hort distance from the cellar
door, heard a great commotion in the house. Lights flashed from the
windows, men and women run about calling to each other, and presently
the door opened and Josh and Bill appeared.

"There they are!" exclaimed one discovering Sam, who was by this time
well on his way across the field; "hurry up there, boys. He's got a
long start, and is running like a scared turkey."

These last words were addressed to the men in the house, who came out
one after another, some without their hats, some bare-footed, others
pulling on their coats as they ran, and all following after Bill and
Josh, who were flying across the field in hot pursuit of the governor.
Friday, from his hiding-place, counted them as they sprang down the
steps, and when the sixth man had left the house, and was out of sight
in the darkness, he straightened up and prepared for action. He listened
a moment to the shrill, excited voices of the women, and clutching his
ax with a firm hold, he came out from behind the corn-crib and ran
toward the house. A few rapid steps brought him to the cellar door,
which he attacked furiously. The first blow he struck echoed through the
cellar like a peal of thunder, alarming the women up stairs; and the
second brought them to the porch, where they stood watching Friday's
operations in speechless amazement. The Crusoe man, intent on releasing
his companions, gave no heed to what was going on around him, until a
chorus of angry screams arose from the porch; then he started and
trembled a little, but was not frightened from his work. He redoubled
his efforts, the door began to bend and groan, and was finally forced
from its fastenings, and Tom and his mate sprang out. Then the screams
arose in greater volume than before, and reached the ears of the farmer
and his men, who abandoned the pursuit of the governor, and returned to
the house with all possible speed. But they were too late; for, long
before they arrived, Tom and his companions had made good their escape.
The shattered door, and the ax lying where Friday had thrown it after
effecting the release of the prisoners, were all that were left to
remind the farmer of the Crusoe band.

CHAPTER VII.

THE GOVERNOR STORMS THE REBELS.

"Hip! hip! hurrah!" exclaimed Tom Newcombe, in an excited whisper, "I am
free once more, and I'll have a chance yet to destroy that yacht. If the
crew of the Storm King only knew what is going to happen, they woul