Just as it was dark, Pablo returned with a note from Edward,
saying that he would be over, and at the cottage by ten o'clock, with
a large party.
Humphrey had said in his letter, that it would be better that any
force sent by the intendant should not arrive till after dark, as the
robbers might be near and perceive them, and then they might escape;
he did not therefore expect them to come till some time after dark.
Humphrey was reading a book--Pablo was dozing in the chimney corner--
the two girls had retired into their room and had lain down on the bed
in their clothes, when the dogs both gave a low growl.
"Somebody come," said Pablo, starting up.
Again the dogs growled, and Humphrey made a sign to Pablo to hold his
tongue. A short time of anxious silence succeeded, for it was
impossible to ascertain whether the parties were friends or enemies.
The dogs now sprung up and barked furiously at the door, and as soon
as Humphrey had silenced them, a voice was heard outside, begging for
admission to a poor benighted traveler. This was sufficient; it could
not be the party from the intendant's, but the robbers who wished to
induce them to open the door. Pablo put a gun into Humphrey's hand,
and took another for himself; he then removed the light into the
chimney, and on the application from outside being repeated, Humphrey
answered,
"That he never opened the door at that hour of the night, and that it
was useless their remaining.
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