Slowly and cautiously Frank opened the door, and looked forth into the parlor. It was as yet quite dark, and the room into which he peered was wrapped in the shades of night. What little he could see he saw but indistinctly. Yet he saw something. He saw a dark, shadowy figure in rapid motion backward and forward, and at every movement some article of furniture would go with a crash to the floor. Sometimes the figure seemed to be on the table, at other times it was leaping in the air. Suddenly, as he looked, the door, which opened out into the parlor, was banged back with a violent blow, and shut again. Frank was nearly knocked down. "What is it?" asked Bob. "I don't know," said Frank, "unless it's a madman." "What shall we do?" "If we were all together," said Frank, "we might make a rush at him, and secure him. I've a great mind to make a start, as it is." "It must be a brigand!" said Bob; for his mind, like the minds of the rest of the party, was largely filled with images of Italian bandits. "Perhaps so," said Frank; "but at any rate let's make a rush at him. Will you do it?" "Of course," said Bob. At this Frank carefully opened the door again, and looked forth. The noise had ceased for the time. Bob poked his head forth also. They looked eagerly into the room. Suddenly Frank touched Bob. "Look!" he whispered, "by the table." Bob looked. It was certainly a singular sight that met their view. In the midst of the gloom they could see two balls of light that seemed like eyes, though there was no form visible to which these glaring, fiery eyes might belong. And the eyes seemed to glare out of the darkness directly at them. All was still now; but the very stillness gave additional horror to that unseen being, whose dread gaze seemed to be fastened upon them. Suddenly David's voice was heard from the next room,-- "Frank! Bob!" "Hallo!" cried both boys. "What shall we do? Can't you do something?" "I'll see," cried Frank. "Bob, light the lamp." "I haven't any matches," said Bob. "What a pity!" said David. "Can't you wake Uncle Moses? Your room is next to his." At this Bob went to the wall between his room and that of Uncle Moses, and began to pound with all his might. Uncle Moses did not respond, but there came a response from another quarter. It was from the thing in the parlor. Once more the fearful uproar began. Crash! went the chairs. Bang! went the tables. A rapid racket of hard footfalls succeeded, mingled with the smash of the furniture. Frank closed the door. "If I only had a light," said he, "I should know what to do. But what can a fellow do in the dark?" "I wonder what's the matter with Uncle Moses." "He? O, he would sleep through anything." "I wonder if it is a brigand, after all," said Bob. "I don't know. I still think it may be a madman." "I don't like those glaring eyes." "If I only had a fair chance, and could see," said Frank, fiercely, "I'd soon find out what is behind those glaring eyes."