lf; and the case was hopeful enough,
if he could only find the opening. The cellar contained various boxes,
barrels, firkins and other articles, the mass of which were piled up in
one corner.

Somers followed the wall entirely around, from the pile in the corner,
till he returned to it, without finding what he desired. It was
sufficiently evident, therefore, that the entrance to the drain was under
the boxes and barrels, which had probably been placed over it to ward off
the over-inquisitive gaze of any visitors who might explore the cellar.
Our enterprising hero immediately commenced the work of burrowing beneath
the rubbish, and soon had the happiness of discovering the identical road
by which the original occupant of the place had entered. Before the
opening, he found sufficient space to enable him to readjust the boxes
and barrels, so as to hide his den from the observation of any who might
be disposed to follow him in his subterranean explorations.

The drain was certainly small enough, even for the genteel form of
Captain Thomas Somers; though, as his mustache was quite diminutive in
its proportions, he was able to worry himself along several feet into the
gloomy hole. It was a miserable place in which to spend the day; but,
miserable as it was, he hoped that he should be permitted to remain
there. He was fully conscious of the perils of his situation. He knew
that Tom, in the chimney, must be captured; and it was not probable that
the farmer would let the soldiers depart without examining the house. His
retreat was known to him, and there was not one chance in a hundred for
the hole to be passed by without an examination.

It would be fatal to remain where he was; and, after resting himself from
the fatigue which the exertion of moving in his narrow den induced, he
again pushed forward, cheered by the conclusion that a drain would be a
useless institution without an opening at each end. Indeed, there was a
glimmer of light at some distance before him; and he indulged the hope
that he might work his way out to the blue sky.

He had scarcely resumed his progressive movement, which had to be
accomplished very much after the fashion of a serpent--for the aperture
was too narrow for the regular exercise of his legs and arms--he had
scarcely begun to move before voices in the cellar announced the approach
of the pursuers. A cold sweat seemed to deluge his frame; for the sounds
were like the knell of doom to him. Wit