Part 36 (1/2)

For a fewhi footsteps which were faintly heard

He knew the direction, and went on with outstretched hands to find the way, checked directly by their coreat pillars of stone

But he felt his way round this, got to the other side, listened, , followed on, and caught his feet against so which threw hiain, and felt his way cautiously to the right, for the stones rose like a bank or barrier in his way, and he wentthat he had taken the wrong turning, he retraced his steps as quickly as he could, going on and on without avail and never stopping He was just in ti as if a heavy door were closed, followed by a curious rattling sound, as of large pieces of slate falling down and banging against wood Then ca, which died off in whispers, and all was perfectly still

”The cowards!” cried Archy, as he fully realised that his gaolers had escaped from him ”How brutal to leave a fellow shut up in a hole like this 'Tis horrible; and enough to drive one et out!”

He sat down upon the rough stones, feeling weak, and perspiring profusely It was many hours now since he had tasted food, and in his misery and despair he felt that he should be starved to death before his gaolers caain

”How dare they!” he cried passionately ”A king's officer too! Oh, if I could only be once o at theht”

Then as he sat on the stones he began to cool down and grow less fierce in his ideas In other words, he caed cutlasses to fists, and felt such an intense longing to get at Raled

”Wait a bit,” he said fiercely,--”wait a bit”

”Yes, I shall have to wait a bit,” he said sadly, as he rose frory I a to be ill I wonder whether I could track where they went out”

”Not now,” he said,--”not now;” and with so on the old sail, he began to ed over, as it were, to the words of the boy as he taunted hionising in his literally starving condition to think of such things, and he tried to keep histo work desperately after he had lain down for a bit to rest

But it was ihts, strive hoould

Hunger is an over desire, and he crept on step by step with outstretched hands, picturing in the darkness slices of ham, yellow butter, brown crusted loaves, and pure sweetnoith pain, weariness, and despair, his foot suddenly kicked against so which rolled over and over away froerly, and planning at once how he could strike a light with a stone and his knife, and perhaps contrive so about in all directions till he touched the object which he had kicked, and uttered a cry of joy and excitement

It was not the lanthorn, but a round cross-handled basket with lid, and he trembled as he recalled Ram's words about what his mother had sent

Was there truth in them, or were they the utterances of a malicious mind which wished to torture one as in its power?

Archy Raystoke hardly dared to think, and knelt there for a fewupon the basket, which he was afraid to open lest it should not contain that which he looked for

”Out of my misery at all events,” he cried; and he tore off the lid

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE