les away from the cove.

What should he do? Two hours would be plenty for the work, and as he
guessed it was not much past twelve now. How was he to pass all those
weary hours? If he could find some barn or even a haystack he would not
have cared, but it seemed to him that he would have to pass the
remainder of the night in walking, and watching so that he did not
encounter any of the smuggler gang on his way back and so raise their
suspicions.

Better be off at once. Perhaps, after all, he thought as by an
inspiration, the lieutenant had altered his plans, and was sending men
to look after and protect him.

"Let's see," said Archy to himself. "I must go out of this door, and
keep turning a little to the right till I feel the door at the top of
the stairs."

Suppose any one should hear him, take him for a thief, and fire at him?

Suppose that door at the end of the passage had been locked by the
smugglers?

It seemed so probable, that a nervous feeling attacked the lad. He
would be a prisoner, and discovered by the inmates in the morning.

He would soon put that to the proof, he told himself; and he was about
to step cautiously back toward the door when another thought sent a
shudder through him.

Suppose as soon as he got into the hall, or whatever place it was, he
should hear that sigh again and the rustling sound?

He shrank back as he recalled how it had affected him.

"Oh, what a coward I am!" he said softly; and he took a step forward,
where very faintly, as if far distant, he heard the rustling sound
again. It came nearer and nearer, then there was a low sigh, the door
was pushed open, for the rustling came quite plainly now, accompanied by
a faint breathing.

The door closed with a soft dull sound as Archy stood as if turned into
stone, his hair again feeling as if moved by hands, and he would have
spoken, but no words would come.

At last, as he stood there in front of the window, terrified too much to
stir, he suddenly heard a faint sound as of catching breath, and a voice
said in a hurried, frightened whisper,--

"Who's there? Is that you, Ram?"

Archy tried to speak but could not. Before he could draw a breath of
relief, feeling as he did that this was nothing of which he need feel
such fear, the voice said again,--

"You are trying to frighten me. I can see you plainly there by the
window. How dare you come in here like this, sir? Go back home with
your horrid men."

CH