'
'May the devil take me if she'll move the hatch. You want to creep
through it. I know what you'd be at. Back now to your bed, Nancy; an'
if I ketch you about here again to-night, beware.'
'Good-night, sir,' Nancy said; 'when the Captain gets back, I shall
tell him about you. Then you will get what you want.'
Roland fell into a sort of reverie a short time afterwards; and how
long he so remained he could not afterwards say. But he was called to
consciousness by hearing something soft fall, and smash, as it seemed
to him, into small particles upon the stony floor of his room.
Something fell then upon his face, about an egg's weight and size;
and taking it into his hand he discovered that it was clay.
Springing to his feet, he lighted a small 'taper' match and examined
the ceiling. To his horror he now discovered that the beams which
stretched across to prevent the clayey roof from falling in had been
removed. He was certain that they had been there that morning, for as
he arose he observed a spider weaving a net from beam to beam, and
wondered what she expected as prey. He was certain that the beams had
been purposely taken away; and his blood became chilled with horror
as he reflected over the motive.
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