewthecoveringoverthelittleform。
\"Bughasbeenacrosstomesometimes，buthe\'softenermysalvation。”
ProfessorBurgesswonderedagain，whyaboylikeBurleighshouldhavebeengivenavoiceofsuchrarecharm。
\"Iwillnotkeepyoulong，\"Vicsaid，turningfromBug。\"Icannotplayintomorrow\'sgame，andbeaman。”
Then，briefly，heexplainedthereason。
\"Itisrainingstill。Takemyumbrella，\"hesaidatthecloseofhissimplytoldstory。\"Buttomorrow\'ssunshinewilldrythefieldforthegame，allright。Goodnight。”
\"Goodnight，\"VincentBurgesssaidhoarsely，andplungedintothedarknessandtherain。
TenstepsfromtheSaxonHouse，hecameplumpintoBondSaxon，whostaggeredalittletoavoidhim。
\"Myluckonrainynights，\"Vincentthought。\"Theoldfellow\'sspreesseemtorunwiththestorms。Hehasn\'tbeen`off\'foralongtime。”
ButBondSaxonwasnevermoresoberinhislife，andheclutchedtheyoungman\'sarmeagerly。
\"ProfessorBurgess，won\'tyouhelpme!\"hecried。
\"Whatdoyouwanttodoonanightlikethis？\"Burgessasked，rememberingthevowhehadbeenforcedtomake，bythissameman。
\"Comehelpmesaveaman\'slife!\"Bondurged。
\"Lookhere，Saxon。You\'vegotsomewildnotionoutofaboot-legger\'sbottle。Straightenupnow。
It\'saninfamousthinginacollegetownlikeLagondaLedge，whereneitherasaloonnorajointwouldbeallowed，thatsomeimpofSatanshouldforeverbebringingyouwhisky。
Whodoesit，anyhow？\"
\"I\'mnotdrunkandhaven\'tbeenforsixmonths。Comeon，forGod\'ssake，andhelpmetosavealife，maybetwolives，fromtheverymanthat\'sdonetheboot-leggin\'androbbin\'inthistownformonthsandmonths。”
Saxon\'swordswereconvincingenough。
\"WhatcanIdo？\"Burgessasked。\"I\'mnotapoliceman。”
\"Comeon!Comeon!\"Saxonurged，tuggingattheprofessor\'sarm。
\"It\'salife，Itellyou。”
Vincentyieldedunwillingly，thenight，thebeatingrain，themanwhoaskeditofhim，thepurpose，hisownunfitness——allholdinghimback。
Beforetheyhadgonefar，BondSaxonsuddenlyexclaimed:
\"Say，Professor，doyourememberthenightIaskedyoutotakecareofDennieifanythingshouldhappentome？\"
\"DoYOUrememberit？\"Burgessresponded。\"Youdidn\'task；youdemanded。”
\"Iwasdrunkthen。I\'msobernow。Burgess，ifanythingshouldhappentomenow，wouldyoustillbewilling？\"
BondSaxonaskedintenseanxiety。
\"I\'vealreadytakenoath，\"Burgesssaid。\"Ithinkyourdaughtermayneedsomebody\'scarebeforeanythinghappensifyoukeepupthisgait。”
Theyhurriedonthroughtherainuntiltheyhadlefttheboardwalkandthetownlights，andwerestaggeringalongthecinder-madepath，whenBurgesshalted。
\"Saxon，who\'stheman，ortwomen，youwanttosave？
Ibelieveyouaredrunk。”
BondSaxongraspedhisarm，andsaidhoarsely:
\"Don\'tshriekhere。Weareindanger，now。It\'snottwomen。
It\'samanandawoman，maybe。It\'sDeanFunnybone。Comeon!\"
CHAPTERX
THETHIEFINTHEMOUTH
_O，thouinvisiblespiritofwine，ifthouhastno，nametobeknownby，letuscallthee，devil!_——
SHAKESPEARE
WHENLloydFennebencouldthinkagain，thewatershadreceded，therockledgehadturnedtoapillowunderhishead，theriverbankwasastraightwhitehospitalwall，sunlightandsweetairforthedarknessandtherain，andNorrieWreamwasbesidehiminsteadofthebrutalstranger。
Hisheavyblackhairwasshornawayandhisheadwasboundwithmuchsoftcottonstuffs。Hisleftarmwasfullofprickles，asifthebloodhadjustresumedcirculation。