Hurry!"
While the Englishman opened the window Hough stood in front of the
door with both arms extended. Allie could just see his tall form in
the pale gloom. Pandemonium had begun in the other room, with Durade
screaming for lights, and his men yelling and fighting for the gold,
and Hough's friends struggling to get out. But they did not follow
Hough into this room and evidently must have thought he had escaped
through the other door.
"Come," said Ancliffe, touching Allie.
He helped her get out, and followed laboriously. Then he softly
called to Hough. The gambler let himself down swiftly and
noiselessly.
"Now what?" he muttered.
They appeared to be in a narrow alley between a house of boards and
a house of canvas. Excited voices sounded inside this canvas
structure and evidently alarmed Hough, for with a motion he enjoined
silence and led Allie through the dark passage out into a gloomy
square surrounded by low, dark structures. Ancliffe followed close
behind.
The night was dark, with no stars showing. A cool wind blew in
Allie's face, refreshing her after her long confinement. Hough began
groping forward. This square had a rough board floor and a skeleton
framework. It had been a house of canvas. Some of the partitions
were still standing.
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