you
and Bill take them down cellar and leave them there with the rats."

"That don't scare me none," said Xury. "I never saw no rats yet I was
afraid of. What will you do with us in the mornin', mister?"

"I intend to break up these midnight plundering expeditions, by making
an example of you. I shall take you before 'Squire Thompson."

"What do you reckon he'll do with us?"

"He will put you in the House of Refuge for three or four years, most
likely, and I think that would be a good place for you. Take them away,
boys."

Josh lighted a candle and led the way into the cellar, followed by Tom
and his mate, Bill bringing up the rear. While the young farmers were
examining the windows and door, to make sure that their prisoners could
not escape, Tom took a hurried survey of his quarters, which he found
to be cheerless in the extreme. Three sides of the cellar were supplied
with windows--narrow apertures, placed about as high as his head from
the floor, and protected by stout iron bars which were set into the
walls. On the fourth side was a heavy door, secured by a padlock. Tom
took these things in at a glance, and quite agreed with Josh, when he
said,

"Now, then, you young robbers, you are secure for the night."

"And I would advise you to keep quiet, and not go to kicking up any fuss
down here," chimed in Bill. "If you feel like going to sleep, you can
lie down on those boxes."

Josh and Bill took their departure, and the Crusoe men were left to
their meditations, and to the companionship of the rats. Tom heard them
close and lock the door at the head of the stairs, and, groping his way
to a box in one corner of the cellar, he sat down to think over his
situation; while Xury, whistling softly to himself, began an examination
of the windows. This coolness and indifference amazed Tom, who could not
understand how a boy, with the prospect before him of serving out a term
of years in the House of Refuge, could take matters so easily.

"O, now, quit that whistling," drawled Tom, who found it hard work to
keep back his tears.

"What fur?" demanded Xury. "There's no use of bein' down in the mouth,
cap'n. Scoldin' an' frettin' won't help us none."

"Did any body ever see so unlucky a boy as I am? Other fellows get along
through the world without any trouble, but something is always happening
to bother me. To-morrow morning I shall be taken back to the village."

"Well, I sha'n't. I aint goin' back to Newport till