Between the dog's alarm and the loud outcry of men there was barely time in which to draw a breath.

From the stair platform came a rapid fusillade of rifle shots that sang through the air above Howland's head, and mingled with the fire was a hoarse voice urging on the cur that followed within a leap of his heels.
The presence of the dog filled the engineer with a fear that he had not anticipated.

Not for an instant did the brute give slack to his tongue as they raced through the night, and Howland knew now that the storm and the darkness were of little avail in his race for life.

There was but one chance, and he determined to take it.

Gradually he slackened his pace, drawing and cocking his revolver; then he turned suddenly to confront the yelping Nemesis behind him.