Marcy remembered now, although he might never have thought of it again, how startled he was when one of the little bags in which his mother's treasure was packed became untied in his hand, and the gold pieces rattled down upon the hard floor of the cellar. The coachman, who was working with him, was prompt to extinguish the lantern, while Marcy alternately groped for the money and sat up on his knees and listened for the sound of footsteps on the floor overhead. It seemed to him that all in the house ought to have been aroused by the racket, but when he became satisfied that such was not the case, the lantern was again lighted and the work went on. He thought he had picked up all the pieces, but it seemed he hadn't. And where was the boy Julius when this happened? That was a point that could be cleared up at some future time; but just now Marcy wanted to talk about something else.
"Where were you when those robbers came into the house?" he inquired.
"Were you in bed!"
"Oh, no, sar; I wasn't in bed," replied Julius.
"Where were you?"
"I was out dar," said the boy, giving his head a circular nod, so as to include nearly all the points of the compass at once.
"Out where?"
"Jest out dar in de bresh."
"Julius," said Marcy, getting upon his feet, "are you going to answer me or not?"
"Oh, yes sar," exclaimed the boy, backing off a step or two. "I going answer ebery question you ax me. I was jest out in de gyarden."
"What were you doing out there at that time of night?"