Part 27 (1/2)

Then they saw the brigands gathering close together, and the murmur of their conversation caht The boys stood in dread suspense No one said a word, not even a whisper

The conversation aands was followed by a s nearer to a cli it a little farther away, they proceeded to put it up against the house The ladder was put up at the south end of the house, and as it was being carried there for the purpose of erection, the boys and Uncle Moses all stole over to that south here, standing a little distance back, so as to be out of observation, they looked out Each one grasped his weapon of defence

Clive his chair

Frank his knife

Bob his chair

David his knife

Uncle Moses his razor

”Be ready, boys,” said Uncle Moses, in a firrasped his razor ”The hour air come, and the decisive moment air at hand!”

He said this in a whisper, and the boys ands meanwhile elevated the ladder, and the upper end struck the building The dull thud of that stroke sent a thrill to the hearts of those listeners in the rooands seize the ladder in order to mount, they all involuntarily shrank back one step

”It isn't this , at any rate,” said Frank, in a whisper

This reed them for a moment No, it was not their , but the atticThey watched in silence now, and saw the four brigands go up

Overhead they heard the sound that announced theand!

Two brigands!!

Three brigands!!!

Four brigands!!!!

And now thethat the attack was not made upon their as succeeded by the darkest apprehensions, as they heard the entrance of those four brigands, and knew that these desperate men were just above them

They were there overhead The hatchas open Through that opening they could drop down one by one

The saht came to all of them, and with one common impulse they moved softly to where the step-ladder lay on the floor Frank made this ed along the step-ladder

First, Frank, with his knife

Second, Bob, with his chair

Third, Clive, with his chair

Fourth, David, with his knife