expedition."

As the governor said this he tried the door, but found it fastened. He
stooped down and looked through the hole the burglars had cut over the
lock, and by the light of the lantern, which was standing on the table
in the office, he could see Johnny with an uplifted poker, ready to
strike the first hand that was put in to raise the hasp. The chief
explained the state of affairs to his men, adding, that they must
determine upon some plan to attack Johnny in the rear, or to get him
away from the door long enough for them to open it.

"Hold on a minute, governor!" exclaimed Xury, suddenly; "I'll fix that.
Lend a hand here, Friday."

The mate ran off, followed by Friday, and in a few minutes they
returned, bringing a ladder which they had found behind the elevator,
and which they began to raise against the side of the store.

"Do you see that winder up there?" asked Xury. "Well, give me one man
an' we will go in there, an' come down the stairs. If Harding pitches
into us, you can open the door an' come in; an' if he stands by to
defend the door, me an' my man will soon fix him."

"That's a good idea," said the chief. "Friday, you go with Xury. Jack
Spaniard, run down to the skiff an' bring up the oars. Harding has got
an iron poker, you know, an' you will need something to make you even
with him. But mebbe the winder is fastened, Xury."

"I know it is, 'cause I've looked at it a hundred times before to-night.
It is fastened with a stick; but the glass is broke, an' I can soon
throw the stick down."

The two Crusoe men mounted the ladder, and by the time the window was
raised Jack Spaniard returned with the oars, which Sam passed up to the
mate, saying:

"Don't be no ways backward about usin' 'em if you get a chance. Punch
him hard, fur he is a spunky feller."

Xury and his companion disappeared, and the governor waited impatiently
for them to begin the attack. All these movements had been accomplished
so quietly that Johnny, wholly intent upon watching the door, had no
suspicions of what was going on until he heard the Crusoe men coming
down the stairs behind him. Before he could think of flight they rushed
upon him, and, although he resisted manfully, he was speedily brought to
terms by a savage thrust in the ribs from Friday's oar, which made him
double up like a jackknife; and, at the same moment, the governor and
the rest of his men entered through the side door. In less time than it
takes to tel