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"He's going to help him get away," cried Allstone, who was mad with passion. "Yes, that's it, boys," said the man laughing, "that's why I caught him and kept him till you came up, and that's why I'm going to tie his arms. Here, give me the rope." He snatched the cord from Allstone's hands, and turned to Hilary. "Hold up your arms, my lad, and I won't hurt you.
I might have burned to death a dozen times for aught you cared." "Haw! haw! haw!" laughed a couple of the men now, to Allstone's great annoyance. "Hold your tongue, and come down, boy," he cried. "You can't stop there." "Be off and lock the door again, bully," cried Hilary.
He blew a shrill chirruping whistle twice over, and it was answered from a distance; while before many minutes had elapsed there was the sound of breaking twigs, voices talking hurriedly, and directly after, looking black and angry, Allstone came up with half-a-dozen men. Allstone's countenance changed into a look of malignant pleasure as soon as he saw Hilary lying amidst the bushes.
It was all in a moment. The keg was being passed from one to the other, when, between them, they let it fall with a crash, knocking the candle out of Allstone's hands.
Just then he heard Allstone's heavy step upon the stairs, and coming away from the window Hilary threw himself upon his bed over the hidden rope. But he need not have feared that it would be seen, for Allstone simply placed some food upon the table and went away directly after, locking the door. The repast though rough and plain was substantial, and very welcome.
What he wanted now was a good supply of straw to lay over that part of the floor to conceal any efforts he might make for raising the stone, and meanwhile dusting some of the ashes and half-burned straw-chaff over the spot, he awaited Allstone's next appearance with no little anxiety.
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