Part 54 (1/2)

As he lay there being untied, though his eyes were blinded, his ears were busy, and he listened to the s fastened and the stones being drawn over it again

”Trap-door--door into a trap,” he thought ”Where a now?

Surely they would not kill h hi of terror as he felt hied to his feet

”Now, then, keep step,” the saruff voice said; and, with apparently half a dozen s and the dull sound of their feet over the grass, he was , but all the while with his ears strained, waiting for an opportunity to appeal for help, in spite of the threats he had heard, as soon as he could tell by the voices that he was near people ere not of the s

But no help see taken along the fields and rough ground near the edge of the wild cliffs, now near the sea, now far away At one tiood brisk breeze was blowing, and he fancied that he had a glint of a star through the thick covering, but he was not sure Then the sound of the waves on the shore was completely hushed, and he felt that theyfarther and farther away inland

Twice this happened, and the third time, as all was still, and he could feel a hard road beneath his feet, he beca sound from their footsteps, dull to him, but still plain, and it see or rift, when all at once!

Just in front, after theout a stern--

”Halt--stand!”

There was a hasty exclaruff voice,--

”Back, lads, quick!”

He was seized, and retreat had begun, when again rang out:--

”Halt--stand!”

The slers were between two fires

The ,--

”No shots, lads Cutlashes!”

There was a rush; the sound of blows, led about wildly, and the lad, bound, blindfolded, and helpless, was thrust here and there Then he received a sharp blow fro forward, and directly after a dull cut from a steel weapon, which, fortunately for him, fell upon and across the rope which bound his argling grew hotter, till all at once there was a rush, Archy went down like a skittle, men seemed to perform a triumphal war-dance upon his body, and then they passed on with the fight, evidently consisting of a retreat and pursuit, till the sounds nearly died away

A minute later, as Archy lay there perfectly helpless, the noises increased again Men were evidently laughing and talking loudly, and the sounds seemed to come round a corner, to becoo on after them? Nonsense, my lad! They know every hole and corner about here, and there's no knohere they'd have led us,” said a familiar voice

”Well, it is precious dark,” said another

”Too dark to see e are about But I take you all to witness, an it,” calers, and there's trouble about it, you knohat to say”

Archy heard all this, and it seemed to him that the party were about to pass hirowled out,--

”Hit ot one too, my lad; and I didn't like to use my cutlash”