t on my shoes, and climbed down from the bay window to
the ground.

I had hardly accomplished my descent before Tom and my uncle appeared at
the window of my chamber. They had rightly attributed the noise to me,
and hastened to my room to learn what had happened.

"He has escaped," said Tom, as he drew in his head, after satisfying
himself that I was not on the roof.

I went round to the front of the house to ascertain what they would do
next. There was a horse and chaise in the road, with which Tom had come,
the animal fastened to a post. He neighed as I approached him. I found
that he was shivering in the cool night air, after the severe sweat he
had had in coming. I took a robe from the chaise and covered him, for I
liked a horse almost as well as a boat. When I had finished this kindly
act, Tom came out of the house with a lantern in his hand. He was
followed by my uncle, and they went down to the landing, where my skiff
lay.

"He hasn't gone off in the boat," said my uncle.

"And he shall not," added Tom, as he walked off and disappeared behind
the house.

I was alarmed lest he should go off to the Splash and find Kate there;
but presently he returned with an axe in his hand. Giving the lantern
to his father, he proceeded to smash the skiff with the axe, his object
being to prevent my going on board the Splash. I regarded it as a puny
effort on his part, and was relieved to find they did not intend to
visit her themselves. As soon as I was satisfied in regard to his
purpose, I crept carefully up to the horse, unfastened him, and jumped
into the chaise. The animal was full of spirit, and anxious to go.

"Have you found the girl?" I shouted to Tom, as I drove within a few
feet of where he stood.

He sprang for the horse's head as soon as he discovered my intention;
but I gave him the rein, and he went off like a rocket. I turned towards
Parkville, and after going half a mile, I reined up to ascertain whether
I was pursued or not. I could hear nothing; so I turned into a by-road,
leading to a grove. I had taken this step only to procure a diversion of
Tom's plans, if he had any, and I fastened the horse to a tree. Covering
him up with the robe again, I walked back to the highway. In less than
ten minutes, I heard the well-known rattle of my uncle's buggy. I
stepped behind a bush till it should pass. As it went by, I heard my
uncle's voice, as well as Tom's. My diversion had worked well, for both
had gone in