ed on the door, listening.

Then came a slight creaking sound--the sound of a pressure against
the door, which yielded slightly, but was prevented by the heavy
bed from being opened at all. It was an unmistakable sound. They
were trying to open the door. They were also trying to do it as
noiselessly as possible. Evidently they thought that their victims
were all asleep, and they wished to come in noiselessly, so as to
accomplish their fearful errand.

For a moment it seemed to Bob as though the bed was being pushed
back. The thought gave him anguish inexpressible, but he soon found
that it was not so. Then he expected a savage push at the door from
the baffled brigands. He thought that they would drop all attempts
at secrecy, and begin an open attack.

But they did not do so.

There were whispers outside the door. Evidently they were
deliberating. They were unwilling, as yet, to resort to noisy
violence. They wished to effect their full purpose in secret and
in silence. Such were Bob's thoughts, which thoughts were strengthened
as he heard them slowly move away, and descend the stairs, with
the same carefulness, and the same shuffling sound, with which they
had ascended.

"They are going to try the windows," thought Bob.

And now as this thought came to him, he could restrain himself no
longer. It was no time for sleep. He determined to rouse the others.

He laid his hand on Frank's forehead, and shook his bead. Then,
bending down dose to him, he hissed in his ear,--

"Wake! wake! Brigands! Don't speak! don't speak! silence!"

Frank was a light sleeper, and a quick-witted lad, who always
retained his presence of mind. At Bob's cry he became wide awake,
and without a single word sat up in bed and listened. All was still.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

Bob told Him all in a few words.

Upon this Frank got up, stole noiselessly to the window on tiptoe,
and listened. Bob followed. As they stood close to the window,
they heard the sound of murmuring voices immediately beneath.
Several of the panes of glass were out of this window, so that the
voices were perfectly audible; though of course their ignorance of
the language prevented them from understanding what was said.

As they listened, there arose a movement among them. The voices
grew louder. The men were evidently walking out of the house. The
listeners heard the sound of their footsteps on the ground as they
walked away, and at a little distance off t