THE HERO ENTERS SUDDENLY 



the restraining bars, while a pool of blood 

 in the bottom of his cage testified to the 

 length of time he had been making this 

 desperate resistance. 



I need hardly tell you that the sight de- 

 cided her to liberate the wretched prisoner; 

 but a terrible storm was raging. Could she 

 make up her mind to turn him adrift in such 

 a tempest? 



She hesitated, but her indecision lasted 

 only a moment. No storm could be fiercer 

 than the one raging in his captive breast; no 

 struggle more desperate than this wild bat- 

 tle for liberty. Better any fate than that of 

 a prisoner! 



She carried him to the balcony and 

 opened the door of his cage. The bleeding 

 creature looked up into the wild sky. He 

 halted a moment, influenced perhaps by in- 

 ability to grasp the thought that his bond- 

 age was over; then a gleam of hope came 



