When they returned to the inn the landlord indicated that supper was prepared, and after they had partaken of that they went to their room, which was on the second floor. Sidney had been made rather nervous when he thought about his mistake in showing money to the crowd of strangers, and his first care was to assure himself that the room was secure. He found to his relief that the window overlooked a clear space with no other building near. The door was very solid, but the lock appeared to be more ornamental than effective. “I don’t think much of that lock, Ray,” he said, “and I don’t want to run the risk of a visit in the night from one of those men.” “We can soon fix that.” And Raymond dragged up the only chair, a very heavy oak one, and braced it under the door handle in such a way that the door could not be opened from without. They then swung the window back for air, as there seemed to be no possibility of danger from that quarter. “I’m going to divide my money,” said Sidney, “and you had better do the same. We can’t tell what may happen on the road.” He knotted the greater part of the gold which he carried in a handkerchief and suspended it from his neck underneath all of his clothes. “Now, if we are held up, unless we are stripped, the robbers will think the forty rubles I have left in my purse is all I have. It’s lucky father insisted on dividing his money with us. If he hadn’t we should not have any now to hide from robbers.” “We shan’t be so likely to be held up,” said Raymond, “now I have this gun. I wish I had had a chance to show them the way I can use it. They would have greater respect for me.” CHAPTER V NIGHT PROWLERS When the boys had disposed of their money, most of which they carried to bed with them, and had barricaded the door, they went to bed with a feeling of tolerable security. They were usually both very sound sleepers, but Sidney had worried so over his ill-advised exhibition of money that he slept very lightly that night, and was constantly rousing to a half-wakened state. As he lay in an apprehensive half-slumber he dreamed that the captain of the river boat had come to call on them and was trying to open the door. But for some reason, which Sidney could not fathom, he could neither admit the caller nor call out to him to come in. Suddenly he wakened fully, and realized that there was some one really at the door. He listened intently and could hear a movement outside, as though a person were cautiously manipulating the door handle. He took hold of his brother’s arm and shook him gently. Raymond started up in bed as though he had been dreaming too, but Sidney put his hand over his brother’s mouth and said “Sh-sh.”