"Let's after him." Tearing off the remainder of the boards, one or two entered, opened the door from the inside, and gave admission to the rest.
Mr.Ellis mounted to the second story, followed by his pursuers; on he went, until he reached the attic, from which a ladder led to the roof.
Ascending this, he drew it up after him, and found himself on the roof of a house that was entirely isolated.
The whole extent of the danger flashed upon him at once.

Here he was completely hemmed in, without the smallest chance for escape.

He approached the edge and looked over, but could discover nothing near enough to reach by a leap.
"I must sell my life dearly," he said.

"God be my helper now--He is all I have to rely upon." And as he spoke, the great drops of sweat fell from his forehead.

Espying a sheet of lead upon the roof, he rolled it into a club of tolerable thickness, and waited the approach of his pursuers.
"He's gone on the roof," he heard one of them exclaim, "and pulled the ladder up after him." Just then, a head emerged from the trap-door, the owner of which, perceiving Mr.Ellis, set up a shout of triumph.
"We've got him! we've got him!--here he is!" which cries were answered by the exultant voices of his comrades below.
An attempt was now made by one of them to gain the roof; but he immediately received a blow from Mr.Ellis that knocked him senseless into the arms of his companions.