as intensely dark now, even when the door was opened, and as Hilary
stood there behind the door he heard some one descend, while another
stood at the top, breathing hard, and evidently listening to the
rustling of the man down below.

Several minutes passed, and then the man at the top of the stairs
muttered impatiently, and went down two or three of the degrees.

"Pst! Dick!" he whispered.

"Ay, ay."

"Be quick, man!"

"I can't find 'em," was the whispered reply. "They've packed the cases
atop of 'em."

"Jolterhead!" muttered the other impatiently. "Why, they're just at the
back."

"Come down," was whispered from below, and to Hilary's great delight he
heard the man on the watch go softly below.

Now was Hilary's opportunity, and gliding softly from behind the door,
he stepped out into the stone passage, and saw before him a faint light
shining under the bottom of the door which the men had evidently closed
when they left the kitchen.

He might have locked the two fellows in the vault, but that would have
caused needless noise, and perhaps hindered his escape, so without
further hesitation he stepped lightly along the passage, and softly
pressed against the farther door.

It yielded easily, and he found himself looking into a great low-ceiled
kitchen, whose ancient black rafters shone in the glow from a huge
fireplace, upon whose hearth the remains of a large fire flickered and
sent forth a few dying sparks.

Around it, and stretched in a variety of postures upon the floor, were
some eight or ten men fast asleep; and what took Hilary's attention more
than all was another door at the far corner, which it was now his aim to
reach.

But to do this he would have to step over two of the men, and there was
the possibility that, though they all seemed to be asleep, one or more
might be awake and watchful.

It needed no little firmness to make the attempt; but if he were to
escape, he knew it must be done.

"If they wake they will only take me back," thought Hilary, "so I may as
well try."

He hesitated no longer, but stepping on tiptoe he passed on between two
of the sleeping men, and was in the act of stepping over another, when a
gruff voice from a corner exclaimed:--

"Why don't you lie down. You'll be glad of a nap by and by."

Hilary felt as if his heart had leaped to his mouth, and he thought he
was discovered; but the words were spoken in a sleepy tone, and from the
sound that followed it wa