"It's the onwholesomedest lookin place I ever see," said Uncle Moses.

"I distrust them all," said Clive.

do. said. Frank, do. said David.

do. said Bob.

"I don't like the looks of that ere driver," said Uncle Hoses. "I b'leve he contrived that there break-down a purpose, so as to bring us to this here den."

Uncle Moses' remark sank deep into the minds of all. Who was the driver, after all? That break-down was certainly suspicious. It might have been all pre-arranged. It looked suspicions. Then the men below. There were so many of them!

"There are a dozen of them," said Bob.

do. said Frank.

do. said David.

do. said Clive.

"Thar's too big a gatherin here altogether," said Uncle Moses, "an it's my idee that they've come for no good. Didn't you notice how they stared at us with them wicked-looking eyes o' theirs?"

"I wish we'd gone on," said David.

do. said Bob.

do. said Clive.

do. said Frank.

"Yes, boys, that's what we'd ort to hev done," said Uncle Moses.

"Why didn't some on ye think of it?"

"We did; but we thought you'd be too tired," said Frank.

"Tired? tired?" exclaimed Uncle Moses. "Tired? What! me tired!

_me!_" And he paused, overcome with amazement. "Why, boys, ye must all be ravin distracted! _Me_ tired! Why, I'm as fresh as a cricket; an though rayther oldish, yet I've got more clear muscle, narve, and sinnoo, than all on ye put together."

At this little outburst' the boys said nothing, but regretted that they had not, at least, proposed going on.

"We're in a fix," said Clive.

do. said Bob.

do. said Frank.

do. said David.

"We're in a tight place, sure," said Uncle Moses.

"There's no help near," said Frank.

do. said David.

do. said Bob.

do. said Clive.

"It's the lonesomest place I ever see," said Uncle Moses.

"It's too dark to leave now," said David.

do. said Clive.

do. said Bob.

do. said Frank.

"Yes, and they'd all be arter us afore we'd taken twelve steps,"

said Uncle Moses.

"They're the worst sort of brigands," said Bob.

do. said Frank.

do. said David.

do. said Clive.

"Yes, reg'lar bloodthirsty miscreants," said Uncle Moses.

"The door has no lock," said Frank.

do. said David.

do. said Bob.

do. said Clive.

"O, yes, it's a reg'lar trap, an we're in for it, sure," said Uncle Moses. "I only hope we'll get out of it."

"That window's open, too," said David, do. said Frank.

do. said Clive.

do. said Bob.

"Yes, an thar ain't even a sash in it," said Uncle Moses; "no, nor even a board to put agin it!"

"They'll come to-night," said Clive.

do. said Frank.

do. said Bob.

do. said David.

"No doubt in that thar," said Uncle Moses, in lugubrious tones; "an we've got to prepar ourselves."

"What shall we do?" said Frank.

do. said Bob.

do. said Clive.

do. said David.

"The pint now is," said Uncle Moses,--"the pint now is, what air we to do under the succ.u.mstances? That's what it is."

At this Frank rose and opened the rickety door.

He looked out.

He closed it again.

Then he went to each of the windows in succession.

He looked out of each.

Then he resumed his seat.