no one was near.
They were alone, and the wicked work proceeded.

CHAPTER VII.

RICHARD KINDLES A LITTLE FIRE.

Sandy continued to pull out the hay from behind the board, till
Richard, who, as engineer, conducted the operations, directed him to
suspend his labors. The contents of the bottle were poured upon the
heap of loose hay.

"What's that, Dick?" asked Sandy.

"Spirits of turpentine. I intend to make sure work of it," answered
Richard.

"I wouldn't use that stuff," added Sandy.

"Why not?"

"To tell the truth, Dick, I was in hopes the fire wouldn't burn."

"I believe you are a fool, Sandy Brimblecom. Have you come clear over
here, in the dead of the night, to kindle a fire that will not burn?"

"I don't like the idea of setting the barn on fire," whispered Sandy,
in an earnest tone. "What do you suppose they will do with us, if we
should get found out?"

"We shall not get found out."

"We shall be sent to the state prison--at least I shall."

"I shall, if you are; we shall both be in the same boat, and if one
goes down the other must."

"I don't know about that," said Sandy; "your father is rich, and he
will get you off. I shall have to stand all the racket."

"Shut up, Sandy! I have gone too far to back out now," added Richard,
decidedly, as he took a bunch of matches from his pocket.

"Hold on a moment, Dick, before it is too late. It will be cheaper to
do our thinking now than it will be after the barn is burned down."

"I have done all the thinking I care to do already. The die is cast,
Sandy. I won't back out now, and you shall not."

"It's too bad to burn up the horses and oxen in the barn. That's cruel.
If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't say a word."

"Very well; we will go round and turn out the horses and oxen. I don't
want to burn them any more than you do."

"But the noise will wake the farmer and his man."

"No, it won't. I have thought a great deal about the animals, and it
goes right against my grain to hurt them, especially the horses."

"I don't want to burn the barn, any way."

"You are a coward and a fool, Sandy."

"It's easy enough for you to say so, when you know your father has
money enough to buy up Old Batterbones, if we get into any scrape."

"Come, no more whining, Sandy; I'm going to get the horses and oxen
out, and then I'm going to burn the barn."

"I'm off, then."

"Very good; but if I get into trouble, I will blow on you."

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