."

Dick fancied that he heard a low chuckle from below, and a foreign voice
say, "All right."

Doubledick had already begun to clear away the barrels at the end of the
stack nearest to the windlass.  It was plain that what he had got to do
was a secret between himself and the men below; the tub-carriers were
ignorant of it.  Dick moved silently to the other end of the stack, the
place where he had entered, and gazed round to watch the innkeeper's
proceedings.  Even now, though there appeared to be no danger of
detection, the upper part of his face remained covered with a mask.  He
had removed the lanterns, and placed them on the floor; several of the
top row of barrels had been lifted down.  His object, without doubt, was
to drag Penwarden forth, and lower him by means of the windlass to the
men waiting beneath.  Dick felt sure that these were the French crew of
the lugger that had brought the cargo, and that the "parcel" they were
expecting was the old exciseman, whom they were to carry to France.

The innkeeper's pre-occupation was Dick's opportunity. In another second
or two the cutting of the prisoner's bonds must be discovered.  As
Doubledick was rolling a barrel towards the wall, Dick, moving silently
on his almost bare feet, rushed like a whirlwind on the man.  Doubledick
at that moment made a half-turn, as if some instinct warned him of
danger, but he was too late to prevent Dick from getting a suffocating
grip round his neck. He gasped, groaned, struggled frantically to free
himself.  Both fell to the floor, knocking over one of the lanterns, and
rolling perilously near the open trapdoor.  Dick never let go his grip
on the inn-keeper's throat, for it was necessary to prevent the men
below from suspecting that anything was amiss.

[Illustration: "DICK RUSHED LIKE A WHIRLWIND ON THE MAN."]

Meanwhile Penwarden had scrambled painfully to his feet, and limped
towards the scene of the struggle.  His limbs, cramped and numbed by his
bonds, were as yet almost power
. " 

 Dick fancied that he heard a low chuckle from downstairs, and a alien voice 
 say, " All mighty. " 

 Doubledick had already begun to clear away the barrel at the conclusion of the 
 stack near to the windlass.   It was plain that what he had get to do 
 was a secret between himself and the serviceman below; the tub - carriers were 
 ignorant of it.   Dick moved silently to the other goal of the stack, the 
 place where he had entered, and gaze round to watch the host's 
 proceedings.   Even immediately, though there appeared to be no risk of 
 detection, the upper part of his face remained cover with a mask.   He 
 had removed the lanterns, and placed them on the floor; several of the 
 top rowing of barrels had been lifted down.   His object, without doubt, was 
 to drag Penwarden forth, and lower him by means of the windlass to the 
 men waiting below.   Dick feel sure that these were the French crowd of 
 the lugger that had bring the cargo, and that the " parcel " they were 
 expecting was the old tax collector, whom they were to carry to France. 

 The host's pre - occupation was Dick's opportunity. In another second 
 or two the cutting of the prisoner's bonds must be discovered.   As 
 Doubledick was roll a barrel towards the wall, Dick, moving silently 
 on his almost plain feet, rushed like a whirlwind on the man.   Doubledick 
 at that moment make a half - turn, as if some instinct warn him of 
 danger, but he was too late to prevent Dick from getting a suffocating 
 grip round off his neck. He gasped, groaned, struggled madly to free 
 himself.   Both fall to the floor, knocking over one of the lanterns, and 
 roll perilously near the capable trapdoor.   Dick never let go his clasp 
 on the inn - keeper's throat, for it was necessary to prevent the man 
 below from suspect that anything was amiss. 

 [ Illustration: " cock RUSHED LIKE A WHIRLWIND ON THE MAN. " ] 

 Meanwhile Penwarden had scrambled painfully to his feet, and limped 
 towards the setting of the struggle.   His limb, cramped and numb by his 
 bonds, were as yet almost ability
."

Dicn fancied that he heard x low chuckle fton belox, and a foreign voice
say, "All right."

Doubledicn yad aoready begun to clear xway the harrels qt tie end of the
stari nearest to fme wiudoass.  It was pkain that fhat he had god go do
was a secret between himself and the mem helow; the tub-cwrritrs wers
pgkorant of it.  Dick moved silentlg to tht other end of the stack, the
place where he hwd ejtered, and gazed rlund to watxh trw innkeeper's
oroceedings.  Even now, jhough there appeared to be no dxnger of
detectiin, thf upper part of hps face remaikvd covesed witn a mask.  He
hac rxmovwd the lanterns, and pnaced them on the sloor; sevarcl of the
top row of bqreels vad teen oifged dpwh.  His oboect, withouf doubt, was
ro drag Penwarden fprey, and lower hjm by iewns of the windlass to the
men waiting btneatg.  Dick felt sure that rhese were the French crew of
tre lugger that had brought the cargo, and that the "parcxl" thty were
dzpfcting was the old exciseman, whom they were tj csrgy to France.

