indows are barred
securely," he said quickly, and I obeyed feverishly, fearing lest before
I could do as he desired those men who had quarreled with Master Lord
might return.

In addition to the locks on the side and rear doors, were stout bars,
and after having assured myself that the bolts were shot, I put the
timbers securely in place; then examined carefully the fastenings of
every shutter until having satisfied myself beyond peradventure that
none could enter from the outside save by battering down the barriers.

When I was come into the cellar again, Job Lord had been bound hand and
foot after much the same fashion as was Seth Jepson, and the lads must
have lifted him upon one of the beds, for he was lying there with a gag,
formed from Hiram's coat, in his mouth, glaring at us fiercely.

"We may as well bring the Tory lad out here to bear him company," Archie
suggested, and in a twinkling Hiram came from behind the casks with Seth
in his arms.

Even though up to this time we had had suspicions in our minds that a
wrong was being done Job Lord, they would have vanished when those two
saw each other.

Seth Jepson gave vent to a cry of surprise, and on Master Lord's face
could be read that which told, so I fancied, of an acquaintance between
them.

"Shall we gag Seth?" Harvey asked, and Hiram replied as if it was a
matter of little moment:

"There's no need of taking so much trouble. You and Archie are to stay
here while Luke and I have a look over the house, and if so be Seth
unwisely attempts to make a disturbance, put your knife into him, for we
should be doing the Cause no little service by sending both these
fellows out of the world."

Then, motioning to me, Hiram led the way up the ladder, and after some
searching in that room which served Job Lord as a kitchen we found a
store of tallow dips, one of which we lighted, because, since the
shutters had been closed, it was almost dark within the dwelling.

Master Lord's home was not sumptuously furnished; but he was well
outfitted with chests of drawers and cupboards such as housewives fancy,
and among these we began our search, taking first that piece of
furniture which was at the same time a desk for writing and a receptacle
for books and papers.

We had not long to search, if to prove that Job Lord had been acting as
a tool for the Britishers was our only aim. On the top of the desk, as
if it had been but lately placed there, was a folded paper, and