m as possible. Young man, I have a
secret for you. Do you know whose property this is?"

"Barber Jim's, I believe."

"And do you know there's a secret passage from this cellar into the
cellar under Jim's shop? It was dug by Jim himself, as a hiding-place
for his wife and children. He had bought them, but the heirs of their
former owner had set up a claim to them. After that matter was settled,
he showed Stackridge the place; and that's the way we came to make use
of it. We stored our guns in the passage, and came through into this
cellar at night to consult and drill. The store being shut, and the
windows all fastened and boarded up, made a quiet place of it. As good
luck would have it, the night before the military took possession, Jim
warned us, and we carefully put back every stone in the wall, and left.
But some of our guns are still in the passage, if they have not been
discovered. We have only to open the wall again to get at them. But
before that can be done, the guard must be disposed of."

Penn, who had listened with intense interest to this recital, drew a
long breath.

"Is the passage behind the spot where Mr. Villars is sitting?"

"Within three feet of the box."

"Then I fear it is discovered. I heard a noise behind that wall not ten
minutes ago."

Grudd started. "Are you sure?"

"Quite sure."

"It must be Jim himself; or else we have been betrayed."

"Was the secret known to many?"

"To all our club, and one besides," said Grudd, frowning anxiously.
"Stackridge made a mistake; I told him so!"

"How?"

"We were drilling here that night when Dutch Carl came to tell us you
were in danger. Stackridge said he knew the boy, and would trust him. So
he brought him in here. And Carl is now a rebel volunteer."

"With him your secret is safe!" Penn hastened to assure the captain.
"Stackridge was right. Carl----"

He paused suddenly, looking at the stairs. Even while the boy's name was
on his lips, the boy himself was entering the cellar. He carried a
musket. He wore the confederate uniform. He was accompanied by Gad and
an officer. They had come to relieve the guard. The men who had
previously been on duty at the foot of the stairs retired with the
officer, and Gad and Carl remained in their place.

Penn at the sight was filled with painful solicitude. To have seen his
young friend and pupil shoulder a confederate musket, knowing that it
was the love of him that made him a rebel, would alone have