Once the mice scampering in the walls caused them to shrink back against the fireplace, to the further detriment of their clothing, and a fresh outburst of tears followed. When the cause of this interruption to the silence was finally understood, the girls bethought themselves of that babel of voices which marked the beginning of their present troubles; but it was stilled.
If a spy had been followed into the square, he must have made his escape, or been chased to some other part of the city.
"Surely the bonfire has been burned by this time! Sarah finally suggested. "Haven't we been here a very long while?"
"Mother and father will come soon now," Dorothy replied with a little ring of hope in her voice. "It is very late. Scip said he would only look out of the door, and come straight back, yet he has been gone more than an hour."
The old darkey had been absent no more than five minutes.
Then, to the intense relief of the children, the creaking of the street door was heard, and Dorothy cried as she stepped forward a few paces:
"He has come back! How glad I am; but I will rate him soundly for having stayed so long while we were in such danger!"
With the opening of the door the hoarse hum of angry voices could be heard a long distance
