“When I had watched them for a minute, I asked God again to help me; then I felt for the bolt and kept my hand on it while I, all of a sudden, pushed against the door with all my might and slammed it to, and shot the bolt in.

“I’d hardly done it when I heard the men drop their tools and run to the door and try to get it open; saying dreadful words too, that frightened me.  So I only waited to lock the door also before I started to run upstairs and on through the rooms till I got to papa.

“He was asleep and I was so out of breath, and my heart beating so fast I couldn’t speak for a minute.  But I put my arm round his neck and my cheek on the pillow close to his and he woke.”

“And it was you who locked the burglars in?” exclaimed Violet in astonishment.  “I’ve heard before now of women doing such things, but never of a little girl like you attempting it.  You dear, brave, unselfish child!  I am very, very proud of you!” and she bent down again and kissed Lulu several times.

The burglars, quite aware that their presence in the house was known, were making desperate efforts to escape, trying to force the lock or break down the door, at the same time cursing, and swearing in tones of concentrated fury.

The captain drew near and spoke to them.

“Men,” he said sternly, “you are caught in a trap you have laid for yourselves, and escape is impossible; both lock and door are strong enough to resist your utmost efforts; therefore you may as well take matters quietly.”

“That we won’t.  Let us out or it’ll be the worse for you!” growled one of the villians, grinding his teeth with rage.

“Have a little patience,” returned the captain; “you shall be taken out presently, and off the premises; you are by no means desirable inmates in the home of any honest, law-abiding citizen.”

The response to that was a threat of vengeance to be taken sooner or later, should he dare to deliver them up to justice.

Finding their threats disregarded, they tried persuasion, appeals to his compassion—­asserting that it was their first attempt to rob, and that they were driven to it by necessity—­they and their families being in sore straits from extreme poverty—­and promises to lead honest lives in future.

One voice the captain recognized as that of the groom he had dismissed some months before because of his cruelty to Thunderer.

“Ajax,” he said sternly, “you are lying to me!  I know that your family are not in distress, and that you can make an honest living if you choose to be industrious and faithful to your employers.  You were well paid here but lost your situation by inexcusable cruelty to dumb animals.

“Since discharging you I have more than once supplied the wants of your wife and children; and this is your grateful return;—­coming to rob me, bringing with you another, and perhaps more desperate villain than yourself.”