The hot water over Harkaway's door, the paint over Harvey's, and the tar over that in which the two boys and Jefferson reposed.
A string was attached to each pail, and passed over a pulley, the end being conveyed to a recess where the three watchers were concealed. They were armed.
Sunday, Monday, and Petrus each had a six-chambered revolver, loaded.
Then came the clang of the old-fashioned clock as it proclaimed half-past twelve.
Breathless silence prevailed both inside the house and out.
"Lights out," whispered Petrus, when, after a short pause, a slight grating noise was heard at the back door.
In an instant all was darkness, except that the moon shone through a narrow window at the extreme end of the corridor.
A few minutes afterwards Petrus, who was watching, saw three dark figures come gliding into the long passage.
The first was a tall, bulky figure—Toro.
The second the Greek, and the third was evidently Hunston.