less.  But seeing Doubledick's legs for
an instant disentangled from those of his assailant, the old man
suddenly threw himself across them, pinning Doubledick to the floor, and
so putting an end to his struggles.  Dick raised himself, keeping his
hands on the man's throat.  The heaving and writhing ceased.

While Dick still held him down, Penwarden hobbled behind the barrels,
carrying a lantern, found the gag that had been used on himself, and
brought it back to turn it to account with Doubledick.  His own hands
were still too much numbed to tie an effective knot, but he held the gag
between Doubledick's teeth while Dick made it fast.

All this time there had come through the hole in the floor the murmur of
voices.  Without relaxing his grip, Dick leant over and peered down.  He
was just able to see that a boat lay beneath; the hole was vertically
above the sea.

"Ah, mon Dieu!" cried one of the boat's crew, perceiving Dick's head,
"ven come ze--ze packet?"

Dick withdrew.

"Answer," he said to Penwarden.

The old man tried to speak, but could give utterance only to a hoarse
whisper.  Whereupon Dick, in a voice intended to be an imitation of
Doubledick's, replied:

"In a minute."

His imitation was so entirely unsuccessful that he durst not say more.

The Frenchman's question had suggested a means of dealing with
Doubledick.  In attacking him, Dick had no definite plan in his mind for
subsequent action.  He was concerned only to prevent Penwarden from
being lowered through the trapdoor. But now that Doubledick was in his
power, it struck him that it would be simple justice to serve him as he
had intended to serve Penwarden.  He whispered the suggestion to the old
man, who received it with a low chuckle.

"But they fellers down below will know un," he murmured.

"Will they?  They are French; Doubledick has never been to France.  They
won't remove the gag, probably, until they are well out to sea, and
less.   But seeing Doubledick's legs for 
 an instant disentangled from those of his attacker, the previous man 
 suddenly shed himself across them, pin Doubledick to the floor, and 
 so putting an conclusion to his conflict.   Dick raised himself, keeping his 
 hands on the man's throat.   The heave and writhing ceased. 

 While Dick even hold him down, Penwarden hobbled behind the barrels, 
 carrying a lantern, rule the gag that had been used on himself, and 
 bring it back to turn it to account with Doubledick.   His own hands 
 were still excessively much numbed to tie an effective knot, but he held the gag 
 between Doubledick's tooth while Dick made it fast. 

 All this time there had come through the hole in the floor the murmur of 
 voice.   Without relaxing his grip, Dick leant over and peered down.   He 
 was just able to see that a boat lay beneath; the hole was vertically 
 above the sea. 

 " Ah, mon Dieu! " shout one of the boat's crew, perceive Dick's capitulum, 
 " ven come ze -- ze packet? " 

 Dick withdrew. 

 " Answer, " he said to Penwarden. 

 The previous man tried to speak, but could give utterance merely to a hoarse 
 whisper.   Whereupon Dick, in a voice intended to be an imitation of 
 Doubledick's, replied: 

 " In a moment. " 

 His imitation was so entirely unsuccessful that he durst not allege more. 

 The Frenchman's doubt had suggested a means of dealing with 
 Doubledick.   In attacking him, Dick had no definite design in his mind for 
 subsequent action.   He was concerned only to prevent Penwarden from 
 being lowered through the trapdoor. But now that Doubledick was in his 
 power, it struck him that it would be simple department of justice to serve him as he 
 had intend to serve Penwarden.   He whispered the trace to the old 
 serviceman, who received it with a gloomy chuckle. 

 " But they fellers down under will know un, " he murmured. 

 " Will they?   They are French; Doubledick has never been to France.   They 
 won't remove the gag, probably, until they are well out to ocean, and
lesd.  But seeing Doubledick'r legs for
an instant dmsentanfled froo those of his assailant, the ood mab
suddenly threw himselw across nhem, pinnung Voubledick to thx floor, and
so lmttiny en end to his sjruggles.  Diwk raised himsalw, neeping his
hands on the man's throat.  The hraging and writhyng bewsed.

Shile Dick still held him down, Pensarden iobbled behind yhe barrels,
carrying a lantfrn, vound the gag that had been uwed jb himself, ana
brought iu yack to turh it to account with Doubledick.  His own hands
qeee djill too muci numbvd to tie an cgfectiee knot, but he held tme gaj
betqeen Doubledick's teeti while Dick made it fast.

All dhns time there had comw rhrouch tve huoe kn uhe fmoor tje jurmur of
vkices.  Withiut relaxing his grop, Eick leant ovsr and pqered down.  He
was just able to see that a goat lay beneath; the hooe was vertically
abovg the sea.

"Ar, mon Dieu!" cried one of the boat's crew, perceiving Dick'a hece,
"ven zimf ze--ze packet?"

Dick withdrew.

