t there was a touch of insanity about her. This was
confirmed when Miss Stivergill, seizing a carving-knife from the
dresser, advanced with masculine strides towards him. He made a
desperate effort to burst his bonds, but they were too scientifically
arranged for that. "Don't fear," said the lady, severing the cord that
bound the burglar's wrists, and putting the knife in his hands. "Now,"
she added, "you know how to cut yourself free, no doubt."

"Well, you _are_ a trump!" exclaimed Bones, rapidly touching his bonds
at salient points with the keen edge.

In a few seconds he was free.

"Now, go away," said Miss Stivergill, "and don't let me see you here
again."

Bones looked with admiration at his deliverer, but could only find words
to repeat that she _was_ a trump, and vanished through the back-door,
just as a band of men, with pitchforks, rakes, spades, and lanterns,
came clamouring in at the front garden gate from the neighbouring farm.

"What is it?" exclaimed the farmer.

"Only a burglar," answered Miss Stivergill.

"Where is he?" chorussed everybody.

"That's best known to himself," replied the lady, who, in order to give
the fugitive time, went into a minute and slow account of the whole
affair--excepting, of course, her connivance at the escape--to the great
edification of her audience, among whom the one who seemed to derive the
chief enjoyment was a black boy. He endeavoured to screen himself
behind the labourers, and was obviously unable to restrain his glee.

"But what's come of 'im, ma'am?" asked the farmer impatiently.

"Escaped!" answered Miss Stivergill.

"Escaped!" echoed everybody, looking furtively round, as though they
supposed he had only escaped under the dresser or into the keyhole.

"Escaped!" repeated the policeman, who entered at the moment with two
comrades; "impossible! I tied 'im so that no efforts of his own could
avail 'im. Somebody _must_ 'ave 'elped 'im."

"The carving-knife helped him," said Miss Stivergill, with a look of
dignity.--"Perhaps, instead of speculating how he escaped, policeman, it
would be better to pursue him. He can't be very far off, as it is not
twenty minutes since he cut himself free."

In a state of utter bewilderment the policeman rushed out of the
cottage, followed by his comrades and the agriculturists. Peter Pax
essayed to go with them, but was restrained by an iron grip on his
collar. Pulling him back, Miss Stivergill dragged her capt