It drew nearer and nearer , while we sat holding our breath . Then it struck sharp on the inn door , and then we could hear the handle being turned and the bolt rattling as the wretched being tried to enter ; and then there was a long time of silence both within and without . At last the tapping recommenced , and , to our indescribable joy and gratitude , died slowly away again until it ceased to be heard . `` Mother , '' said I , `` take the whole and let 's be going , '' for I was sure the bolted door must have seemed suspicious and would bring the whole hornet 's nest about our ears , though how thankful I was that I had bolted it , none could tell who had never met that terrible blind man . But my mother , frightened as she was , would not consent to take a fraction more than was due to her and was obstinately unwilling to be content with less . It was not yet seven , she said , by a long way ; she knew her rights and she would have them ; and she was still arguing with me when a little low whistle sounded a good way off upon the hill . That was enough , and more than enough , for both of us . `` I 'll take what I have , '' she said , jumping to her feet . `` And I 'll take this to square the count , '' said I , picking up the oilskin packet . Next moment we were both groping downstairs , leaving the candle by the empty chest ; and the next we had opened the door and were in full retreat . We had not started a moment too soon . The fog was rapidly dispersing ; already the moon shone quite clear on the high ground on either side ; and it was only in the exact bottom of the dell and round the tavern door that a thin veil still hung unbroken to conceal the first steps of our escape . Far less than half-way to the hamlet , very little beyond the bottom of the hill , we must come forth into the moonlight . Nor was this all , for the sound of several footsteps running came already to our ears , and as we looked back in their direction , a light tossing to and fro and still rapidly advancing showed that one of the newcomers carried a lantern . `` My dear , '' said my mother suddenly , `` take the money and run on . I am going to faint . '' This was certainly the end for both of us , I thought . How I cursed the cowardice of the neighbours ; how I blamed my poor mother for her honesty and her greed , for her past foolhardiness and present weakness ! We were just at the little bridge , by good fortune ; and I helped her , tottering as she was , to the edge of the bank , where , sure enough , she gave a sigh and fell on my shoulder . I do not know how I found the strength to do it at all , and I am afraid it was roughly done , but I managed to drag her down the bank and a little way under the arch .
Farther I could not move her , for the bridge was too low to XXXXX me do more than crawl below it .
am arguing bolted hear leaving let opened run seemed shone