ed rather white,
but I must say very determined and self-possessed.

"Have you roused the others?" he whispered. "Don't make any noise, and
perhaps we may be able to catch him. You'd better go back to Cathy, and
both of you stay in your room. This thing's not fit for girls, and you
might get hurt."

Dick and George, who slept in the adjoining bedroom, arrived on the
scene with equal promptitude, and the three crept silently down the
passage, while I, after pretending to retire, followed at a little
distance to watch the fun. Arrived at the north room they noiselessly
opened the door, and sprang back for a moment, looking rather aghast,
for dangling through the opening in the roof appeared the large
fishing-boots of our burglar, moving about in such a natural and
lifelike manner, that it was no wonder the boys were deceived.

"Hullo! Who's that?" cried Edward in a firm tone, levelling his revolver
at the figure.

The legs twitched, and came slightly lower, so that a portion of the
body might be seen through the trap-door.

"Stop, or I'll fire!" declared Dick, with a suspicious little quaver in
his voice.

"If you move an inch, I'll kill you!" roared valiant George, though his
weapon was certainly the least deadly of the three.

Cathy let the burglar down a good piece, so that his head and his felt
hat now appeared, while his arms seemed to be waving about in a wild
demonstration of defiance. Bang! went both revolver and air-gun at the
same instant, while the syringe discharged its contents freely over the
room, George in his agitation having somewhat miscalculated his aim.
Cathy loosed the rope, and "Bill Sykes" dropped with a heavy plump on to
the floor below, his mangold head striking the bed-post with great
violence. A dead silence followed.

"Have we done for him, or is he only foxing?" whispered George.

Cathy from above uttered a low groan.

"He's still alive!" gasped Dick.

"Ay, but he's hurt," said Edward. "We'd better see what damage is done.
Be ready, Dick, to hold his legs, in case he should jump up suddenly."

They advanced with extreme caution towards the figure, which lay
stretched out in a most natural manner, face downwards, in the patch of
moonlight which fell through the window. Dick seized the fishing-boots,
and held them securely while Edward made a firm grasp at the arm.
Perhaps something in its consistency felt unusual, for with a cry he
turned the burglar over. The sudden movement lo