“This is my house, and I want you to leave it,” I returned as steadily as I could. “I’ll leave it when I please. Hullo there!” he shouted at the top of his voice. I expected to see some one enter in response to his call, but I was mistaken. “Guess you are alone,” he went on after a pause. “Now tell me, how much money have you got in the house?” I was startled at this question. Undoubtedly the man meant to rob me. “Haven’t a dollar.” “Come, now, no lying.” “I have told you the truth.” “Then I shall take a look around myself.” “Did you come here to steal?” I demanded. “None of your business! Sit down in that chair, and don’t you dare to move until I tell you.” And Carney emphasized his words with a shake of the pistol. I sat down in the chair as directed, and the fisherman began a rapid search of the apartment. It was not long before he came across the hand-satchel Mr. Norton had carried when he arrived. “Locked, eh?” he said, as he examined it. “Where is the key?” “I haven’t it! It belongs to my uncle.” “Your uncle! Where is he?” “Just stepped out.” “Glad you told me. I’ll get through before he returns.” Carney stepped to the mantel-shelf and took off a number of small things of value. “You are sure about that money?” “I know I haven’t a dollar,” I returned. “Turn out your pockets.” “I’ll see you in Halifax first!” I burst out. “You sha’n’t go a step farther in your doings, not if I have to die for it!” And watching my chance, I sprang at the man, and pushed his pistol aside. He was surprised at my temerity, and for a moment I had the best of the battle; but then he gathered himself together, and sent me sprawling on the floor. “Now lay there, and don’t you dare to move!” he commanded. “I don’t want to be too ugly, but I will be if you don’t mind what I say.” Then leaving me half dazed, he went hurriedly through the other rooms, gathering quite a number of things, some of which he stuffed in his pockets, and others in an old valise he found in the mill-room. “Now I guess I’m square,” he said, when he had finished. “Don’t you dare to follow me or give me away, Stone, or it will be the worse for you. I ain’t a man to be trifled with, and don’t you forget it.” Then he passed out of the door and was gone. Oh, how I wished that I had a pistol at that moment! I am not a bloodthirsty fellow, but it galled me to see this ruffian walk off with my property. But the only weapon in the mill was an old gun, and this was unloaded, and had not been fired for several months; in fact, not since the winter, when I had gone rabbit-hunting. No sooner had the fellow departed, however, than I made up my mind to find out where he was going to, and, if possible, to recover what he had taken. I got down the old gun, and hastily cleaning out the barrel, loaded it up; then putting on my hat I stole out of the mill, and in the direction that Carney had taken.