"I have Stackridge's pistol. It is in the coat Mr. Villars is sitting on."
Grudd's eyes lighted up at this unexpected good news. "It will come in play! We must shoot or strangle these fellows, and have their guns,"—with a glance at the soldiers on guard.
"But the room up stairs is full of soldiers, and there is a strong guard posted outside, probably surrounding the building."
"We will have as little to do with them as possible. Young man, I have a secret for you. Do you know whose property this is?"
"Barber Jim's, I believe."
"And do you know there's a secret passage from this cellar into the cellar under Jim's shop? It was dug by Jim himself, as a hiding-place for his wife and children. He had bought them, but the heirs of their former owner had set up a claim to them. After that matter was settled, he showed Stackridge the place; and that's the way we came to make use of it. We stored our guns in the passage, and came through into this cellar at night to consult and drill. The store being shut, and the windows all fastened and boarded up, made a quiet place of it. As good luck would have it, the night before the military took possession, Jim warned us, and we carefully put back every stone in the wall, and left. But some of our guns are still in the passage, if they have not been discovered. We have only to open the wall again to get at them. But before that can be done, the guard must be disposed of."
Penn, who had listened with intense interest to this recital, drew a long breath.
"Is the passage behind the spot where Mr. Villars is sitting?"
"Within three feet of the box."
"Then I fear it is discovered. I heard a noise behind that wall not ten minutes ago."