There would have been no difficulty in his getting out and
swinging to the ground, but to this move there were two objections:
First, he would be sure to be heard by his enemy below; and,
secondly, he was unwilling to leave Jake in the power of the enemy.
While he was standing at the window he heard the noise of some one
moving below. The heavy step convinced him that it was Jack. He
could not leave his place and lie down without being detected, and
he hastily decided to remain where he was.
In this way he might possibly gain time.
Jack softly stepped from round to round of the ladder, and presently
his head peered above the floor. He started angrily when he saw the
boy at the window.
"What are you about there, boy?" he demanded roughly.
Ben turned, and said composedly: "I am looking out."
"Why are you not in bed and asleep, like your friend?"
"I tried to sleep, sir, but I couldn't."
"Do you expect to get to sleep looking out of that hole?"
"I thought I'd see how light it was."
"Well, I can't have you trampin' round, keepin' the old woman and me
awake. I wouldn't have let you sleep here ef I had known that's the
way you spend the night.
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