William, ready for all contingencies, marshalled his forces.

“Follow me!” he whispered and crept on all fours nearer the window.  They could see a man now, an elderly man with white hair and a white beard.

“And how long will you keep me in this vile prison?” she was saying in a voice that trembled with anger, “base wretch that you are!”

“Crumbs!” ejaculated William.

“Ha!  Ha!” sneered the man.  “I have you in my power.  I will keep you here a prisoner till you sign the paper which will make me master of all your wealth, and beware, girl, if you do not sign, you may answer for it with your life!”

“Golly!” murmured William.

Then he crawled away into the bushes, followed by his attendant squire.

“Well,” said William, his face purple with excitement, “we’ve found someone to rescue all right.  He’s a base wretch, wot she said, all right.”

“Will you kill him?” said the awed squire.

“How big was he?  Could you see?” said William the discreet.

“He was ever so big.  Great big face he had, too, with a beard.”

“Then I won’t try killin’ him—­not straight off.  I’ll think of some plan—­somethin’ cunnin’.”

[Illustration:  WILLIAM AND GINGER FOLLOWED ON ALL FOURS WITH ELABORATE CAUTION.]

He sat with his chin on his hands, gazing into space, till they were surprised by the opening of the front door and the appearance of a tall, thick-set, elderly man.  William quivered with excitement.  The man went along a path through the bushes.  William and Ginger followed on all fours with elaborate caution.  At every almost inaudible sound from Ginger, William turned his red, frowning face on to him with a resounding “Sh!” The path ended at a small shed with a locked door.  The man opened the door—­the key stood in the lock—­and entered.

Promptly William, with a snarl expressive of cunning and triumph, hurled himself at the door and turned the key in the lock.

“Here!” came an angry shout from inside.  “Who’s that?  What the devil——­”

“You low ole caitiff!” said William through the keyhole.

“Who the deuce——?” exploded the voice.

“You base wretch, like wot she said you was,” bawled William, his mouth still applied closely to the keyhole.

“Let me out at once, or I’ll—­”

“You mean ole oppressor!”

“Who the deuce are you?  What’s this tomfool trick?  Let me out!  Do you hear?”

A resounding kick shook the door.

“I’ve gotter pistol,” said William sternly.  “I’ll shoot you dead if you kick the door down, you mangy ole beast!”

The sound of kicking ceased and a scrambling and scraping, accompanied by oaths, proceeded from the interior.

“I’ll stay on guard,” said William with the tense expression of the soldier at his post, “an’ you go an’ set her free.  Go an’ blow the bugle at the front door, then they’ll know something’s happened,” he added simply.