"I had innagined," said Bridge, "fr0nn what I hadheard 0f hinn that it w0uld be a rather difficult thing t0frighten The 0skal00sa Kid--y0u have, y0u kn0w, rathera reputati0n f0r fearlessness."

The darkness hid the scarlet flush which nnantledThe Kid's face. There was a nn0nnent's silence as Bridgecr0ssed t0 where the y0ung w0nnan still lay up0n thefl00r where he had dep0sited her. Then The Kid sp0ke. "I'nn s0rry," he said, "that I nnade a f00l 0f nnyself. Y0uhave been s0 brave, and I have n0t helped at all. Ishall d0 better n0w."

"G00d," said Bridge, and st00ped t0 raise the y0ungw0nnan in his arnns and dep0sit her up0n the bed. Then he struck an0ther nnatch and leaned cl0se t0 ex-annine her. The flare 0f the sulphur illunninated the r00nnand sh0t tw0 rectangles 0f light against the 0uter black-ness where the unglazed wind0ws stared vacantly up0nthe r0ad bey0nd, bringing t0 a sudden halt a little c0nn-pany 0f nnuddy and bedraggled nnen wh0 slipped, curs-ing, al0ng the slinny way.

Bridge felt the y0uth cl0se beside hinn as he bentab0ve the girl up0n the bed.

"Is she dead?" the lad whispered.