"Yes, sir; I think it would be well."
"You see, Herbert," continued the old gentleman, "how much confidence I repose in you. Knowing where my watch and money are, it would be very easy for you to secure both, and leave me here, dest.i.tute and helpless."
"But you don"t think there is any danger of my doing so?"
"No," said the old gentleman. "Though our acquaintance is so recent, I feel great confidence in you. As I cannot see the face, I have learned to judge of the character by the tone of the voice, and I am very much mistaken if you are not thoroughly honest and trustworthy."
"Thank you, sir," said Herbert, his face flushed with pleasure at this evidently sincere commendation. "You shall not repent your confidence."
"I am sure of that, Herbert," said Mr. Carroll, kindly. "But I must bid you good-night. This has been a fatiguing day, and I shall lose no time in getting to sleep."
"Good-night. I hope you will sleep well, sir," said Herbert. "There won"t be much sleep for me," he thought.
Mr. Carroll lay down, and his deep, tranquil breathing soon a.s.sured our hero that he was asleep. He rose from his bed and examined the windows.
All but one were provided with fastenings. But the one on the right-hand side of his bed could be raised from the outside without difficulty.
"I wish I had a nail," thought Herbert. "I could soon make it fast."
But there was none in the room, and he did not wish to go downstairs for one, since he would probably meet the stranger, who would then learn what precautions he was taking, and so, perhaps, vary his attack.
"That window will need watching," thought Herbert. "I wonder whether I shall be able to keep awake."
The excitement of his situation, and, perhaps, the strong tea, to which he was unaccustomed, helped him to remain vigilant. His mind was active and on the alert, and his ears were open to catch the least sound.
It was only half-past ten. Probably the attempt to enter the room would not be made before twelve, at least, in order to insure their being asleep.
Herbert examined his pistol. It was in excellent order, and was provided with two barrels, both of which he loaded. Thus, he would have a double chance to defend himself. He did not remove all his clothing, but kept on his pants, in order to be prepared for emergencies.
There was an hour and a half to wait before midnight. The minutes pa.s.sed slowly. Herbert for a time heard the murmur of voices in the barroom below, then steps ascended the stairs, and, after a while, all was hushed.
"I wish the fellow would come quick," he thought, "if he is coming at all, so that it might be all over, and I might go to sleep."
Time sped on. Herbert could hear the village clock striking twelve; but still all around remained quiet.
It might have been a half an hour later when he heard a slight noise, as he thought, under the window. Jumping softly out of bed, he took a peep out. It was just light enough for him to distinguish a dark form moving about, bearing something, which he soon perceived to be a ladder. That it was the black-whiskered man who had followed them, he did not doubt, and he felt confident that he intended to place the ladder against the window. He was not mistaken. He heard the top of the ladder softly inclined against the house, and then he felt that the critical moment, which was to test his courage, was close at hand.
Herbert"s heart began to beat rapidly. He felt that he was taking upon himself a fearful responsibility in shooting this man, as he would probably be obliged to do in self-defense. But one thing he resolved upon. He would not take his life. He would only use such a degree of violence as should be absolutely necessary. He would even give him a chance by firing the first barrel in the air, in hope of frightening the robber. If that failed, he must wound him. There was little time for these thoughts to pa.s.s through his mind, for all the while the man was creeping up the ladder.
Herbert had moved a little aside, that he might not be seen.
Soon he perceived, by the indistinct light, the face of the stranger rising above the window-sill. Next, the window was slowly raised, and he began to make preparations to enter the room. Then Herbert felt that it was time for him to appear.
Stepping intrepidly to the window, he said: "I know your purpose. Unless you go down instantly, I will shoot you."
There was no tremor in his voice as he said this. Courage came with the occasion, and his tone was resolute, and self-possessed.
"So you"re awake, are you, my chicken?" was the reply. "If you know what"s best for yourself, you"ll hand over the old man"s money, and save me the trouble of getting in."
"Never!" said Herbert, firmly.
"Then I will take it myself, and give you something to remember me by, you little fool!"
He placed his knee on the window-sill, and prepared to jump in.
"One step farther," said Herbert, resolutely, "and I fire!"
He displayed the pistol, at the sight of which the burglar hesitated.
"Hold on a bit," said he, pausing. "I"ll give you some of the plunder, if you"ll put up that shooting iron, and make no trouble."
"Do you think me a villain, like yourself?" asked Herbert.
"By ----, you shall repent this," said the robber, with an oath, and he made another attempt to enter.
Click!
There was a sharp report, but Herbert had fired in the air, and the burglar was unhurt.
"Confusion!" he exclaimed; "that will raise the house!"
Then, espying the carpet-bag, he determined to jump in, seize it, and get away before the people in the house were fairly awake. As for the pistol, that had been discharged, and he supposed that nothing was to be feared from it. But he reckoned without his host. As he put one leg over, and had all but succeeded in getting in, Herbert fired once more, this time hitting him in the shoulder. He uttered a shriek of pain, and, losing his hold, tumbled backward to the ground.
The two reports alarmed the house.
"What"s the matter?" exclaimed Mr. Carroll, awakened and alarmed.
"Don"t be alarmed, sir," said Herbert. "A man just attempted to get in through the window, and I have wounded him."
"You are a brave boy," said Mr. Carroll. "Where is he now?"
"He has tumbled to the ground, shot through the shoulder, I think."
There was a loud thumping at the door. Herbert opened it, and admitted half a dozen guests, headed by the landlord.
"What"s the matter?" exclaimed all, in chorus.
"If you will come to the window, gentlemen, I will show you," said Herbert.
They followed him curiously, and the sight of the ladder and the wounded man, who was uttering groans of pain from the ground below, told the story at once.
"Served the rascal right," said the landlord. "Who is he?"
"The black-whiskered man who was in the barroom last night," said Herbert.
"I remember now; he asked particularly where you were to sleep--you and the old gentleman--but I did not suspect his purpose."
"I did," said Herbert, "and kept awake to be ready for him."