" AND
SHE BEGAN AGAIN.
The boys and their companion had not been gone an hour when in rode the
Captain and his two soldiers with a terrible clatter. The Captain leaped
from his horse, and strode into the house, roaring for the men he had left
on guard. Barbara, who was in the library with Rupert, heard the noise and
divined its meaning.
"Rupert," she said swiftly, on a sudden inspiration, "will you add one more
kindness to your long list? Will you hide in here for a few minutes?" So
saying, she showed him the secret chamber.
Rupert hesitated not a moment, but swung himself up and was lost to view.
The picture hardly descended when the Captain entered.
"Ha!" he cried, casting a quick glance at Barbara. "So you have escaped my
soldiers' vigilance. A nice story of traitorous mutiny I shall have to
report to London! Three of the Parliament's men beaten and bound, and
rebels here in hiding. For there is a hiding-place here, I will lay my
life, and by the look in your eyes, mistress, the bird is still in it."
So saying, he set his men once more to work on the walls, and himself
attacked the portrait. Barbara stood by watching them. After five minutes'
fumbling the spring was touched. The Captain leaped into the cavity, and
they heard him utter a cry of triumph.
Pages:
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157