Cracky! Up you g-g-go!"

Up she went, indeed, fear forgotten, every nerve strained, eager already
to attain and excel in this new feat of climbing. Folks who lived in the
country had to climb--or perish--it seemed. And once upon the sill she
rolled over it to the broad floor of the barn and felt herself at last
in safety.

But there still remained that other climb, to reach the broken window
and through it freedom and friends outside. However, this was a trifle.
Montgomery brought a short ladder, which he placed beneath the window
that he had had the forethought to unbolt from the outside, and when the
sash rolled back in its groove Katharine was already on the ledge,
Susanna's strong arms clasping her and Aunt Eunice standing near.

Such an hour as followed! Such indigestibly delightful foods as Susanna
brought from her storeroom--harbingers of holiday feasts to come--and of
which the children were permitted to partake without any harm or
restriction.

"Let the poor little creatur's get their stummicks full for once, sence
nary one hain't had a mouthful of victuals, scurce that, to-day," cried
Susanna, herself feasting her eyes upon the now joyous faces of the
youngsters.

Then what a tap-tap-tapping sounded on the floor of the kitchen
chamber! Aunt Eunice interpreting the same to mean:

"Poor Moses is feeling left out of all our rejoicing and feels
aggrieved. He wants us all to come up and tell him the whole story,
since he cannot himself come to us. But alas for Deacon Meakin! I don't
envy him his forthcoming interview with my hired man to-morrow morning.
It is Moses' right to still direct matters, even if he cannot work. Both
men are what Mrs. Meakin calls 'sot,' and I foresee some jarring of
wheels, so to speak, before they run smooth. But let us go up at once,
and then Monty must be starting home."

The boy sighed. This was all delightful. Badly as he had behaved, he had
received no reproof. Instead of that, there was such rejoicing over
Katharine's safety that his sins had, apparently, been forgotten. Yet it
must end--there still remained the long and desolate road home!

Monty talked as fast as ever a boy could, nor did Katharine's tongue lag
far behind, and for a time Moses listened eagerly. Then there came pangs
of physical suffering which banished interest in all else, and while he
was meditating how now best to rid himself of his guests, the hall clock
struck nine.

"Nine o'clock! My suz! I didn'