circumstances, but he hoped that he might find means to free himself, so
that, as soon as the robbers left the store, he could procure
assistance, and begin the pursuit without loss of time. When the
burglars retreated outside the building to await the explosion, Johnny
struggled desperately with his bonds; and if his visitors had thought to
look at him when they returned, they would have discovered that one of
his hands was free. When they took their final departure, Johnny removed
the towel with his liberated hand, and, after ten minutes' hard work, he
arose from the bed and began pulling on his clothes with all possible
haste.

"Those fellows won't get very far away with that money; not if this
clerk knows himself, and he thinks he does," said Johnny to himself.
"I'll raise the town in two minutes. And there's the governor again, as
big as life and as ugly as ever. How did he get back? He is going to
receive a thousand dollars for taking those villains out to sea, is he?
Not much! I'll have something to say about that."

Johnny had by this time got into his trowsers and boots; and catching up
his hat, he ran out of the office just as the side door opened,
admitting Tom Newcombe. Believing that the burglars had returned, the
clerk beat a hasty retreat, and it was the sound of his footsteps that
had alarmed Tom.

Johnny concealed himself behind the door of the office, and awaited the
issue of events with fear and trembling. If the burglar discovered that
he had succeeded in liberating himself, he would, of course, bind him
again; and this time he would do his work so thoroughly that Johnny
would remain a prisoner until he was released. That would be about seven
o'clock in the morning, for that was the hour at which Mr. Henry
generally made his appearance--and by that time the burglars would be
miles away with their booty.

Johnny knew when Tom turned up the light, and emptied the match-box; and
when he heard him approaching the office, his excitement and alarm
increased. When Tom stepped inside the door, a desperate plan for escape
suddenly suggested itself to him. He would rush out of his concealment,
throw the intruder down, and get out of the store before he could
recover his feet. He was by no means certain that he could do this, but
it was his only chance, and it was no sooner conceived than it was
carried into execution. The captain of the Crusoe band was prostrated
with the greatest ease, and Johnny, who had