I'll take the vacant room,
and you may take the hall. But mind, don't forget to draw the key out of
the door when you lock it, and put it into your pocket. And mind also,
to be sure to pull your mattress quite up to the door and lay directly
across it, so that if the lock should be picked, no one can pass without
going right over your own body; and, last of all, mind to sleep only
with one eye open, or all the other precautions will be of no use at
all."

"I will be very careful, sir," answered young Bailiff Munson, touching
his hat to his superior officer in military style.

"And now, as your legs are younger than mine, I wish you would run down
stairs and ask the farmer to send me up a mug of that home-brewed bitter
beer he was talking about."

"Yes, sir," answered the young bailiff starting off with alacrity, while
the elder remained on guard at the door of his charge.

In five minutes or less time, Munson returned with a quart measure of
the "home-brewed," which he handed to Purley.

"Souls and bodies! but it is bitter, sure enough! I have heard of bitter
beer, but this beats all for bitterness that ever I tasted! However, the
bitterer the better, I suppose; and this is really refreshing," said
Purley, as he drained the mug, and handed it empty to a negro boy, who
had just brought in and laid down the mattress upon which Munson was to
sleep.

Munson smiled to himself.

Then Purley reiterated all his cautions for the careful guarding of his
charge, and at length bade his comrade good-night, and retired to the
vacant chamber, to guard the door on that side.

Munson drew his mattress across the hall-door as he had been directed to
do, and laid himself down in all his clothes--not to sleep, but to
listen and watch until the house should grow quiet; for on this night he
was resolved to effect the deliverance of Sybil, or perish in the
attempt.

Meanwhile Mr. and Mrs. Berners had retired to their chamber--not to
rest, but to wait for events; for on this night a sure presentiment
informed them that Robert Munson, on guard there at their outer door,
would be sure to use his opportunities for attempting a rescue. So they
quietly cooeperated with what they divined to be his intentions.

First Sybil went and hung a towel over the knob of the lock, so as to
darken the key-hole of the door guarded by Purley. Then she slipped the
bolt, saying:

"He may guard us if he must, but he shall neither look in upon us, nor