s evident that the man had turned over.

Hilary waited a few minutes, and once more resumed his progress towards
the door, making every movement with the greatest caution; and he was
already half way to his goal when he heard the grating of the lock at
the top of the dark cellar stairs, and a low whispering told him that
the men were about to return.

There was not a moment to lose, and stepping lightly on, he reached the
door, raised the great wooden latch by which it was secured, and passed
in, while just as he closed it he saw through the opening the two men
who had been below enter the place.

The fire was throwing out but little light now, but he could see that
they carried what looked like a little spirit keg, which they set down
by the fire. The closing door shut out the rest.

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.

MANHOOD VERSUS SELFISHNESS--AND MANHOOD WINS.

Hilary breathed more freely as he silently let fall the latch, and then
waited for a few minutes to recover his equanimity before making a
farther trial. He had succeeded so far, and he felt that if he were
patient and cautious he might regain his freedom; but he thought it
better to let the men begin upon the spirits that two of the party had
evidently been down to obtain.

But as far as he could make out they did not seem to be in any hurry to
awaken their companions, and at last after waiting for some minutes for
the burst of conversation that he hoped would make his movements pass
unheard, he began to feel his way cautiously about, expecting a door of
exit to meet his hand, or else to find that he was in some large
passage. To his great disappointment he found that he could touch the
wall on either side after making a step; and a very little investigation
showed him farther that he was only in a stone-paved place that had
probably been a dairy, for on one side there was an iron grating of very
massive bars let into the stone, and there were stone benches along one
side.

In fact, if the key of the door had been turned, he would have only
exchanged one prison for another.

His heart sank within him as he realised his position, and found that
there was only one door, upon which he raised his hand ready to return
into the great kitchen; but a low creaking noise, suggestive of some one
treading on a board, arrested him, and he stood there listening.

After a few minutes he grew more confident, and opening the door
slightly he once more gazed upon the R