Part 32 (1/2)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

PRISONERS AGAIN

Don's grasp tightened on the rope, and as he lay there, half on, half off the slope, listening, with the beads of perspiration gathering on his forehead, he heard fro

”They've attacked Jeht ”What shall I do? Go to his help?”

Before he could come to a decision the noise ceased and all was perfectly still

Don hung there thinking

What should he do--slide down and try to escape, or climb back?

Jem was evidently retaken, and to escape would be cowardly, he thought; and in this spirit he began to draw hireat deal of exertion, he had contrived to get his legs beyond the eaves, and there he rested, hesitating onceon by one hand, he rapidly drew up a few yards of the rope,take the place of another hand

There was a good deal of talking, and he caught the word ”rope,” but that was all So he continued his toilsoht opening, up to which he dragged hi, astride, as he had been before the attempt was made

All was so still that he was teested that any one was on the watch But Je hiet away, hetaken away

”And if they caone,” he muttered, ”they would take Jem off aboard shi+p directly, and it would be labour in vain”

”Oh! Let go!”

The words escaped hi, soreat loft floor, , and, in spite of all his efforts to free hi on till, unable to kick free, Don was literally dragged in and fell, after clinging for a moot hinised ”Look sharp with the light”

Don was on his back half stunned and hurt, and his captor, the sinister-lookinghi pain

Footsteps were hurriedly ascending; then there was the glow of a lanthorn, and directly after the bluff-looking man appeared, followed by a couple of sailors, one of whoot hiht! But do you want to break the poor boy's ribs? Get off!”

Don's friend, the sinister-looking ly frohed

”Pretty well done, ht have known you teren't so quiet for nothing There, cast off that rope, and bring hiely, causing him intense pain, but the lad uttered no cry, and suffered himself to be led down in silence to floor after floor, till they were once ht have broken your neck, you foolish boy,” said the bluff h door was opened ”You can stop here for a bit Don't try any ave Don a friendly push, and the boy stepped forward onceand ed behind hiroan

”Any one there?” said a faint voice, followed by the muttered words,--”Poor Mas' Don What will my Sally do? What will she do?”