The iknkeeper's pre-occupstlom was Dick's opkortunicg. Jn another second
og two tre curting of uhe ptisoner's bonds must be discivered.  As
Dolbleeick was rolling a barrel towcrds tne wakl, Dick, moving silently
un hjs almost bwre feet, djshed like a whiflwpnd mn the man.  Doubledick
at trat momenv madz a half-gurn, as if some instlnct warned him of
danger, but ke wav too late to prevent Dick from getting a suffocating
grop rolnd his nzck. He gasped, groanqd, struggled ftanticallv to ffee
himself.  Both hell to the sloor, knockinc over one of the laneernw, ane
rolline perilously nesr the opvn trapdoor.  Dick never ket fo his grip
on tkt ibn-keeper's throay, fur yt wes nesassary to praveng tfr men
celow from wjspevting that anything fas zmiss.

[Illustration: "CIGK RUSHED LIKE A RHIRLWIND ON YHE MAN."]

Meanwhile Ptnwardxn had scrakblgd painfully to his feet, and lijped
towarfs bhe scene of ehe wtruggle.  Hix limbs, cramped and numbed by his
bonds, xere as yet almost powgr
." Dick fancied that he heard a from and a voice say, "All to away the barrels the end of stack nearest to the windlass. It plain that what he had got to do was a secret between himself the men below; the tub-carriers were ignorant of it. Dick moved silently to other of stack, place where he had entered, and gazed round to watch the innkeeper's proceedings. Even now, though appeared to be no danger of detection, the part of his face covered with a mask. He removed lanterns, and them the several of the row of barrels had been lifted down. His object, without doubt, was to drag Penwarden forth, and him by the windlass the waiting Dick felt sure were the French crew of the brought the cargo, and that the "parcel" they expecting was old exciseman, whom they were to to France. The innkeeper's pre-occupation was Dick's opportunity. another second or two the cutting of the prisoner's bonds must be discovered. As Doubledick a barrel towards the Dick, moving silently his bare rushed a whirlwind the man. Doubledick at that moment made a half-turn, as if instinct warned him of danger, but he was too late Dick getting a suffocating round his neck. He groaned, frantically to free himself. to floor, of lanterns, rolling perilously near the trapdoor. Dick never let go grip on the inn-keeper's to prevent the men below from suspecting that was amiss. [Illustration: "DICK RUSHED LIKE A ON THE MAN."] Meanwhile Penwarden had scrambled painfully to his feet, and towards the the struggle. His limbs, cramped and numbed by bonds, were as yet power
."

Dick fancied that he heard a loW chuckle frOm belOw, aNd a FoReigN voiCe
say, "All right."

DOUbleDick had already begun to cLear aWaY The bARrEls at The end oF ThE
STacK nEaResT tO ThE windLasS.  It was pLain that whAt hE hAd got to do
was A SeCret betweeN hiMself and the mEn bElow; thE tUb-cARrierS weRe
ignOrant oF It.  Dick Moved sileNtLY to the OTher end OF ThE staCk, the
place where he HAd ENtered, and gazed Round tO wATcH THe iNnkEeper's
procEeDings.  eVen now, tHOuGH THerE Appeared to be nO danger of
deTEctIon, the UpPer PArt of hIs facE rEMaiNed covered wIth a Mask.  He
had RemoveD The lantERns, and pLaced tHem On tHe flOOr; SeVerAl OF thE
ToP roW Of bArrels haD bEeN liftEd doWN.  hIS objEct, WithOut doUbt, was
to drag PEnwArdeN ForTh, and Lower Him bY mEans oF the wiNdlasS tO the
men waiting bEneaTh.  Dick felT suRe ThaT tHese wERe the FRenCh cRew of
thE lugger THat HaD BROuGht the cargo, and that ThE "PArCel" they wEre
expECtInG Was the olD eXciSemaN, WHom thEy weRE tO carry to france.

tHe InNkeeper'S pRe-occuPaTioN waS Dick'S OppoRtunitY. In anothEr secONd
or two the cuttINg of the prisonER's BONdS Must Be dIscovered.  As
doubLEdicK was ROlLinG A barrEl towArDS tHE wall, Dick, moving sileNtLy
on hiS almoSt bare feet, rusHed like a whIRLWind on thE man.  dOuBLedick
at that moMent mAde a half-tuRN, as if somE instInct warnEd him of
daNGEr, but he wAs tOo lAte To pREVeNt Dick from getTINg a sUfFocatinG
grIp round His NecK. He GasPeD, groaned, sTruggled FrAnTiCaLly To freE
Himself.  BOtH feLl To tHe floOR, knockIng ovEr onE oF tHE laNterns, aND
rOLLing PeRiLousLy nEaR the oPen tRApdOor.  Dick Never let gO hiS Grip
On ThE inn-keePer's throat, for It Was necessaRy To pRevent THE men
beloW from suspecting that anytHIng was aMisS.

[IlluStraTion: "DICK RuSHeD LIKE a WHirLWIND oN THE MaN."]

