t.

How long this pause lasted it is impossible to say, but to the intruder
it seemed like minutes before he heard a faint rustling movement as if
the overseer was about to lie down again.

"He can't see me," thought Nic. "It is too dark."

Then his heart seemed to stand still again, as the horrible thought
occurred that the rustling meant getting something out of a pocket, and
that something must be a pistol.

Instinct taught the listener that to save his life he must spring at his
enemy before he could take aim, and, nerving himself for a leap forward
to dash the musket he held upon the man's face, he was almost in the act
of bounding across the room when there was a low gurgling sound, and his
nerves and muscles relaxed, for he realised the fact--the overseer had
awoke suddenly from some nightmare-like dream, and it was no pistol he
had taken out, but a flask of spirits.

It was plain enough now--the gurgling of the flask, the smack of the
lips in the darkness, and the long, satisfied breath taken, before the
bottle was replaced and its owner sank back upon his couch.

In another minute the breathing had grown deeper and sounded stertorous;
and, without pausing longer, Nic stepped to the window, handed out the
gun, and felt it taken quickly from his hands.

Just then there was a faint muttering which almost paralysed Nic, who
turned to meet an attack; but none came, and in another instant or two
he had slipped out of the window and was following Pete, who had handed
back one gun, with the warning to beware of the dogs.

Pete's stooping figure was just visible as Nic followed, him in silence
till they were about a hundred yards away, making for the spot where the
boat was hidden, when one of the dogs barked loudly.

"Mustn't stop to load," whispered Pete. "Let's get to the water, and
then they can't take up the scent."

They hurried on, listening the while; but the dog quieted down again;
and with his spirits rising, Nic closed up alongside of his companion.

"That was a near touch, master," whispered Pete. "I waited ready to
jump in and help you, for I zomehow thought it was too dark in there for
him to zee you, and you hadn't made any noise. Lucky for him he lay
down again."

Nic made no reply, but he thought a great deal; and no more was said
till they had crossed a couple of the great fields and knew by the
sounds they heard that they must be close to the long, low band of reedy
growth which ran