ladder and shut the door, leaving his friends in
darkness which was made visible but not dispelled by a small lantern.
They listened intently to his receding footsteps until the last faint
echo left them in total silence.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

FRANCISCO AND HIS SON IN DANGER.

For several hours Francisco and his son sat on the bundle of straw
listening intently to every sound, being naturally filled with anxiety
as to the success of Bacri in his efforts to aid Mariano. At last they
heard a loud knocking at the street door, which, after being repeated
impatiently once or twice, was followed by a thunderous noise, as if the
house were being entered by violence.

"The janissaries have returned," said Francisco, with a serious look.

"We had better put out the light," suggested Lucien, as a crashing sound
announced the bursting in of the door.

"Do, lad.--Stay, let me get hold of this crowbar; it is better than
nothing if it comes to--. Now, out with it!"

A moment more and they were in total darkness, while the trampling of
feet overhead and the shouts of many voices told that the mob had
entered the Jew's dwelling.

Every moment the two prisoners expected to see the trap-door of their
retreat wrenched open, but no one seemed to have discovered it, and they
were beginning to breathe more freely, and to hope that they should
escape, when there came a sudden and violent stamping just overhead.
Then there was a sound of breaking timber, and presently the edge of the
trap-door began to lift and creak under the pressure of some powerful
instrument. Another moment and it flew open and a man looked in, but of
course could see nothing. Descending the steps, he called loudly for a
light, and one of his comrades brought a lantern, with which he was
about to descend, but, missing his footstep, he fell to the ground and
extinguished it.

At that moment Lucien and his father drew back into the darkest part of
the cellar, in the shadow of a small projection.

"Fetch another light!" shouted the soldiers.

"Now's our time," whispered Lucien, grasping his scimitar and preparing
for a dash.

"Not yet," replied his father, laying a strong grasp on his arm.

It was well that Lucien was restrained, for, while the soldiers were
clamouring for a light, their comrades above gave a shout as though
something new and surprising had been discovered. Full of curiosity,
the soldiers in the cellar darted out.

"Now!" whispered