Yet if he allowed
himself to remain in the loft, the danger of robbery would recur in
the morning, for Jack would be sure to wake earlier than Bradley,
who had been drugged, as Ben was convinced.
Sometimes, in the midst of perplexity, a way of relief is suddenly
opened. A lucky suggestion, sent, perhaps, by an overruling
Providence, provides a path of escape from some menacing evil. This
happened in the present instance.
"Why," thought Ben, "can't I take our money, steal downstairs and
out of the cabin, and hide it in some secure place where we can find
it in the morning? Then I can sleep in security for the remainder of
the night, and my thievish friend will be disappointed."
No sooner did the idea occur to Ben than he prepared to carry it
out.
As has already been said, Bradley had about a hundred dollars in
gold pieces, and Ben as much more. This would have made a very good
haul for Jack, who did not anticipate obtaining so much. It was more
than our young hero felt willing to lose, and he was prepared to run
a large risk in the effort to save it.
The risk, of course, was that he might wake Jack or his wife in
coming downstairs. There would be no difficulty in opening the door,
for it was not fastened in any way.
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