"Oh mercy, Nathan, I couldn't. I might be killed."
"Give me the lamp, then, you fool!"
Mrs. Tarbox readily gave her husband the lamp, and he strode to the door.
When he opened it, and his inquiring glance fell on the towering form of Anak, it must be admitted that Mr. Tarbox himself felt nervous. He made a movement to close the door, but Anak thrust in his huge foot, and this made the effort impossible.
"What do you want?" demanded Tarbox, his calmness not quite undisturbed.
"We come on important business," said Anak, in his deep voice.
"Then you might have come at a better time," said Tarbox, his fears dissipated and his ill-temper returning. "It is time all honest persons were abed."
"So it is, Mr. Tarbox," answered Anak, "but I am afraid there is one dishonest person that is wide awake."
"What do you mean?" demanded Tarbox, with a vague suspicion that the remark might be made at his expense.
"Is there anything of value concealed under the barn yonder?" asked Anak, pointing to the one already referred to in a former chapter.