er, the top shattered, and this I seized hastily,
finding it possible to pull out one of the legs without making any noise
worth mentioning.

Archie armed himself with a second leg, and I laid the third up where it
might be come at conveniently in case, by any mischance, one of us
should need a spare weapon.

Verily it seemed as if a kind Providence was watching over us, for no
sooner were we thus prepared to meet Job Lord's Tory friends, if
perchance it became necessary to give them entrance, when we heard loud
voices, as if other visitors had come up, and Archie took me by the hand
to hearten himself as well as me, for now did it seem certain a conflict
was near at hand.

One can the better understand what a long head was Hiram Griffin's, when
I set it down that before leaving the house he had lighted a tallow dip,
leaving it in one corner of the room where the feeble rays of light
could not be seen through the crevices of the shutter, and but for his
forethought in this regard we would have been in darkness, which is the
same as saying we must find ourselves at a great disadvantage in event
of a fight with Master Lord's friends.

Archie and I stood within three paces of the door, still clasping each
other by the hand and striving to hear what was being said on the
outside to the end that we might have some inkling of how many had come,
when two loud, deliberate knocks on the shutter told that Hiram Griffin
was returned.

My heart literally ceased beating for the instant, and it seemed as if I
was in danger of suffocation, so great was my excitement and anxiety.
Hiram had come back from the Bridewell; but had he brought with him
Silas Brownrigg?

Whether he had or no, it was necessary we open the door without delay,
and at the same time stand ready for a rough and tumble fight, because
there was no question but that those who first demanded admittance were
still there, while it was also positive Hiram had decided upon carrying
into execution the plan agreed upon before he set out.

Motioning Archie to take station on one side of the door where he might
be ready to strike a blow at the first opportunity, I whispered in a
tremulous voice:

"Be careful not to miss your aim, and put sufficient of strength into
the blow to bring down your man. Hiram will send the Tories in first, as
a matter of course."

Then, with all the blood in my body seemingly surging into my head, I
opened the door, and on the instant he