ook of fear on his face, as he whispered
in a tremulous voice:

"Don't take any chances!" and, softly making his way to the center of
the room, he took from the floor Harvey's coat, which had been thrown
there when we were minded to gag Seth Jepson. This he gave to me
nervously, and, holding the knife between my teeth, I rolled one end of
it into a wad such as would fit snugly into the mouth of that man who
had counted on delivering us over to the Britishers.

Master Lord opened his jaws without waiting to be bidden, for he must
have seen on my face a determination to put an end to his career of
treachery at the lightest token of making an outcry.

While I was doing this, Harvey, understanding the need of securing both
the prisoners beyond any possibility they could do us a mischief by
raising their voices, tore off the sleeve of his shirt, and Archie
speedily thrust it into Seth Jepson's mouth.

When this had been done there seemed little chance either of the
captives could do more than give utterance to moans; but, lest they
might succeed in loosening their bonds, I whispered to Harvey:

"You must stay here and keep sharp watch over them, while Archie and I
go to the room above."

"To what end?" he asked in surprise, and I replied hurriedly:

"Hiram may return at any moment, and we must be ready to open the door
for him."

Just then the summons was repeated more sharply than before, and I dared
not linger to explain to Harvey what had been agreed upon between Hiram
and myself, therefore, motioning for Archie to follow, I went up the
ladder with all possible speed, yet at the same time taking extra good
care, as may be supposed, not to make so much of noise as could be heard
by those on the outside.

Once on the floor above I halted to whisper in Archie's ear that which
was to be done in case Hiram returned before these unwelcome visitors
had departed, and meanwhile we could hear voices on the outside, as if
those who awaited the opening of the door were discussing among
themselves the cause of Master Lord's delay in giving them entrance.

Involuntarily Archie looked around hurriedly for something which would
serve him as a weapon in case we should be obliged to give battle, and,
thus reminded that we would be at a disadvantage unless having other
than our bare fists with which to strike a blow, I followed his example.

Nothing fitting met my gaze save a three-legged stool which had been
thrown in one corn