e men were coming back, and touching
a keg with his foot he sat down upon it to think.

If the door at the top of the stairs was locked he would be no better
off than in the chapel, for it was not likely that there would be a
window to this place, so that if he meant to escape he felt that it
would be better not to leave it to daylight; though, on the other hand,
if he did leave it to daybreak, and the door was unfastened, he would
have an admirable opportunity of getting away, for by that time the men
would have done their night's work, and would probably be fast asleep.

"It is of no use for me to play the coward," said Hilary to himself at
last. "If I am to get away it must be by a bold dash."

He burst out into a hearty fit of silent laughter here.

"My word, what a game it would be!" he said. "They say the place is
haunted. Suppose I cover myself with fishing-nets and march straight
out."

"Wouldn't do!" he said, decidedly. "They would not be such noodles as
to be frightened, and they would pop at me with their pistols."

Meanwhile there was a good deal of talking going on up above, and at
last, unable to restrain his curiosity longer, Hilary returned to the
foot of the steps, felt the wall on either side, and began softly to
ascend, counting the steps as he went, and calculating that there would
be about twelve.

He was quite right, and as he wound round and neared the top he found
that there were rays of light coming beneath the door and through the
keyhole, while the sound of voices came much plainer.

Going down on hands and knees, he was able to peer under the door, which
shut right upon the top step; and after a few seconds he had pretty well
ascertained his position.

He was looking under a door right at the end of a long stone-paved
passage, and there was another door just upon his right, which evidently
led into his prison; while straight before him, through an opening he
could see into a large stone-paved kitchen where the talking was going
on, the back of one man being visible as he seemed to be seated upon a
stool, and changed his position from time to time.

The next thing to ascertain was whether the door was unfastened; and he
was about to rise and try, when the familiar sound of steps upon a
boarded floor fell upon his ear, a door that he had not hitherto seen
was opened, and Allstone, Sir Henry, and the sharp-looking captain of
the lugger passed before him, and, entering the lit-up k