Pagina 35 de 416

Then, suddenly, as he dropped the boy to the ground outside,

there came a blast of fire on the back draft created by the

opening. Singed and strangling, with a last desperate effort he

threw himself outward and fell on his shoulders beside little

Bige.

Men who had heard the crash of glass when the window went out

rushed forward and dragged man and boy to safety.

A quarter of an hour later, his head and neck bandaged with

sweet-oil, Code made his way weakly to where Nellie sat among her

belongings cradling in her arms the boy whom the doctor had just

brought back to consciousness.

"He's all right, is he?" asked Schofield.

She smiled up at him through her tears.

"Yes, the doctor says it was just too much smoke. Oh, Code, how

can I thank you for this? And you are hurt! Is it bad? Can't I do

anything?"

She struggled to her feet, solicitude written on her face, for

the moment even forgetting little Bige, who had begun to howl.