Year: 1878

We lived in a Terrace at the time in
which my tale is laid, in what we may
term a sub-district OF London, for we
were within five miles of Charing
Cross, and the dark month of Decem-
Der was upon us. RObberies had been
frequent in our neighbOrhOOd, and no
less than three houses out of the ten
in the Terrace had been entered by
burglars and robbed, and yet no dis
cOvery Of the thieves had taken place
So ably, also, had the work of entry
been accomplished, that in no case had
the inmates been alarmed; and it was
not until the servants decended in the
morning that the discovery of a rob-
berry was made.


In two of the three cases, an entrance
had been effected through a pantry
window, by removing a pane of glass,
and cutting q small hole in the shutter.
This was on the ground floor, and could
easily DE reached, therefore, from the
outside. In the third robbery, an up
per window was entered by means of a
knife which forced back the fastening,
and of course allowed the sash to be
raised.


So rapidly had the rObberies occurred
that the whole neighbOrhOOd was
alarmed. The police shook their heads
and looked knowing but did nothing,
and what was much lamented, failed
TO find any clue to the robbers, who,
they at the same time asserted, were
evidently not regular cracksmen.


Affairs reached such a state, that
we used to sleep with a revolver close
to our bedside, when we happened to
have a friend who came to stay with
us few days. This friend was an old
jungle-hunter and was GH Tdit at
every artifce by which the animal
creation might be captured. He was
delighted at the idea of having an ad-
venture with burglars and scOrned the
belief that they were more than
match in cunning for the even average
bush-hunterS. II was in vain that we
assured him il WAS an axiom that an
accomplished rGbber could effect an
entrance into any house; and that i'll
strumentS were used of such a nature
rs to cut holes in doors without noise,
and, in fact, that through roofs and
sky-lightS down chimneys, and up
water-spOuts, an accomplished burglar
could easily enter the best defended
house in the kingdom.


Our friends argument was, that
burglar was a man on watch, who
took the advantage of the residents
being asleep and unsuspecting: "but,"
said he, "let my suspicious be raised,
and | Will defy any burglar TO enter
my house without my having due
warning; because, although ! NAV he
asleep, still, l shall hear his approach,
and can then make my arrangements
90 welcome him."


Although we were not desiTOuS of
having our houses robbed, vet we
wished much that our friends conf
dence should he taken out of him.


4 few DAYS after this conversation,
the police informed us that several
suspicious characters had bSen seen
about, and recommended us to be on
the alert. Here, then, was a good Op-
pOrtunity to test my friends skill and
wakefulness; so, having informed him
of the pOliceman's warning, / asked
him If he felt confident to undertake
the defense Of the house.


Certainly he replied; Il only de-
mand a dark lantern, and Stipulate
that You have a pair of gOlOShes beside
your bed. L also must go to bed last,
and no servant is to 90 down stairs he
fore me in the morning; nor is any one
to walk about during the night; then
L will defy the burglars


Thus it was agreed that my friend
should act the part of a guardian, and
was to commence his charge on the
ensuing night.


Three nights had passed, and no
alarm had occurred, and no rObberies
taken place; we began to think our
alarm was grOundleSS; but our friend
said that now was the very time 10 be
most guarded, for that no wise burglar
would rob when he was expected; be
sides, he said, we have not had 2 windy
night yet; it is when doors and win
dOws rattle, and the chimney rumbleS,
that rObbeTies are best effected; not
when every strange noise is audible;
thus, he said, he did not give up hopes
of yet having something to say TO the
robbers before his visit terminated.


l usually sleep very lightly, and
therefore awOke readily upon hearing
tap at my bedroom door during the
fourth night of our watch. 1t was my
friends voice that answered me, and
we We're requested TO come out at
once.


AS soon as l strike a lucifer match,
l replied.


''Sonsence, man; a light will spoil
the whole thing. Come Ill the dark:
slip on dresSing-gOwn and Your gOl-
Oshes, and come at once"


was soon provided as ne wished,
and ready to descend the stairs in the
dark.


Now, remember" said nv friend.
there are seven steps to the first land
ing, twelve Others afterwards, and the
fourth step creaks abOminably, so be
careful to descend without noise


The night was bOisterOuS, and many
a window and door ratified, so that the
slight noise we made in descending the
stairs was not sufficient TO have alarm
ed even the most keen-eared listener
We descended to the ground floor, en-
tered the pantry, and standing perfect
ly still, devoted ourselves to listening.


In very few seconds we heard a
grating noise on the shutter then an
interval of quiet, and again q noise
presently the window was gently
raised, and again all was quiet. The
noise of heavy vehicle passing the
house seemed TO afford an opportunity
for more decided effort, for while the
rattle 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.