Part 25 (1/2)
”Wal?” asked Uncle Moses, in an inquiring tone
”There's no one to be seen,” said Frank; ”but I thought I heard voices, or rather whispers, just under the end ”
There was a sole at one another with very earnest faces
”It's a solemn time, boys,” said Uncle Moses, ”a deeply solemn time”
To this the boys nified their assent to Uncle Moses' reth, after a silence of so,” said he, ”to keep theest bedstead against the door It opens inside; if the bedstead is against it, it can't be opened”
”But the s,” said Clive
”O, we needn't bother about the s, they're too high up,” said Frank, confidently
And now they all set theht, which preparations consisted ina barricade which should offer resistance to the assaults of the bloody-, and diabolical brigands below, Frank's suggestion about the bed was acted upon first One of the bedsteads was large, ponderous, old-fashi+oned, and see anything less than a cannon ball This they all seized, and lifting it bodily froainst the door The result was gratifying in the highest degree to all of them
They now proceeded to inspect the rooainst invasion As to the s, they thought that their height froer in that quarter
But in their search around the roo At the south corner there was a step-ladder, which led up into the attic, thus affording an easy entrance to any one who ht be above Frank rushed up to the step-ladder and shook it
To his great relief, it was loose, and not secured by any fixtures
They all took this in their hands, and though it was very heavy, yet they succeeded in taking it down fro any noise They then laid it upon the floor, i into the attic They would have felt, perhaps, a trifleabove; but the re they felt that they had cut off all means of approach fro breath of relief as he looked around He felt that nothing more could be done All the others looked around with equal complacency, and to the apprehensions which they had been entertaining there now succeeded a delicious sense of security
”We're safe at last,” said Clive
do said Bob
do said David
do said Frank
”Yes, boys,” said Uncle Moses, ”we're jest as safe now as if ere to hum We can defy a hull arht theons passin by, an we can git help But before we go, let's see eepins we can skear up in case o' need It's allus best to have things handy”
”Well,” said Frank, ”I' this, he displayed an ordinary jackknife, not particularly large, and not particularly sharp ”It isn't much,” said he, as he opened it, and flourished it in the air, ”but it's soot even a knife; but I've heard that there's nothing equal to a chair, if you want to disconcert a burglar; and so I'll take this, and knock down the first brigand that shows his nose;” and as he said this, he lifted a chair fro it in the air
”I rely on the barricades,” said David, ”and don't see the necessity of any ar to be attacked If we are, I suppose I can use iven my knife away, and I'll have to take a chair”
”Wal,” said Uncle Moses, ”I've got a razor, an it's pooty ugly weepin in the hands of a savage o to bed,” said David, do said Bob
do said Clive
do said Frank
”Yes, boys, that's about the best thing we can do,” said Uncle Moses, decisively
CHAPTER XXIII
_The sleepless Watch--The mysterious Steps--The low Whispers--They come! They couered Party--At Bay--The decisive Moands_