r guard at the back of the stone house. Dick listened
attentively for some minutes, and at last heard the sound of some one
coming downstairs.

"Put out the light, Bob," he said, in a low tone. "If they see it under
the door they may get suspicious."

Bob blew out the candle, and in a moment all was dark and still in the
room.

"When the door opens make a rush at it, Bob, and overturn the fellows.
There are two of them."

Bob stood ready to act upon the instant, and the steps of the two men
coming on could be heard plainer than ever, rays of light beginning to
show under the door. The men said nothing, and came on softly, but
Dick's ears were very sharp, and he could hear them with no trouble.

The key was turned in the lock and the bolts shot back, and then, as the
door opened slowly, the boys both threw their weight upon it suddenly
and sent it flying wide open in an instant. There was a startled cry and
a heavy fall, and in a moment the place was thrown into profound
darkness.

"Pick them up and lock them in, Bob," said Dick, and the boys hurried
into the passage, presently stumbling upon two men who were just getting
upon their feet.

They seized the men, threw them into the room, closed the door and
locked them in, taking out the key, and then looked for the lantern as
they heard a call from above.

CHAPTER IV.--The Boys' Escape.

"Hallo, down there, what's the matter?" called some one at the head of
the stairs.

"The blame rebels tried to get out and upset the lantern," answered
Dick, in a gruff voice.

"Huh! where are they now?"

"They're all right. We locked the door again."

"H'm! we better come down and help you. We gotter take them away."

"All right, come on, an' fetch another light."

Then the boys began to move steadily toward the stairs, finally finding
them.

"Come on, Bob," whispered Dick. "Don't waste any ceremony on them, but
tumble them downstairs as soon as they come. They won't get the others
out in a hurry, for I have the key."

The boys went rapidly upstairs, but, just as a light appeared at the
top, the men in the room below began to shout:

"Hallo! Bill, Toby, look out for them rebels; they've shut us up in the
storeroom!"

"Hurry, Bob!" hissed Dick.

The two boys dashed up to the top of the steps and came upon two men
carrying lanterns. In an instant each seized one of the Tories and sent
him rolling down the stairs uttering startled yells. Then they hurried
forw