"All of which means what?" I asked impatiently.

"That since we are powerless to do otherwise, but must remain here, let
us say that perhaps matters are going as they should, which won't
prevent keeping our eyes open to take advantage of any turn that may
come in our favor."

It seemed as if all these words irritated Hiram, for, after having
partaken sparingly of the appetizing food, he sprang to his feet with
the air of one who has much work to perform.

"Give me your pocket-knife, Archie, and do you three lads remain at the
table until it is impossible to eat more, for we who serve the Cause do
not come upon such food often."

Archie did as was desired, and we all watched Hiram curiously as he
began cutting cautiously at one of the crevices between the planks above
our heads.

Not until he had been at work several moments did I come to understand
what he would do, and then it flashed upon me that it was his purpose to
make an aperture through which we might the better hear what was going
on in the room above.

It was not reasonable to suppose he could cut away the planks to any
extent without danger of his work being seen from above, and in fact,
when he stepped aside as if the task had been performed, it appeared to
me that he had enlarged the crevice no more than an eighth of an inch,
and that for a distance, mayhap, of half a finger's length.

Wetting his hand, he took from the fire-place a small quantity of ashes,
making them into a paste, and this he rubbed over the freshly cut space
until it had been darkened to a shade like unto the remainder of the
flooring, while I, eager to aid in whatsoever of work was being done,
picked up carefully each tiny shaving of wood, throwing them on the
embers that they might be consumed.

Then Hiram went through the same operation at a place directly above the
table, and within half an hour he had thus opened slight communication
with the room above. There was not much reason for hoping these tiny
apertures would serve the purpose for which they had been made; but yet
there was a possibility we could hear better what was said or done by
Master Lord's visitors, and to people in our situation every chance,
however slight, must be caught at.

"Why not learn what we can about yonder rubbish hole?" I asked when
Hiram seated himself at the table once more, as if there was nothing
else which demanded attention.

"It is not well to make a try at going too far at one time