to keep the rain
out of their faces.

'Is it far?' at last inquired Jones; 'we've come a mile.'

'Half a mile more,' replied Craig; and that was all that passed between
them, until they stood in front of Harson's house.

'This is it,' said Craig.

He lifted the latch of the gate opening into the door-yard, and approached
the house.

'Where are we to begin?' inquired Jones.

Craig pointed to a small window on a level with, or rather sunk somewhat
below, the surface of the ground, with a kind of area around it. '_There_;
there are iron gratings, but they are set in the wood, which is all
rotten. Quick! try them with the crow-bar; they'll give.'

Jones, with an alacrity and adroitness which showed a long experience in
such matters, after feeling his way to the place, and passing his hand
over the bars to discover their exact situation, inserted his crow-bar
between the stone-work and the wood, and at the very first application
forced the whole out. A wooden shutter which opened from within, being
merely secured by a wooden button, gave way before a strong pressure of
his hand, and left the entrance open.

'Go in quick!--don't keep a fellow in the rain all night,' said Craig, in
a sharp whisper. 'It's only three feet to the floor. Get in, will you?'

'Shut up! Cuss ye!' exclaimed Jones, savagely; 'let me take my own way.'

As he spoke, he inserted his feet, and gradually let himself down until he
touched the floor. In a moment Craig was at his side, and closed the
shutter.

'Now, quick! a light!' whispered he. In another minute, the dark lantern
was lighted, and Craig, taking it up and throwing back the slide, turned
it carefully around the place. It was a cellar, filled with empty barrels
and boxes; and seemed to be a sort of receptacle for rubbish of all
descriptions. At one end was a door leading to the upper part of the
house. It was partly open. Without a word, Craig went to it and ascended
the stairs, which were shut off from the kitchen by another door.

Craig opened this, and crossed the room with a quick yet stealthy step,
but with the air of one perfectly familiar with the precincts. Passing
through the entry, he went into Harson's sitting-room; from there into the
outer room, communicating with the street.

'We'll open the street door, Bill,' said he, 'in case we have to bolt
quick. There,' said he, as he drew back two bolts, and turned the key,
don't forget the road. Leave all the doors open. That