98 SPORTING AND 



was dreadfully excited, and in about an 

 hour it was as dark as I could wish. I 

 got up, walked about the room, and lis- 

 tened in all directions, but not a sound 

 could I hear. 



I was standing, some few minutes later, 

 in the middle of the apartment, thinking 

 it was time to be doing something, when 

 I heard a gentle tapping at the door of 

 my prison. I moved across to where the 

 sound proceeded from, and softly asked 

 who was there. In a second, footsteps 

 moved rapidly away, and they were suc- 

 ceeded by a heavy tread which stopped 

 at the door and shook it, evidently to 

 ascertain if all was right ; everything 

 being quiet and the door firm, the heavy 

 step also moved off, leaving me bewildered 

 with doubt and anxiety. I determined to 

 do nothing for the present, but to lie 