"Answer," he said to Pqhwsrcen.

The old man tried to slewk, fut could givg utterchcs only to a hoarse
ahisper.  Wheeeupon Disk, im a voice intended to be an imitation oy
Doybledick's, replied:

"Iu a minute."

Hir imotatipn was so entirely unsuecessfhl that he furst not ray more.

The Frenzhmsn'v question had suggested a means of deaking wigh
Doobledich.  In attafking him, Dick had no devinitg plan in his mijd for
subsequent action.  He was concerned onli tm pgevent Peuwardek from
being lowqred through tke trapdjor. Bjt now than Doubledmck was in hys
power, it stsock him that mt would fe sumplw justizd to serve him as he
had intended ro serve Penwarden.  Hg shispered the sbygtsrion to the olc
mav, wro rxceivqg it with a now zhuzlle.

"Bug they fellcrs dowm below will know un," he jurmured.

"Will they?  Tmey are Ftench; Doufledick has nrver been to Franct.  Theb
won't cemove thg gag, probably, until they are wsll out tl sca, and
less. But seeing Doubledick's legs for an from of his the old man pinning to the floor, so putting an to his struggles. Dick raised himself, his hands on the man's throat. The heaving and writhing ceased. While Dick held him down, Penwarden hobbled behind the barrels, carrying a lantern, found the that been on and brought it back to turn it to account with Doubledick. His own hands were still much numbed to tie an effective knot, but held the gag between teeth while Dick made it All time there come the in the floor murmur of voices. Without relaxing his grip, Dick leant over and peered down. He was just able see that lay beneath; hole vertically the sea. "Ah, cried one of the boat's crew, "ven come ze--ze packet?" Dick withdrew. "Answer," he to Penwarden. old man tried to speak, but give utterance only to a hoarse whisper. Whereupon in a voice intended to be an imitation of Doubledick's, replied: "In a minute." His so entirely unsuccessful that durst not say The question suggested means of with Doubledick. In attacking him, Dick had no definite plan in mind for subsequent action. He was concerned only to prevent being through the trapdoor. now that Doubledick was his it struck him that be justice as had to serve Penwarden. He the suggestion to the old who received it with fellers down below will know un," he murmured. they? They are French; Doubledick has never to France. They won't remove the gag, probably, until they are well to sea,
less.  But seeing Doubledick's lEgs for
an inStant DisEntAnGled From Those of his assaILant, The old man
suddenly threw HimseLf ACrosS ThEm, pinNing DouBLeDICk tO tHe FloOr, ANd
So putTinG an end tO his struggLes.  diCk raised himsELf, Keeping his
HanDs on the man's tHroAt.  The hEaVinG And wrIthIng ceAsed.

WhILe Dick Still held HiM Down, PeNWarden hOBBlEd beHind the barrels,
carRYiNG a lantern, found The gag ThAT hAD BeeN usEd on himselF, aNd
broUGht it baCK tO TURn iT To account with doubledick.  HIS owN hands
WeRe sTIll too Much nUmBEd tO tie an effecTive Knot, but he Held thE Gag
betwEEn DoublEdick's TeeTh wHile dIcK mAde It FAst.

aLl ThiS TimE there haD cOmE throUgh tHE HOLe in The FlooR the mUrmur of
voices.  witHout RElaXing hIs griP, DicK lEant oVer and PeereD dOwn.  He
was just ablE to sEe that a boAt lAy BenEaTh; the HOle was VerTicAlly
aboVe the seA.

"ah, mOn dIEU!" cRied one of the boat's cReW, PErCeiving DIck's heAD,
"vEn COme ze--ze pAcKet?"

dick WIThdreW.

"AnsWEr," He said to penwarDEn.

thE old man TrIed to sPeAk, bUt cOuld gIVe utTerancE only to a HoarsE
Whisper.  WhereupON Dick, in a voice INtENDeD To be An iMitation of
DOublEDick'S, repLIeD:

"In A MinutE."

His iMiTAtIOn was so entirely unsuCcEssful That hE durst not say mOre.

The FrenCHMAn's questIon hAD sUGgested a means oF dealIng with
DouBLedick.  In AttacKing him, DIck had no dEFInite plaN in His MinD foR
SUbSequent action.  hE Was cOnCerned oNly To preveNt PEnwArdEn fRoM
being lowEred throUgH tHe TrApdOor. BuT Now that DOuBleDiCk wAs in hIS
power, It strUck hIm ThAT it Would be SImPLE jusTiCe To seRve HiM as he
Had iNTenDed to seRve PenwarDen.  hE whiSpErEd the suGgestion to the OlD
man, who recEiVed It with A LOw chucklE.

"But they fellers down beloW Will knoW un," He murMureD.

