kin turned into pork crackling with
that sword? Hold yer row, will yer, or--"

"We shall be taken and hung. Oh, my arm!"

"Look here, my dear pal," said the little man; "if you want to preach,
just wait till this job's done. Throw the light on the door, Dick."

"I dunno which is doors and which is windows, with all these curtains.
Oh, that's it, is it? Quiet, will you?"

He stood listening attentively. "It's all right. There isn't a sound."

"Let's go then, at once."

"What, empty? Not me, eh, Dick?"

"'Taint likely. Wait till I've got two more cartridges in. That's it--
Now then, business."

"But this poor fellow?"

"He's not killed, only quieted. Now, then, what is there here?"

They made a hurried search of the room, but with the exception of the
silver tops of the bottles of the Colonel's dressing-case, there was
nothing to excite their cupidity. Then Capel's pockets were searched,
but watch and purse were in his chamber, while, though the Colonel's
room was full of costly objects, they were not of the portable nature
that would have made them valuable to the men.

"Now then," said the tall man, quickly, "it's of no use; we must go
down. Where are the keys?"

The little man took a bunch from the bag.

"But, suppose the old man's awake?" whispered the shivering ex-servant,
faint from his wound.

"Well, if he is, we must persuade him to go to sleep, somehow, till
we've done. Here, you come and hold the light while I hand him the
keys."

The trembling man took the lantern, while his leader went down on one
knee; and as his little companion handed him false keys and picklocks,
he busied himself trying to open the door.

"Keep that light still, will you?" he cried menacingly. "Why, you're
making it dance all over the door. I want it on the key-hole, don't I?"

Then the light shone full on the lock for a minute or two, not more, for
he who held it kept turning his head to see if Capel was moving.

This brought forth a torrent of whispered oaths from both men.

"Here, let me have a try," whispered the little man. "I can open it if
you'll hold this blessed glim still. I never see such a cur."

Then, in the coolest manner possible, he took the other's place, and
tried key after key, picklock after picklock, and ended by throwing all
into the bag with a growl of disgust.

"It's one of them stoopid patents," he cried. "Here, give us a james."

A strong steel crowbar in two pieces wa