a long
room, the whole width of the house. Through the centre rose the
chimney. The sloping roof was not plastered. The only furniture
consisted of a cot-bedstead and a chair.

"Is the attic occupied by any of the family?" asked Luke.

"Not generally. When I hire an extra hand at harvest-time he sleeps
there."

"But at present there is no one occupying it?"

"No."

"Then I suggest that the bed will prove a good resting-place for our
friend below. I have no doubt he has often found himself in lodgings
less comfortable."

"But," said Mrs. Mason, nervously, "if he should get free during the
night he might murder us all in our beds."

"There is little chance of that. When your husband bound him, he did a
good job. I wouldn't undertake to get free myself, if I were bound as
securely."

"That's so!" said the farmer, pleased with the compliment. "He can't
get away nohow."

Over in the corner there were a couple of horse-blankets, which seemed
to offer a comfortable resting-place. Luke Robbins eyed them
thoughtfully.

"I have an idea," he said. "Let the outlaw lie there, and one of us can
occupy the bed. Then he won't be able to try any of his tricks."

"I would rather not sleep there," observed the farmer nervously. "I
couldn't sleep in the same room with one of the Fox brothers."

"Then if you couldn't sleep there you are just the man we want. You
will always be on the watch, and can frustrate any attempt to escape."

"No, no," said Ezekiel Mason, hurriedly. "Kate could not close her
eyes if she thought I were alone with John Fox."

"No," answered Mrs. Mason, with a shudder, "I won't let Ezekiel sleep
in the same room with that bold, bad man."

"I wouldn't be afraid myself," said the farmer, trying to keep up his
reputation for courage, "but I don't want my wife to be anxious."

Luke Robbins smiled, for he understood very well the timidity of his
host. "Then," he said, "as I have no wife to be anxious about me,
perhaps I had better sleep here."

"Yes, that will be much better," rejoined the relieved farmer. "You
are a brave man. Mr. Fox won't get the better of you."

"Not if I can help it," said Luke. "Will that suit you, Mrs. Mason?"

"Why don't you take him on to the jail at once?" asked the woman. "I
shall feel worried if he spends the night in this house."

"I hear that he has escaped from jail no less than three times. If he
should do so to-night he would at once come here, and perhaps bring
so