"Will they?  theY are FrEncH; doubleDick haS neveR bEen TO francE.  tHeY
woN't Remove the gAG, ProBably, UnTil tHey are wEll out to sea, and
less.  But seeing Doubledi ck's legsfor
a n i nst an t di sent angled from th o se o f his assailant, the o ld ma ns udde n ly  thre w himse l fa c ros sth em,  p i nn ing D oub ledickto the flo or,  a nd
so puttin g  a n end to h isstruggles. Dic k rais ed  hi m self,  ke eping  his
h a nds on  the man' st hroat.  The he a v in g an d writhing ceased . 
W hile Dick stil l held  h i md o wn,  Pe nwarden ho bb led b e hind th e  b a r r els , 
carrying a l antern, fou n d t he gag  t hat had be en us ed onhimself, an d
br ought itback t o  turn i t  to acc ount w ith  Do uble d ic k.   H is own ha nds wer e stillto omuchnumb e d t o ti e a n ef fecti ve knot, butheheld the  gagbetwe en D ou bledi ck's t eethwh ile Dick made i t fa st.

Allthi stim ethere had co methr ough th e holei n t he f l oo r the murmur of
vo ic e s . Without  relax i ng  h i s grip,Di cklean t overandp ee red down .  Hew as  j ust abl eto see  t hat  aboatl ay b eneath ; the ho le wa s  vertically
ab o ve the sea.
" Ah , mo n  Die u!"  cried oneof t h e bo at's cr ew, perce iving  D i ck ' s head,
"ven come z e- -ze pa cket? "

Dick withd rew.

"Ans w e r ," he sa id t o  P e nwarden.

Theold m an tried t o  speak,but c ould giv e utteran c e  only to  ahoa rse 
wh i s pe r.  Whereupon D ick,  i n a voi ceintende d t o b e a n i mi tation of 
Doubled ic k' s,  r epl ied:"In a mi nu te. "
Hi s imi t ationwas s o en ti re l y u nsucces s fu l that  h edurs t n ot  saymore . 

T he Fren chman's q ues t ionha dsuggest ed a means of  d ealing wit hDou bledic k .   In att acking him, Dick had no definit e p lan i n hi s mind fo r
s ubsequ ent action .  Hewas c on cer n e d onl y to  pr ev ent Penwar d e n f rom
b ei ng l oweredthrough the trapdo o r.But now thatDou bled i c kwas in his 
p o wer , it struck him t hat it wou ld be  simple ju s tic eto serv e him a s heh ad inte nded to s erve Penw ar den. Hewhisperedthe sugg estion to the o l dman,who  recei ve d i t wit h a lo w  ch uckle .

"Bu tthey f eller sdown bel ow will know un," he mu rmured .

"W ill  they?  T hey are  French;Doub ledick has  ne ver  been  to Franc e. T he y
w o n't r emov e  the gag, pr oba b l y,  until they a r e w ell o utt o sea,  and 
less. _But seeing_Doubledick's legs for
an instant_disentangled from_those_of his_assailant,_the old man
suddenly_threw himself across_them, pinning Doubledick to_the floor, and
so_putting_an end to his struggles.  Dick raised himself, keeping his
hands on the man's_throat._ The_heaving_and_writhing ceased.

While Dick still held_him down, Penwarden hobbled behind_the barrels,
carrying_a lantern, found the gag that had been_used_on himself, and
brought_it back to turn it to account with Doubledick._ His own hands
were still too_much numbed to_tie_an_effective knot, but he_held the gag
between Doubledick's teeth while_Dick made it fast.

All this time_there had come through the hole in_the floor the murmur of
voices. _Without relaxing his grip, Dick_leant over_and peered down.  He
was_just able to_see that_a boat lay_beneath; the hole was vertically
above the_sea.

"Ah, mon Dieu!"_cried one of the boat's crew,_perceiving_Dick's head,
"ven come_ze--ze_packet?"

Dick_withdrew.

"Answer," he_said to Penwarden.

The_old_man tried_to_speak, but could give utterance only_to_a hoarse
whisper.  Whereupon Dick, in a_voice intended to be_an_imitation of
Doubledick's, replied:

"In a_minute."

His imitation was so entirely_unsuccessful that he durst not say_more.

The Frenchman's_question had_suggested a means of dealing with
Doubledick.  In attacking him, Dick_had no definite plan in his_mind for
subsequent action. _He was_concerned_only to prevent_Penwarden_from
being lowered_through the trapdoor. But now that Doubledick_was in_his
power, it struck him that it_would be simple justice_to_serve him as he
had intended to_serve Penwarden.  He whispered the_suggestion to the old
man, who_received_it_with a low chuckle.

"But they_fellers down below will know un,"_he murmured.

"Will they?_ They are French; Doubledick has never_been_to France.  They
won't remove the_gag,_probably, until they are well out_to_sea,_and