Jasper, with a swift gesture of caution to his comrades, sat and watched the sleeper for a moment, to be sure that it was so; then he rose to his feet. The time for action had undoubtedly arrived. He glanced about the room, marking its ways of egress. The windows were open, but not far enough, and it would not do to risk the noise of opening them farther. There were four doors in the room, besides that leading to the kitchen, all closed. Jasper passed three of these by as admitting without doubt to bedrooms or cupboards, and turned to the fourth. This opened, as he had expected, into a little front hall; and there, right at hand, was the outer door. Jasper’s heart sank as he saw that the key was gone; but he tried the door, and lo! to his surprise, it was not locked at all. Here then was freedom at last, in their very grasp! “Come! Come!” he whispered, beckoning eagerly to his companions. And then, like a captain who must be last to quit the wreck, he stood holding open the door for the others to pass through. Freddy came first, painfully tiptoeing his way, and scarcely able even now to remove his glance from the fearful being across the room. Then Kitty glided out and Ethel followed, and the three stood safely outside. Jasper lingered a moment, latch in hand, glancing back at the grim sentinel in the rocking-chair. The man still sat there, his head thrown back and his dreadful eye fast closed, wrapped apparently in profoundest slumber. Jasper felt all his old assurance coming back. He kissed his hand to the sleeper. “Good-bye, my dear guardian, good-bye!” he cried, half aloud. “‘My boat is on the shore, and my bark is on the sea; But before I go, once more I must say farewell to thee.’” But what meant that movement on the part of the sleeper? Jasper stared. The huge frame was certainly shaking in its chair. Could it be that the man was laughing in his sleep? The lad did not stop to ponder the question, but closed the door behind him and hurried after the rest. At the crossing, they came suddenly upon Mrs. Malviny. Jasper made her a bow. “May I ask,” he inquired, “if you saw Squire Baker?” “Yes,” answered she gloomily; “I saw him. He says it’s no use. Unless I pay the money, the man can take the machine. I can’t—But sho! There I am again. You mean did I see him about the constable? Well, no; I didn’t.” She looked at them now with a humorous twinkle in her eye. “The fact is, that was one o’ my jokes. You seemed to be havin’ a good deal o’ fun at my expense, up to the house, an’ so I thought I’d have a little at yours. I hope ye didn’t have any trouble with Silas. He’s the best-natered man in the world,—wouldn’t harm a toad-fish. If he would, I’d set him after that sewin’-machine man! There’s Silas at the front gate now! What’s he laughin’ at, I wonder? Well, good-day! If anybody in your country asks after us Cape folks, you tell ’em we aint all fools down here. We don’t live on fish for nothin’.”