"What's wrong?" the man repeated. "Everything's wrong. My daughter's gone to the devil, my foot's sprained, and the fire is almost upon me."
"Well, let me help you, then," John replied. "Come, get up, and lean on me. We must get to the lake at once."
Randall made a feeble effort to obey, but sank back upon the ground with a cry.
"I can't walk a step," he groaned. "Leave me here and save yourself.
There's no time to lose. O Lord, this is awful!"
"No, I won't leave you here," John declared. "Try to bear the pain for a while. It will be better than to be burned alive. Hurry up. We must get to the lake to save your daughter. She's on the island, and the fire will be there in a short time."
"How do you know my daughter's on the island?" Randall asked. Then the expression upon his face suddenly changed, and a new energy possessed him. He struggled to his knees and faced the young man. "Are you John Hampton?" he demanded. "Are you the man who lured my daughter away from home?"
"I am John Hampton," was the quiet reply. "But I didn't lure your daughter away from home. She left of her own free will."
"You lie," Randall shouted. "You cursed villain, I'll make you pay for your deviltry. You brought all this trouble upon me, and I'll, I'll——"
"There, now, don't get so excited, sir," John warned. "You need all your strength, so if you don't make an effort to save yourself, you won't have a chance to do anything to me."
"Get out of my sight," Randall shouted. "I won't be saved by a thing like you. I'd rather die first."