"That is a happy thought. I'll get it myself. While I'm gone you might fetch in the axe from the wood-heap; I'd almost forgotten it."
They ran off in different directions. Next minute they were both back in the store, Engelhardt with the axe. Naomi took it from him, and set it aside without a word. Her face was blanched.
"I heard something," she whispered. "I heard a cry. Oh, if they've seen me!"
"We'll lock the door as quietly as possible."
This was done.
"Now the props," said Naomi.
Engelhardt had guessed what they were for. He helped her to fix them, with one wedged between floor and counter, and the other pressing the heavy woodwork of the door. It now appeared how craftily Naomi had cut her timbers. They met the door, two at the top, two at the bottom, and four about the centre. Still the brave engineer was distressed.
"I meant to hammer them down," she murmured. "Now I daren't."
"We'll put all our weight on them instead," said Engelhardt. They did so with a will, until each prop had creaked in turn. Then they listened.
"Out with the light," said Naomi. "There are no windows to give us away—but still!"