TOM LOCKS THE STABLE DOOR 



was suddenly awakened by a slight noise like the 

 rattling of a chain. 



Instantly I was thoroughly aroused and remem- 

 bered Tom's chain on the stable door. Had I been 

 dreaming? I raised my head cautiously and lis- 

 tened intently. There it was again — unmistak- 

 ably the chain on the stable door. 



I determined to investigate before arousing my 

 comrades, and slipping quietly out of my bed I 

 tiptoed carefully to the door, pulled up one cor- 

 ner of the muslin cover to the lookout hole, and 

 peeped out at the stable door. The moon was 

 shining brightly, and there, to my astonishment, 

 sat a man, crouched at the door of the stable in- 

 tently working at the lock, either trying to pick 

 it or pry it off. He was not an Indian, either. 

 He had soldier clothes on, and beside him on the 

 ground lay a small bundle. 



I took in all this at a glance, and then quietly 

 and quickly sHpped back to Tom's bed, shook him 

 gently, and whispered: 



"Sh! don't make a bit of noise, Tom. There's 

 a man working at the lock on the stable door. 

 Get up quietly while I wake Jack." 



It was more difficult to keep the excitable Irish- 

 man quiet while arousing him, but I succeeded in 

 getting him up without making noise enough to 

 be heard outside. Each man took a look through 

 the peep-hole and saw that the crouching soldier 

 was still intently working at the lock. 



i8s 



