watch of him in the meantime.
Taking the revolver from his pocket, he thrust it under his blouse; still
keeping his hand upon it, so as to make sure that the deserter did not
carry out his part of the programme. Thus prepared for the conflict which
might ensue, or for any other event, he closed his eyes, and pretended to
be asleep.

Presently the door softly opened, and Tom crept into the room. He had
taken off his shoes, that his step on the uncarpeted floor might not
disturb his prey, and stole towards him. After approaching as near to the
prostrate form as he dared, he bent over him to determine in which pocket
the pistol had been placed. Somers was tempted to grapple him by the
throat, as he listened to the young villain's subdued breathing; but he
feared that he would scream if he did so, and it was necessary to achieve
his conquest in a more gentle manner.

He moved his body a little, as if his slumbers were disturbed by
unpleasant dreams; and added a noise like a snore to complete the
delusion. Tom retired for a moment till his victim should again be
composed; but Somers, instead of subsiding into the slumber of a sleepy
and tired man, gradually opened his eyes and waked up. Slowly rising into
a sitting posture, he looked around him; and apparently, as if entirely
by accident, he discerned Tom.

"Can't yer sleep?" asked Tom, with extraordinary good nature for a person
of his saturnine disposition.

"I've been asleep these two hours, I believe," gaped Somers. "What time
is it, Tom?"

"'Tain't eight o'clock yet. Yer hain't been asleep more'n fifteen
minutes."

"Haven't I?"

"Not more'n that. Better lay down, and finish yer nap; kase I s'pose yer
won't git much sleep to-night, if ye're gwine over the river."

"I feel better than I did, at any rate. I think I'll get up. It's
tremendous hot here. Don't you ever open your windows?"

"I reckon we do. I was just thinkin' o' that."

And it was quite probable he was thinking of it; for he certainly wanted
the earliest information of the approach of the soldiers. He opened the
window in the front of the house, and Somers opened that in the rear. The
latter then went to the door, and took a careful survey of the entry, in
order to determine the way which the deserter must take to reach the
cellar, where he was to conceal himself when the soldiers came. The
prudent son of the master of the house had opened the door leading to the
cellar, from which he was to ent