Year: 1865

Derles are DeSt effected thus, he said
he did not give up hopes of yet having
something to say to the robbers before
his visit terminated.


/ usually sleep very lightly, and
therefore awoke readily on hearing O
tap at my bedroom door during the
fourth night of our watch. II was
my friends voice that answered me,
and we were requested to come out al
once.


"As soon as 1 strike a lucifer match, u
l replied.


Nonsense, man; light will spoil
the whole thing. Come in the dark
slip on a dressing gown and your
golosnes, and come at once"


/ was soon provided as he wished,
and ready to descend tho stairs in the
dark. .un.


"Now remember" said my friend,
"there are seven steps to the first
landing, twelve others afterwards, so
be careful to descend without noise"


The night was boisterous, and many
window and door shook and ratified
so that the slight noise we made in
descending the stairs was not sufficient
to have alarmed even the most keen
cared listener. We descended to the
ground floor, entered the pantry, and
then standing perfectly still, devoted
ourselves to listening.


In a very few seconds we heard q
grating noise on the shutter, then an
interval of quiet, and again noise f;
presently the window was softly raised,
and again all was quiet. The noise
of heavy vehicle passing the house
seemed TO afford an opportunity for a
more decided effort for while the rat
tie of the wheels was loudest, a crack
sounded from the shutter, and we
could hear that the bolt was forced,
for the shutter was gently moved.


Don't stir till l do, and hold your
breath if possible" whispered my
friend in my ear.


found the latter difficult request
to comply with for my heart was beat
ing with rapidity, and humping
against my ribs in the most excited
way; still l stood quiet and trusted to
my friend.


Nothing could be more cautious
than the proceeding of the robbers. =
The shutter was pushed back in the
most slow and steady manner. Had
there been even bell fastened to it,
l doubt whether it would have been
made to ring. At intervals there was
rest from work evidently for the pur-
pose of listening, and then one of the
robbers placed his leg across the win
dow sill, and lightly descended into
tho pantry.


The night, even out of doors, was
very dark, and in the corner where we
stood it was black as Erebus. Our
forms, therefore, were quite undis-
tinguishable, and the only chance of
discovering us was by touching or
hearing us.


The first burglar was soon followed
10y second, while we could hear that
third, who was outside, was to re-
main there on watch.


"Now let's light up" said number
two.


Not yet, you push the shutter to"
replied the other, "or the glim'll be
seen. Then you come and hold the
box"


"Not yet, you push the shutter to,
and both robbers moved away few
PAGES from the window by which they
entered. BY the quiet way in which
they walked, it was evident they were
either without shoos nr ha! IndiS
rubber coverings. Or their size and
weapons we could SEQ nothing, and
began to doubt whether our position
was an agreeable one, as l was armed
only with a sword; weapon, however,
l knew how to use, while of my friends
means of defence knew nothing.


I had not long to wait, for lucifer
was struck by one of the men imme-
diately, and the room consequently
lighted up; at the same instant my
friend drew up the side of his dark
lantern and flashed the light on the
faces of the two men, mt the same time
showing the muzzle of a revolver
pointed towards them.


"If either of you move I'll put a
couple of bullets in him." said my
friend, as he placed his back against
the window by which the men had
entered.


Snow, drop that crow-bar," he con-
tinued in q voice Of authority; "down
with il; and you," he said to me, "pull
open the shutter and shout for the
police"


The idea that is usually entertained
of a burglar is that he is a man OF
great size, strength, and daring, and
that he would, in an encounter, ami
hilate any moderate man. When the
light revealed the faces and the forms
of the men we had captured, our
humble self, although no great pugl.
! list, yet felt able to defeat either OF
them if it came to a matter OF fists
and must own that the pale and
astonished faces Of the men were no'
indicative of any very great courage


Our shout for police was shortly
answered, and the burglars, having
been subdued by the sight of a revoi
yer, the muzzle of which pointed hrs
at one and then at the other, were
captured by the police, three Of whom
were speedily on the spot, and con
veyed to the lock up, whilst we and
detective who had been brought from
London few days previously, exam
ined the details by which the burglar
had effected an entrance.
"You were very lucky to hear them
especially on such night" said tn
detective; when once they're in the.
move like mice. We know them, an
/ expect they'll get seven years"
Tbo ,,ou ..a = An h1,,t o.rraot for m, 4