eeper or something of that sort. We picked it up, and, taking a run
back, brought it with all its weight against the front door. In it
went like a sheet of bark; we almost fell as we ran forward and found
ourselves in a big, dark hall. It seemed very queer and strange,
everything was so silent and quiet.

We half expected another volley. But nothing came. We could only stand
and wait. The others had gone round the side of the house.

'Get to a corner, Dick; they're always the safest places. We must mind
it isn't an ambush. What the devil's the matter? Are they going to
suicide, like the people in the round tower of Jhansi?'

'There are no women here,' I said. 'There's no saying what Mr. Knightley
might do if his wife had been here.'

'Thank God, she's away at Bathurst,' said Starlight. 'I hate seeing
women put out. Besides, everybody bows down to Mrs. Knightley. She's as
good as she's handsome, I believe, and that's saying a great deal.'

Just then Moran and Wall managed to find their way into the other side
of the house, and they came tearing into the hall like a pair of colts.
They looked rather queer when they saw us three and no one else.

'What in thunder's up?' says Moran. 'Are they all gone to bed, and left
us the spare rooms? Poor Patsey won't want one, anyhow.'

'Better make some search upstairs,' says Starlight. 'Who'll go first?
You make a start, Moran; you like fighting people.'

'Couldn't think of going before the Captain,' says Moran, with a grin.
'I'll follow where you lead.'

'All right!' says Starlight; 'here goes,' and he started to walk
upstairs, when all of a sudden he stopped and looked up as if something
had surprised him above a bit. Then he stepped back and waited. I
noticed he took off his hat and leaned against the wall.

It was an old-fashioned house for that part of the world, built a good
many years ago by a rich settler, who was once the owner of all that
side of the country. The staircase was all stone, ornamented every way
it could be. Three or four people could walk abreast easy enough.

Just about half-way up was a broad landing, and on this, all of a
sudden, appeared four people, inclined by their ways to come down to
where we were, while we were all wondering, for a reason you'll see
afterwards.

It was Mr. Knightley who took the lady's arm--it was his wife, and she
had been there all the time, firing at us as like as not, or at any
rate helping. The others followed, and