"What is that to you?" said Grotait.

"It is plenty. You mustn't come trespassing here. Squire won't have it."

"Trespassing in a churchyard! Why it belongs to all the world."

"Nay, this one belongs to the Lord o' the manor."

"Well, we won't hurt your church. Who keeps the key?"

"Squire Raby."

Old George from this moment followed them about everywhere, grumbling at
their heels, like a mastiff.

Grotait, however, treated him with cool contempt, and proceeded to make
a sketch of the door, and a little map showing how the church could be
approached from Hillsborough on foot without passing through Cairnhope
village. This done, he went back with Parkin to the inn, and thence to
Hillsborough.

It was old Christmas Eve. Henry was working at his forge, little
dreaming of danger. Yet it was close at hand, and from two distinct
quarters.

Four men, with crape masks, and provided with all manner of tools, and
armed with bludgeons, were creeping about the churchyard, examining and
listening. Their orders were to make Little so that he should not leave
Cairnhope for a month. And that, in plain English, meant to beat him
within an inch of his life, if not kill him.

At the same time, a body of nine men were stealing up the road, with
designs scarcely less hostile to Little.

These assailants were as yet at a considerable distance, but more
formidable in appearance than the others being most of them armed with
swords, and led by a man with a double-barreled gun.

Grotait's men, having well surveyed the ground, now crept softly up to
the porch, and examined the lock.

The key was inside, and they saw no means of forcing the lock without
making a noise, and putting their victim on his guard.

After a long whispered consultation, they resolved to unscrew the
hinges.

These hinges were of great length, and were nailed upon the door, but
screwed into the door-post with four screws each.

Two men, with excellent tools, and masters of the business, went softly
to work. One stood, and worked on the upper screws; the other kneeled,
and unfastened the lower screws.

They made no more noise than a rat gnawing; yet, such was their caution,
and determination to surprise their victim, that they timed all their
work by Little's. Whenever the blows of his hammer intermitted, they
left off; and began again when he did.

When all the screws were out but two, one above, one below, they
beckoned the other two men, and these