Several of them had torches, and, as they approached, Sir Marmaduke saw something lying on the ground under the window.

He picked it up.
"Here is the fellow's cap," he said.

"You must have hit him a shrewd blow, Charlie, for here is a clean cut through the cloth, and a patch of fresh blood on the white lining.

How did he get you down, lad ?" "He fell so suddenly, when I hit him, that I thought I had either killed or stunned him; but of course I had not, for it was but a moment after, when I was speaking to you, that I felt my ankles seized, and I went down with a crash.

I heard him make off through the bushes; but I was, for the moment, almost dazed, and could do nothing to stop him." "Was the window open when he came ?" "Yes, sir, two or three inches." "Then it was evidently a planned thing.
"Well, gentlemen, we may as well go indoors.