Probably no more astonished man lived than the tramp when his consciousness returned and he found himself lying on his back under the big oak tree. He lifted himself on his elbow and tried to remember what had happened.

“Something struck me,” he said. “What was it and who did it?”

Even in his half-dazed state it never occurred to him to think of Jacob Winter as his assailant.

“Ha! I remember now. It was the boys,” he said after an effort of memory. “They’ve got twice as much pluck as the old man. But I’d like to smash ’em for all that. They’ve stepped in between me and a good bit of money. But I’ll have it yet.”

The tramp rose to his feet and began to take an inventory of his bodily disabilities. His head ached and felt sore, and there was a bruise where he had been hit by the shovel. His limbs were all right, however. “I wonder how long I’ve been lying here,” he thought, “and where that gold is?”

He was not long in deciding that the farmer had carried the pieces home. He knew where this was, for he had been lurking about the town for a couple of days, and had made inquiries.

“I’d like to get it yet,” he said to himself. “I might break into the house and carry it off.”

The more he thought of this the better the plan pleased him. Without knowing positively he thought it probable that Jacob Winter was the only man in the house, and for his prowess he felt absolute contempt.

“I’ll scare him out of his seven senses,” the tramp concluded with an amused smile. “The man is about as brave as a mouse.”

Of course it would not be prudent to make the visit he meditated just yet. Towards twelve o’clock there would be more chance of finding everybody asleep.

Now let us go back to the attic room where Ben and Albert Graham were snugly ensconced in bed.

“I wonder whether he’ll come,” said Albert.

“That is uncertain,” returned Ben, “but if he does we must be ready for him.” “The trouble is, I’m terribly sleepy. He might come and rummage all over the house without my hearing him.”

“Then I’ll tell you what we’d better do. Do you think you can stay awake for an hour?”

“Yes; I can if I set out to.”

“Then we’ll take turns sleeping. I’ll go to sleep now, and when an hour has passed you wake me up, and then I’ll keep watch. There’s a clock in the room, and there are some matches on the washstand in a box, so that you will know when to call me.”

“All right! Can you go to sleep right off?”

“Yes; it won’t take many minutes.”

In less than five minutes Ben’s quiet breathing was sufficient evidence that he was in the land of dreams. Albert made a determined effort and managed to keep awake till he thought an hour must have been passed.

He got up, lit a match, and found that Ben had been asleep an hour and a quarter in place of an hour.

“What’s the matter? Is it morning?” asked Ben drowsily when Albert shook him.

“No; but your time is out, and I want to take a nap. You remember you are to watch for the robber.” “All right!” said Ben, now broad awake. “Did I sleep an hour?”

“An hour and a quarter.”

“Is that so? It doesn’t seem more than five minutes.”

“Do you think you can keep awake now, Ben?”

“Yes; I can keep awake till midnight. If he doesn’t come by that time he won’t come at all. Then we can sleep, both of us, with an easy mind.”

Ben had stipulated to sleep first because he felt that the attack would be more likely to come after half-past ten, when his vigil commenced, and he preferred to deal directly with the robber himself.

After Albert was asleep he got up and examined the gun to see if it was all right. Somehow he did not feel sleepy at all now. He rather hoped his acquaintance of the fields would come, for he was a boy who was fond of excitement and adventure.

It would be a man against a boy, or rather against two boys, for Ben did not count on much help from his stepfather, but he did not feel afraid. As Ben is my hero, I am rather pleased to say that, though not foolhardy, he possessed a good share of courage. He lay in bed listening for any noise, but an hour passed before his attention was roused. Then a little sound as of something touching the house enlisted his attention.

He got out of bed and went to the window. It may be remarked that his room was directly over that occupied by his stepfather. “By gracious!” he exclaimed under his breath, “I am just in time.”

A ladder was leaning against the house, and half way up he saw his antagonist of the fields. The ladder was so placed that the unauthorized intruder could enter Mr. Winter’s chamber through the open window.

“There’s no time to be lost!” thought Ben. “I’ll get the gun.”