The examination of the room, the turning over the various articles, and abstraction of the same, took a longer time than he had expected; nevertheless, he deemed himself quite safe, as the door was securely fastened.
When he had selected all that he intended to take away with him, he blew out his taper, and began to withdraw his long, thin screw. This done, he cautiously opened the door, and peeped out.
No one was visible.
Turning round to reach his bag, his coat-tail caught the branch of a candelabrum, which fell to the floor with a loud crash.
In another moment he was alarmed by the barking of a dog, and in the next a fierce animal rushed into the room, and sprang at his throat.
Peace was greatly alarmed. The whole household would, in all probability, be aroused.
“Curse the hound!” he muttered; at the same time grasping the dog’s throat with both hands, so as to silence him, and at the same time, if possible, to throttle him.
A struggle ensued between the burglar and the dog, which, short and desperate as it was, seemed an age to Peace.
He flung his canine opponent with all his force to the other end of the room; but the dog was not easily cowed; he came on once more.
Peace had expected this. As the animal approached, he struck it a terrific blow on the head with his jemmy. For a moment the poor creature was stunned.