The boys held their breath and listened. After a few moments there was a slight grating sound and the fumbling ceased. Then the door strained against the chair, which, however, held without sliding on the floor. Whoever was attempting an entrance had, without doubt, succeeded in shooting back the bolt of the lock, and had then tried to push the door open, but had been balked by the chair. After it was discovered that the door was blocked on the inside, no further noise was audible. Indeed, what noise there had been was so slight that it would not have roused the boys if Sidney had not been nearly awake and really expecting something of that sort. They sat up in bed and listened breathlessly for what seemed a long time, then as they heard no sound, they lay quietly back on the pillows. They did not talk, for they did not want whoever might be lurking outside to know that they were awake. The door was on Sidney’s side of the bed, and the window on Raymond’s. From the bed, as the boys looked out of the window, they looked directly against the sky, which was clear and brilliant with stars. The boys were too thoroughly aroused to go to sleep again, and lay there thinking about the possible future dangers of a journey that had begun so ominously, when they were conscious that the light from the window was darkened. They turned their faces that way and saw the figure of a man outside the open window. At first they thought he had climbed up from below, but in a moment they saw that he was suspended by a thick rope from above, and had without doubt let himself down from the flat roof of the building. A dark hand grasped the window sill and the intruder was evidently steadying himself for the entrance. Raymond seized his new revolver, which he had placed under his pillow, raised on his elbow, and, taking a quick aim, fired. The figure at the window disappeared, and there was a heavy thud. “Oh, Ray!” whispered Sidney, “did you shoot him? I’m afraid we’ll get into trouble for that.” “No, I didn’t shoot him; I only cut his rope and let him down gently.” “Did you aim for the rope?” “Sure thing.” Sidney lay back on the bed and shook with noiseless laughter. When he was able to speak he whispered again,-- “I hope it didn’t jar him much when he struck the ground. He must have been somewhat surprised.” “I have just noticed a thing that has surprised me,” said Raymond. “What is that?” asked his brother. “You don’t see that rope at the window any more, do you?” “No, I don’t.” “Well, after I cut it in two, the rest of it was drawn up. There was somebody on the roof who let that fellow down. I believe the whole caboodle of them were in on this thing.” “You did a good job, though, Ray, when you cut his rope. I imagine they will all be careful how they come within range of your gun again.” “Yes, unless they think I tried to hit the man and couldn’t. Never mind, maybe I’ll fool them next time.”