"Are you ready?" I called under my breath, as I watched her from the balcony.
"Hush! Yes, just got him right!" she whispered; "you may go now. Remember, Edward first!"
It was an exciting moment. I ran down the passage, and tapped softly at Edward's door.
"Oh, do come quick!" I said in a low voice, which I am sure must have sounded most agitated. "We've heard such strange noises, and we can't help thinking that someone's trying to break into the north room!"
Edward appeared in an instant, fully dressed, and armed with his revolver. I am sure that even if he had lain down on his bed, he had neither removed his clothes nor closed his eyes. He looked rather white, but I must say very determined and self-possessed.
"Have you roused the others?" he whispered. "Don't make any noise, and perhaps we may be able to catch him. You'd better go back to Cathy, and both of you stay in your room. This thing's not fit for girls, and you might get hurt."
Dick and George, who slept in the adjoining bedroom, arrived on the scene with equal promptitude, and the three crept silently down the passage, while I, after pretending to retire, followed at a little distance to watch the fun. Arrived at the north room they noiselessly opened the door, and sprang back for a moment, looking rather aghast, for dangling through the opening in the roof appeared the large fishing-boots of our burglar, moving about in such a natural and lifelike manner, that it was no wonder the boys were deceived.
"Hullo! Who's that?" cried Edward in a firm tone, levelling his revolver at the figure.
The legs twitched, and came slightly lower, so that a portion of the body might be seen through the trap-door.
"Stop, or I'll fire!" declared Dick, with a suspicious little quaver in his voice.