Part 27 (2/2)

Fifth, Uncle Moses, with his razor

Every one held his weapon in a grasp which the excitement of the moment had rendered convulsive Every eye was fixed upon the hatchway above, which lay concealed in the gloo, but no movement whatever

”Let's jump out of the s and run,” whispered Bob, hurriedly

”No,” said Frank, ”they are watching below--no use”

But further reht above It was a light in the attic, not very bright, yet sufficiently so to show the opening through which their enehted a laer

Voices arose, low and hushed

Then footsteps!

The light above the opening grew brighter!

It was an awful moment!

The suspense was terrible!

Yet in the ht of surrender

In fact, they did not think that surrender would be possible These bloody-ed party felt the task i their lives as dearly as possible And so it was, that as the brigands carasped his knife more firmly

Bob do ” chair do

David do ” knife do

Clive do ” chair do

While Uncle Moses held up his razor in such a way, that the first brigand who descended should fall full upon its keen edge

The light grew brighter over the opening The shuffling footsteps drew nearer Then there was a pause, and lohispers arose The brigands were iht shone down into the room

The suspense was now intolerable It was Frank who broke the silence

”_Who's there?_” he cried in a loud, strong, stern, htest tre was perfectly still

”WHO'S THERE?” cried Frank a second ti voice

No answer