ntering of
wood, telling that some article of furniture had been destroyed, while
above such noises came the trampling of heavy feet, and shouts, and
cries.

When this disturbance was at its height Hiram ran toward the ladder as
if it was his intent to ascend, despite the warning which had been
given; but I clutched his arm, holding him back by main strength as I
said in a hoarse whisper:

"If Master Lord is not to be trusted, you would be making a bad matter
worse by showing yourself at this time. In case he is true to the Cause,
then most like you would do an injury to our people such as could not be
repaired."

"You are right," Hiram said after the briefest hesitation, and he went
back from the ladder to take a seat on the bed.

The lantern was still burning. None of us had been minded to extinguish
the flame when we laid down to rest, because of the doubts which
assailed us all, and therefore it was we could look into each others'
faces during that seemingly desperate struggle which was going on above,
mutely asking for some solution to what was a fearsome mystery.

Once when the uproar was greatest, Archie whispered that he would go to
the top of the ladder, hoping it might be possible there to distinguish
something of what was said; but he failed in the attempt, coming back to
report that he could see no glimmer of light around the edges of the
door, therefore believed it must be covered on the upper side, either to
prevent those same visitors from seeing the entrance to the cellar, or
to shut out from us all sound.

I think the quarrel, or fight, whichever it may be called, continued
upward of half an hour, and then it seemed much as if those who had
taken part in it were become friends again, for we heard nothing
betokening anger, while now and then came the tramp of footsteps across
the floor, showing that the visitors yet remained in the house.

After a time slumber lay so heavy on my eyelids that I stretched myself
out on the bed once more, falling asleep almost immediately, and when I
next awakened there was the belief in my mind that another day had come.

Because of being in the cellar, which was wholly underground, no light
could come to us from the outside; but the lantern burned dimly as if
the oil had been nearly consumed, and I fancied it was day.

My comrades awakened very shortly afterward like lads who have had their
fill of slumber, and we lay on the beds trying for at least the
twentie