The house itself was now burning, and the light, blazing full upon their upturned faces, revealed to Stephen the well-known features of four of his former comrades.

The shout that rang from their lips was one of real alarm now.
'Stephen, lad, open the door!' cried Black Thompson.

'We thought to smoke the old fox out of his kennel, but it's took fire in earnest.
We'll not hurt him, nor Miss Anne.

Lad! the old house will burn like tinder.' What a glaring light spread through the landing! The face of Miss Anne coming from the servant's room shone rosy and bright in it, though she was pale with fear.

Through the open window drifted a suffocating smoke of burning wood and thatch, and the crackling and splitting of the old roof sounded noisily above their voices; but Miss Anne commanded herself, and spoke calmly to Stephen.
'We must open the door to them now,' she said; 'God will protect us from these wicked men.