The Four Canadian Highwaymen; Or, The Robbers of Markham Swamp

the best of the darkness and the solitude through the long autumn evening. As may be supposed, no air came to the sleeping rooms save throu

d aloud many times for Nancy. After a while he heard

wants.' He knew then that the old woman was protesting against the

focating

out. Now stay in your pit, my gamey young'un, a

or do I ask you to open the door. All I need is the remova

reep through it. I know what you'd be at. Back now to your bed

Captain gets back, I shall tell him abo

ed to consciousness by hearing something soft fall, and smash, as it seemed to him, into small particles upon the stony floor of his

yey roof from falling in had been removed. He was certain that they had been there that morning, for as he arose he observed a spider weaving a net from beam to beam, and

couch became covered. 'Could the dropping be accidental?' he asked himself. 'Would the clots if undisturbed, fal

downfall of a fragment of clay or turf. At last he did hear something; or rather more felt than heard it. At intervals of a few seconds apart he felt the walls of his room vibrate as i

g which Roland judged was about four feet thick; but as to the manner of implement they were using he was puzzled. He had not long to wait, however, to determine this; for in a little while the ceiling began to shake violently, as if something like a pile-driver wer

ind: who were the miscreants at work above him? That the old woman and her daughter had a hand in the undertaking he felt quite certain; but surely all those mighty blows could not have been dealt by the old woman and her daughter. Had the robbers returned from their mission to the road, and if so, was the Captain privy to the proceedings? He would not believe that he was, for he knew that

m upon the head and back, felled him senseless to the ground. * * *

m, didn't we? Are

nd filled up the room,' said The Lifter, who ended his word

ng them at breakfast: they think you are buried alive. You will

l bewildered, and he ha

upon the negro, and how the captain was absent from home in pursuit of the prey. Joe Murfrey, who had been in league with the old woman and Silent Poll, assisted by Rev. Mr. Jonas, had driven in the earth

led about the breakfast-table, and a soun

ubsist by the dead,'

poor brother lies read

l that our unworthy

ca

elp in hell,' shouted Murfrey, as he s

e two leading conspirators were simply speechless from amazement and rage; and then Murfrey's eyes fell upon Nancy with a dark look of suspicion.

ring a little way he seated himself at breakfast upon the dry turf. Before doing so he coolly drew from the pocket at his hip one pistol, and from that at his breast another, laying both beside him on the ground. With the knife in his

e of a sleeping room. Well, these are my terms, dear old lady: unless you give me up your bedroom, which is substantial enough for my needs, I shall shoot you the first slant I get. Then I can hold my own against this precious preac

ice, 'that if I choose to turn King's evidence against you a

chief, who was returning from his expedition, but whose