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。