er may be
assured, there is much more than meets the eye.

"Silence," said a voice that I well knew, although his face was
completely disguised. It was _Timothy!_ "Silence, Japhet," again
whispered Timothy; "there is yet much danger, but I will save you,
or die. Take the hammer. Melchior is waiting outside." Timothy put the
lantern in the bin, so as to render it more dark, and led me towards the
door, whispering, "when he comes in, we will secure him."

Melchior soon made his appearance, and as he entered the cellar, "Is it
all right?" said he, going up to Timothy, and passing me.

With one blow I felled him to the ground, and he lay insensible. "That
will do," replied Timothy; "now we must be off."

"Not till he takes my place," replied I, as I shut the door, and locked
it. "Now he may learn what it is to starve to death."

I then followed Timothy, by a passage which led outside of the castle,
through which he and his companion had been admitted. "Our horses are
close by," said Timothy; "for we stipulated upon leaving the country
after it was done."

It was just dark when we were safe out of the castle. We mounted our
horses, and set off with all speed. We followed the high road to the post
town to which I had been conveyed, and I determined to pull up at Mrs
M'Shane's, for I was so exhausted that I could go no further. This was
a measure which required precaution, and as there was moonlight, I turned
off the road before I entered the town, or village, as it ought to have
been called, so that we dismounted at the back of Mrs M'Shane's house.
I went to the window of the bedroom where I had lain down, and tapped
gently, again and again, and no answer. At last, Kathleen made her
appearance.

"Can I come in, Kathleen?" said I; "I am almost dead with fatigue and
exhaustion."

"Yes," replied she, "I will open the back-door; there is no one here
to-night--it is too early for them."

I entered, followed by Timothy, and, as I stepped over the threshold,
I fainted. As soon as I recovered, Mrs M'Shane led me up stairs into her
room for security, and I was soon able to take the refreshment I so much
required. I stated what had passed to Mrs M'Shane and Kathleen, who were
much shocked at the account.

"You had better wait till it is late, before you go on," said Mrs
M'Shane, "it will be more safe; it is now nine o'clock, and the people
will all be moving till eleven. I will give your horses some corn, and
when y