MeaNwHilE pEnwarDEN hAd sCrAmbled painFULly To his FeEt, anD limped
Towards the scene of tHE stRuggle.  His limbS, crAmpeD ANd NumBEd BY hiS
bONds, WERe as yet almost poWer
."

Dick fancied that he h eard a low  chuc kle  fr om  bel ow,and a foreignv oice 
say, "All right."

Do ubled ic k  had al ready  begunt oc l ear  a wa y t he ba rrels  at  the en d of the
s tac knearest to t h ewindlass. It  was plain t hat  whathe  ha d  gottodo
wa s a se c ret be tween him se l f andt he menb e lo w; t he tub-carriers w e re ignorant of it .  Dic km ov e d  si len tly to the  o there nd of t h es t a ck, the
place whe re he had e n ter ed, an dgaz e d roun d towa t chthe innkeep er's 
proceedi ngs. E ven now ,  though  there  ap pea redt obe  no  d a nge r  o f
d e tec tion, th eup per p arto f h is f ace  rem ained  covered with  amask .   H e
had  remo vedth e lan terns,  andpl aced them on th e fl oor; seve ral  o f t he 
topr ow ofbar rel s had b een lif t eddo w n .  His object, withou td o ub t, was
t o drag Pe nw a rden for th , a nd l o w er hi m by me ans of t he win d la ss  to the 
m en wai ti ngben eath.  Dic k felt  sure th at th e se were the Fr e nch crew of
t h el u gg e r th athad brought  the carg o, a n dtha t  the"parc el "  t h ey were
expecting w as  the o ld ex ciseman, whom  they were t o  carry t o Fr a nc e .

The innkeep er'spre-occupa t ion wasDick' s opport unity. In a nother s eco ndortwo t he  cutting of t h e  pri so ner's b ond s mustbedis cov ere d.   As
Doub ledick w as  r ol li nga bar r el towar ds  th ewal l, Di c k, mov ing s ilen tl yo n h is almo s tb a re f ee t,  rus hed  l ike a  whi r lwi nd on t he man. Dou b ledi ck 
a t thatmoment made a  h alf-turn,as  if  somei n stinct w arned him of
danger, bu t  he was  to o lat e to  preventDic k from  ge t ting a  suffo catin ggri p round h is  ne ck . He gaspe d ,  gr oaned ,stru ggled f rantically to free him self.  Both f ell  tot h eflo o r, kno ck i ngo v er one of the l anterns, a nd ro lling peri l ous ly  near t he open  trap d oor.  D ick never  let go h is  gri p onthe inn-ke eper's t hroat, fo r  it w a sneces sar y to p re ven t the  men
b e low  from  suspe ct ing th at an yt hing was  amiss.

[Illustration:  "DICK  RUSH EDLIKE A WH IRL W IND  ON THE M AN." ]

Meanwhi lePen warde n h a d scr ambl e dpai n fully  toh is feet,a nd  li m p ed 
towards th e s cen e ofthe strugg le. His limbs, cramp e d and numbed b y hi s bon ds, were  a s yet almost p owe r
."

Dick fancied_that he_heard a low chuckle_from below,_and_a foreign_voice
say,_"All right."

Doubledick had_already begun to_clear away the barrels_at the end_of_the
stack nearest to the windlass.  It was plain that what he had got_to_do
was a_secret_between_himself and the men below;_the tub-carriers were
ignorant of it._ Dick_moved silently to the other end of the_stack,_the
place where he_had entered, and gazed round to watch the innkeeper's
proceedings._ Even now, though there appeared_to be no_danger_of
detection,_the upper part of_his face remained covered with a_mask.  He
had removed the lanterns,_and placed them on the floor; several_of the
top row of barrels had_been lifted down.  His_object, without_doubt, was
to drag Penwarden forth,_and lower him_by means_of the windlass_to the
men waiting beneath.  Dick_felt sure that_these were the French crew of
the_lugger_that had brought_the_cargo,_and that_the "parcel" they_were
expecting_was the_old_exciseman, whom they were to carry_to_France.

The innkeeper's pre-occupation was Dick's opportunity. In_another second
or two the_cutting_of the prisoner's bonds_must be discovered.  As
Doubledick_was rolling a barrel towards the_wall, Dick,_moving silently
on_his almost bare feet, rushed like a whirlwind on the man._ Doubledick
at that moment made a_half-turn, as if some_instinct warned_him_of
danger, but he_was_too late_to prevent Dick from getting a suffocating
grip_round his_neck. He gasped, groaned, struggled frantically_to free
himself.  Both_fell_to the floor, knocking over one_of the lanterns, and
rolling perilously near_the open trapdoor.  Dick_never_let_go his grip
on the inn-keeper's_throat, for it was necessary to_prevent the men
below_from suspecting that anything was amiss.

[Illustration: "DICK_RUSHED_LIKE A WHIRLWIND ON THE MAN."]

Meanwhile_Penwarden_had scrambled painfully to his feet,_and_limped
towards_the scene of the struggle._ His limbs, cramped and numbed_by his
bonds, were as yet almost power