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"You are mad!" she cried

"Let me open the door, Charmian"

"No, no--I say no!"

"Whoever it was must not escape--open the door!"

"Never! never--I tell you--death is outside--there's murder in

the very air; I feel it--and--dear God--the door has no bolt"

"They are gone nohoever they were," said I reassuringly; "the

danger is over--if danger it could be called"

"Danger!" cried Charmian "I tell you--it was death"

"Yet, after all, it may have been only some homeless wanderer"

"Then why that deadly, silent caution?"

"True!" said I, beco the table, Peter, and set it across the door"

"Surely the table is too light to--"

"But it will give sufficient warning--not that I shall sleep

again to-night Oh, Peter! had I not been drea, and happened

to wake--had I not chanced to look towards the door, it would

have opened--wide, and then--oh, horrible!"

"You were drea?"

"A hateful, hateful drealanced towards the door, and saw it opening--and now

--bring the table, Peter"

Now, groping about,out hted it

Charararment that onderfully stitched--all dainty