The dinner was but a meagre repast. There was some very thin soup, then a stew, then macaroni. There were also bread and sour wine. However, the boys did not complain. They had footed it so far, and had worked so hard, that they were all as hungry as hunters; and so the dinner gave as great satisfaction as if it had been far better. While they were eating, an evil-faced, low-browed villain waited on the table; and as he placed down each dish in succession, he looked round upon the company with a scowl that would have taken away the appetites of any guests less hungry than these. But these were too near starvation to be affected by mere scowls, and so they ate on, reserving their remarks for a future occasion. So the dinner passed. And after the dinner was over, and the dishes were removed, and they found themselves alone, they all looked round stealthily, and they all put their heads together, and then,-- "I don't like this," said Frank. do. said Clive. do. said David. do. said Bob. "I don't feel altogether comfortable here," said Uncle Moses. "Did you notice that scowl?" said Bob. do. said Clive. do. said David. do. said Frank. "He's the ugliest creetur I ever see," said Uncle Moses. "I've been expectin somethin o' this sort." The boys looked all around, for fear of being observed. Frank got up and closed the rickety door. Then he resumed his seat. Then they all put their heads together again. "This is a bad place," said Frank. do. said Clive. do. said David. do. said Bob. "It's the onwholesomedest lookin place I ever see," said Uncle Moses. "I distrust them all," said Clive. do. said. Frank, do. said David. do. said Bob. "I don't like the looks of that ere driver," said Uncle Hoses. "I b'leve he contrived that there break-down a purpose, so as to bring us to this here den." Uncle Moses' remark sank deep into the minds of all. Who was the driver, after all? That break-down was certainly suspicious. It might have been all pre-arranged. It looked suspicions. Then the men below. There were so many of them! "There are a dozen of them," said Bob. do. said Frank. do. said David. do. said Clive. "Thar's too big a gatherin here altogether," said Uncle Moses, "an it's my idee that they've come for no good. Didn't you notice how they stared at us with them wicked-looking eyes o' theirs?" "I wish we'd gone on," said David. do. said Bob. do. said Clive. do. said Frank. "Yes, boys, that's what we'd ort to hev done," said Uncle Moses. "Why didn't some on ye think of it?" "We did; but we thought you'd be too tired," said Frank. "Tired? tired?" exclaimed Uncle Moses. "Tired? What! me tired! _me!_" And he paused, overcome with amazement. "Why, boys, ye must all be ravin distracted! _Me_ tired! Why, I'm as fresh as a cricket; an though rayther oldish, yet I've got more clear muscle, narve, and sinnoo, than all on ye put together."