Creak!
Three times he had placed his hand on the sill ready to enter; it was loose and it creaked; but the fair sleeper, unconscious of danger, slept sweetly on.
He listened and peered a last time, and then cautiously mounted the sill. Half in the window he stopped, fearful lest the shadow might awaken her; but she still slept on.
He dropped lightly to the floor and crept to the bed. Gazing at her as she lay there, a wicked smile crept over his lips.
A low chirp came faintly to his ears; the sleepy chirp of a half-awakened bird.
He went to the window and waved his white handkerchief, then glided back to the bedside.
A shadow fell over the room; he turned and saw a round, woolly head in the window. He smiled again and gave a gesture of satisfaction.
Then he stole to the head of the bed, and took a small instrument from his pocket.
It was a piece of wood about an inch and a half square, padded with cotton, with a string knotted in both ends—it was a gag.
He reached over and with a quick, cunning movement, placed it in her mouth.