r
and had lighted his gas.

At last it came--a pale and trembling messenger, that showed our little
room to me in a new aspect--one of mystery and grotesque shadows.

I was on my feet in an instant. I shook Angel's shoulder.

"Up with you!" I whispered, hoarsely. "The hour has come!"

I knew that drastic measures must be taken with The Seraph, so I just
grasped him under the armpits and stood him on his feet without a word. He
wobbled for a space, digging his knuckles in his eyes.

The hands of the clock pointed to ten minutes to twelve.

Angel and I hastily pulled on our trousers; and he, who liked to dress the
part, stuck a knife in his belt, and twisted a scarlet silk handkerchief
(borrowed from Mary Ellen) round his head. His dark eyes glistened under
its folds.

The Seraph and I went unadorned, save that he girt his trusty sword about
his stout middle and I carried a toy bayonet.

Down the inky-black stairs we crept, scarcely breathing. The lower hall
seemed cavernous. I could smell the old carpets and the haircloth covering
of the chairs. We sidled down the back hall among goloshes, umbrellas, and
Turk's Head dusters. The back door had a key like that of a gaol.

Angel tried it with both hands, but though it grated horribly, it stuck.
Then I had a try, and could not resist a triumphant click of the tongue
when it turned, for Angel was a vain fellow and took a rise out of being
the elder.

And when the moonlight shone upon us in the yard!--oh, the delicious
freedom of it! We hopped for joy.

In the passage we awaited our leader. Between the roofs we could see the
low half-moon, hanging like a tilted bird's nest in the dark blue sky,
while a group of stars fluttered near it like young birds. The Cathedral
clock sounded the hour of midnight.

Soon we heard the stealthy steps of Captain Pegg, and we gasped as we saw
him, for in place of his flowered dressing-gown, he wore breeches and top
boots, a loose shirt with a blue neckerchief knotted at the throat, and,
gleaming at his side, a cutlass.

He smiled broadly when he saw us.

"Well, if you aren't armed--every man-jack of you--even to the bantling!"
he cried. "Capital!"

"My sword, she's _weal_," said The Seraph with dignity. "Sometimes I fight
giants."

Captain Pegg then shook hands with each of us in turn, and we thrilled at
being treated as equals by such a man.

"And now to work!" he said heartily. "Here is the plan of the yard as sent
by Je