y
instead.

Except for one lighted window the village slept in darkness, but the
boatswain, who had been walking with the stealth of a Red Indian on the
war-path, breathed more freely after they had left it behind. A renewal
of his antics a little farther on apprised Mr. Travers that they were
approaching their destination, and a minute or two later they came to a
small inn standing just off the road. "All shut up and Mrs. Waters abed,
bless her," whispered the boatswain, after walking care-fully round the
house. "How do you feel?"

"I'm all right," said Mr. Travers. "I feel as if I'd been burgling all
my life. How do you feel?"

"Narvous," said Mr. Benn, pausing under a small window at the rear of the
house. "This is the one."

Mr. Travers stepped back a few paces and gazed up at the house. All was
still. For a few moments he stood listening and then re-joined the
boatswain.

"Good-bye, mate," he said, hoisting himself on to the sill. "Death or
victory."

The boatswain whispered and thrust a couple of sovereigns into his hand.
"Take your time; there's no hurry," he muttered. "I want to pull myself
together. Frighten 'er enough, but not too much. When she screams I'll
come in."

Mr. Travers slipped inside and then thrust his head out of the window.
"Won't she think it funny you should be so handy?" he inquired.

"No; it's my faithful 'art," said the boat-swain, "keeping watch over her
every night, that's the ticket. She won't know no better."

Mr. Travers grinned, and removing his boots passed them out to the other.
"We don't want her to hear me till I'm upstairs," he whispered. "Put 'em
outside, handy for me to pick up."

The boatswain obeyed, and Mr. Travers--who was by no means a good hand at
darning socks--shivered as he trod lightly over a stone floor. Then,
following the instructions of Mr. Benn, he made his way to the stairs and
mounted noiselessly.

But for a slight stumble half-way up his progress was very creditable for
an amateur. He paused and listened and, all being silent, made his way
to the landing and stopped out-side a door. Despite himself his heart
was beating faster than usual.

He pushed the door open slowly and started as it creaked. Nothing
happening he pushed again, and standing just inside saw, by a small ewer
silhouetted against the casement, that he was in a bedroom. He listened
for the sound of breathing, but in vain.

"Quiet sleeper," he reflected; "or p