ething as a sort of
memento of our prison."

"It would serve the beggar right," Jim said, "if we were to set fire to
his place and burn it down."

"It might serve him right if someone else were to do it," Jack said;
"but not for us, Jim. He saved our lives, you see. If it had not been
for him we should never have come alive out of that street."

"That is so," Jim agreed; "but you know when we talked it over we were
all of opinion that he carried us off only to act as hostages for
himself."

"Well, I know we agreed that that was it, Jim; but after all we cannot
be sure about it. It may have been that, but on the other hand he may
really have wanted to save our lives. He would not dare treat us
kindly, and was obliged to keep us imprisoned because of the fellows
round him. For you know he really did treat us well. We may be sure that
black fellow of his did not bring us down fruit and other things each
meal without his knowledge."

"It may have been that," Jim assented, "though I doubt it. I am
convinced he only carried us off and treated us well in order to get
good terms for himself if things went wrong."

"Perhaps so, Jim; but whatever the reason he did save our lives, and he
did treat us well, and I feel obliged to him. Now, let us look at the
house. I wonder whether it is empty?"

"Oh, of course it is empty. Why, we saw all his fellows coming away with
us."

"Yes, but that is no reason why it should be empty, Jim. There are lots
of these plundering fellows about. We know they do not come back into
the town because we have got guards at the gates, and I expect they hide
up during the day in some of these deserted houses. Anyhow we may as
well keep our eyes open till we know the place is clear."

Jim agreed to the prudence of the suggestion, and they went up to the
house. The door opening into the garden was fastened, but the wooden
shutters outside one of the windows about four feet from the ground were
unfastened, and swung open as they touched them. The window inside was
closed.

"Just give me a back, Arthur," Jack said. "I have no doubt I can open
the fastenings."

Standing on Arthur's shoulders Jack took out his knife, and had no
difficulty in inserting the blade between the frames of the window,
which opened inwards, and in pushing back the slight and simple
fastening. He pushed the window open, and had his foot on the sill ready
to enter when he paused.

"What is it, Jack?" Jim asked impatiently