Anne was standing close to the pantry door, listening to Stephen’s mysterious movements in utter bewilderment, hardly knowing whether she ought to call her uncle, but not coming to a decision about it until the boy appeared before her.  His first quick action was to secure the door by fastening a rusty bolt which was on the outside, and then, in a few hurried sentences, he explained his strange conduct by telling her how Tim had conveyed to him the design of some of the colliers for breaking into the master’s house.  There had been several similar robberies in the country during the strike for wages, and Miss Anne was greatly alarmed, while Stephen felt all the tender spirit of a brave man aroused within him, as she sank faint and trembling upon the nearest seat.

‘Don’t be afraid,’ he said courageously; ’they shall tear me to pieces afore they touch you, Miss Anne.  I’m stronger than you’d think; but if I can’t take care of thee, God can.  Hasn’t He sent me here, afore they come, on purpose?  They’d have come upon you unawares, but for God.’

‘You are right, Stephen,’ answered Miss Anne.  ’He says, “Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night.”  But what shall we do?  How can we make ourselves safer?  I’ll try not to be afraid; but we must do all we can ourselves.  Hark! there’s a footstep already!’

Yes, there was a footstep, and not a very stealthy one, approaching the house, and the dog bounded forward to the full length of his chain, but he was beaten down with a blow that stunned him.  The men were too strong in numbers, and too secure in the extreme loneliness of the dwelling, to care about taking many precautions.  Miss Anne and Stephen heard Mr. Wyley cross the floor of his room above, and open his window; but there was silence again, and the chime of the house clock striking eleven was the only sound that broke the silence until the casement above was reclosed, and the master’s footfall returned across the room.

‘I must go and tell him,’ said Miss Anne; ’perhaps he can secure some of his money, lest Martha should be stopped on the way, or not come in time.  Stay here and watch, Stephen, and let me know if you hear anything.’

She stole up-stairs in the dark, lest those without should see the glimmer of her candle through the fanlight in the hall; and then she spoke softly to her uncle through his locked and bolted door.  Down-stairs Stephen listened with his quickened hearing to the footsteps gathering round the house; and presently the latch of the pantry door was lifted with a sudden click that made him start and catch his breath; but Jack Davies could come no further, now the rusty bolt was drawn on the outside.  There was a whispered conversation through the pantry window, and the sound of some one getting out again; and then Stephen crept across the dark kitchen into the hall through which Miss Anne had gone.  At the head of the staircase was the door of the master’s room, now standing