Part 72 (1/2)

Tom knew the ladder by the shape: it was the one David borrowed fro cow-house it always hung on two great pegs, sheltered fro thatch

And now this ladder had been reared up against the h the top rounds could only be diainst the rails of the little gallery, close to the shutter which opened into the roof of the observatory

”It's Pete,” To, but only to hear the beating of his own heart Then he took three or four steps up very softly, but stopped short, for all at once there was a gleaht in the panes of the laboratory , such as would be produced by any one striking a wax- up a few ht, which was littleof the stars, and then an idea occurred to hiave it a push, and it rose upright directly, and he found that he had no difficulty in s close up to the brick wall, and then placing his hands upon the rounds, lowered it step by step till it lay flat in the yard

”No running away this time,” muttered Tom; and he crept back to the entrance, which he opened softly with the key, entered the workshop, and then closed the door and locked it on the inside, afterwards placing the keys in his pocket, but took theotten in his excitement, that since the laboratory had been furnished, it too had been kept locked, so that to get into the chaht, he would have to unfasten the door at the top of the flight of steps

For a brief ain

”Pete will be in a horrible fright,” he thought; and, creeping up, he softly inserted the key, unlocked this door, and withdrew the key without a sound Then slowly and silently he pressed down the thumb-latch, the door yielded with a faint creak, and he passed in, to stand listening and looking round

All was still and very dark, save that he could just make out the shape of the , and if any one had passed the panes he ht have been visible as a black shadow

For an instant Tom wondered whether he could have been deceived, but the next he kneas iht have been fancy, or a reflection, but there was none about that ladder

Then his heart seemed to jump into his mouth, for there was a sound overhead So, stepped into the little gallery, felt for the ladder, found it gone, and concluding that thethe wheel and causing the whole of the light wooden doht,” cried Tom beneath his breath; and, reckless of consequences, he crossed the laboratory, ascended the steps, and dashed across to where the iron wheel was pivoted to the wall

”It's no good,” he shouted ”Give up!” and he caught sorip he received a tre backward, and ere he could recover hiun to descend as if quite at home in the place

Tom made after hiht, and as he corrected his course by touch, he only bent down to descend in ti, which forced fro of the bolt

Fortunately as well as unfortunately, the trap-door fell upon To, and the bolt shot into vacancy, so that the next ed it up, descended two or three steps, holding on by the edge of the floor, and then swung himself forward and dropped into the chamber below

”You stop, or it'll be the worse for you,” he shouted fiercely, for the pain in his foot had roused hi but the desire to get a good grip of Pete

There was no reply, no sound, and To behind one of the tables or crouching against the wall

”It's of no use,” cried Toe Do you hear, sir? Give in!”

_Creak_, _creak_! just as To his head forward

The sound came from below, and with a muttered ejaculation, full of vexation, the boy darted to the head of the steps, and rushed down in the darkness at a break-neck speed, which ended in a big jump on to the stone-floor, from whence he rushed toward the hich made that noise when any one tried to open it--a difficult task with the new hasps to any one who did not understand them

There was no one by the , but no doubt about the presence of another in the stone-floored place, for the footsteps had sounded, and as To noise

”Now then!” he cried; ”you hear what I say--give up at once”

There was no reply, and Tom tried to pierce the darkness, and then ht the visitor ht, but his action betrayed where the felloas, for he rushed across the place, and sent a thrill through Toame at blind-man's-buff commenced, in which he moved cautiously here and there, with his clenched fists extended ready to strike or ward off a blohich was certain to be aimed at him if he tried to seize the too active enemy