snores of every degree, reaching from
the mild, mellow intonation of Clive, down to the deep, hoarse,
sepulchral drone of Uncle Moses. In spite of his vexation about
his wakefulness, a smile passed over Bob's face, as he listened to
those astonishing voices of the night.

Suddenly a sound caught his ears, which at once attracted his
attention, and turned all his thoughts in another direction.

It was the sound of footsteps immediately in front of the house,
and apparently at the doorway. How much time had passed he did
not know; but he felt sure that it must be at least midnight. He
now perceived that there were some in the house who had not gone
to bed. The footsteps were shuffling and irregular, as though some
people were trying to walk without making a noise. The sound
attracted Bob, and greatly excited him.

In addition to the footsteps there were other sounds. There were
the low murmurs of voices in a subdued tone, and he judged that
there must be at least a half a dozen who were thus talking. To
this noise Bob sat listening for some time. It remained in the same
place, and of course he could make nothing out of it; but it served
to reawaken all the fears of brigands which had been aroused before
they went to bed.

At length he heard a movement from below. The movement was along
the ball. It was a shuffling movement, as of men walking with the
endeavor not to make a noise.

Bob listened.

His excitement increased.

At last he heard the sounds more plainly.

They were evidently at the foot of the stairway.

Bob listened in increasing excitement.

Then there came a creaking sound. It was from the stairway. They
were ascending it.

He thought of waking Frank, but decided to wait.

The sounds draw nearer. There must have been six or seven men upon
the stairway, and they were walking up. What for?

He had no doubt what it was for, and he waited, knowing that they
were coming to this room in which he was.

They tried to walk softly. There were low whispers once or twice,
which ceased as they drew nearer.

Nearer and nearer!

At last Bob knew that they were outside of the door, and as he sat
on the bed, he knew that there could not be more than a yard of
distance Between himself and those bloody-minded, beetle-browed,
ruthless, demoniac, and fiendish brigands.

His blood ran cold in his veins at the very thought.

He did not dare to move. He sat rigid, with every sense on the
alert, his eyes fix