felt
that nothing more could be done. All the others looked around with
equal complacency, and to the apprehensions which they had been
entertaining there now succeeded a delicious sense of security.

"We're safe at last," said Clive.
do. said Bob.
do. said David.
do. said Frank.

"Yes, boys," said Uncle Moses, "we're jest as safe now as if we
were to hum. We can defy a hull army of them bloody-minded miscreants,
fight them off all right, and by mornin there'll be lots of wagons
passin by, an we can git help. But before we go, let's see what
weepins we can skear up in case o' need. It's allus best to have
things handy."

"Well," said Frank, "I'm sorry to say I've got nothing but a knife;"
and saying this, he displayed an ordinary jackknife, not particularly
large, and not particularly sharp. "It isn't much," said he, as he
opened it, and flourished it in the air, "but it's something."

"Well," said Clive, "I haven't got even a knife; but I've heard
that there's nothing equal to a chair, if you want to disconcert
a burglar; and so I'll take this, and knock down the first brigand
that shows his nose;" and as he said this, he lifted a chair from
the floor, and swung it in the air.

"I rely on the barricades," said David, "and don't see the necessity
of any arms; for I don't see how we're going to be attacked. If we
are, I suppose I can use my knife, like Frank."

"Well," said Bob, "I've given my knife away, and I'll have to take
a chair."

"Wal," said Uncle Moses, "I've got a razor, an it's pooty ugly
weepin in the hands of a savage man--a desprit ugly weepin."

"And now let's go to bed," said David,
do. said Bob.
do. said Clive.
do. said Frank.

"Yes, boys, that's about the best thing we can do," said Uncle
Moses, decisively.

CHAPTER XXIII.

_The sleepless Watch.--The mysterious Steps.--The low Whispers.--They
come! They come!--The Garrison roused.--To Arms! To Arms!--The
beleaguered Party.--At Bay.--The decisive Moment.--The Scaling
Ladders.--Onset of the Brigands._

So they all went to Bed.

So great was the confidence which they all felt in their preparations,
precautions, and barricades, that not the slightest thought of
danger remained in the mind of any one of them to create alarm,
with the single exception of Bob.

For some reason or other Bob was more excitable at this time than
the others. It may have been that this was his nature, or it may
have been that his nerves