"Well, if he sleeps all night, he must walk in his sleep," said Joe, who lived farther down town than the others. "I've been awake 'way in the night sometimes, and heard him tramping round." "But, don't you see, to-night he'll be up town looking out for fellows lugging off gates," returned Teddy, not to be convinced that there was any danger from the watchman. "Besides, Billy can't run for shucks." It was accordingly arranged that the boys should meet that night across the street from Mr. Parks's store at half past ten; and promptly at that hour they were all on hand. It was a dark night, and the streets were deserted. "It's--it's pretty dark, isn't it, Ted?" said Joe, in a loud whisper. "Course," answered Teddy, contemptuously. "Want it dark, don't we?" "Y--yes. Seen anything of Billy?" "Oh, he's all right--way off somewhere. He won't be down here to-night." They tiptoed cautiously across the street, and looked up at the sign. "Has he been raising it?" said Joe, very earnestly. "No, of course not," answered Teddy, impatiently. "Well, it never looked so high to me before," insisted Joe. "Oh, you're scared!" returned the brave Ted. "Better run home." "I'm not scared. How are you going to get up?" "Climb the eaves-spout on the corner. It's easy as nothing," and he started up. He went up for five or six feet, but found it harder work than he expected. He stopped and rested a moment, then struggled on. This he did twice, feeling his hold weakening all the while. The last time he stopped he looked down. It seemed a long ways. His hold suddenly grew still weaker, and he slid back and rolled over on the ground. "Are you hurt, Ted?" anxiously inquired the other boys. "Of course not," answered Teddy, impatiently. "Came down to rest and put a little dust on my hands," and he went out into the street and spatted his palms on the ground. "We ought to had Tom Ketcham along," said Joe, when Teddy came back. "He's a bully climber." "Oh, pshaw!" said Ted. "If Tom Ketcham can climb any better'n I can I'd like to know it. Just watch me now;" and he started up again. Thanks to the street dust or to a determination to show Joe that he was as good a climber as Tommy, he managed to get up this time and wriggle in on the cornice, which made a sort of ledge behind the sign. He loosened the iron on that end of the sign, and walked cautiously along, taking a piece of clothes-line out of his pocket, with which he intended to lower it. Just then footsteps were heard approaching. "Billy's coming!" cried Fred, in a hoarse half-whisper, and he and Joe started down the street. "Hold on there!" called Teddy to the younger boys, in a fierce tone. "Get in the doorway and keep still." The others obeyed, and Ted himself lay down on the ledge behind the sign and flattened out as much as possible. It proved to be only a man on his way home, and he passed without seeing the boys.