He would not die where he was without an effort, a last one, for liberty.
Against the door by which Merle had entered the place he hurled himself, only to fall back exhausted.
But this did not check him.
Dick Waters, in the underground trap, intended to perish fighting; for, fire-chased, he would not let the demon get the best of him.
Seconds to a man in peril seem hours of torture.
It was thus with Waters.
But all at once there came to his ears a cry that tingled them with joy.
He heard voices now and knew that the fire fiend had been checked.
Saved! but only to perish where he was.
Waters drew back against the wall and clinched his bleeding hands.