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 much behind. The room beneath was the last of the unfinished "L." It was also floored over, except where an open trap-door gave entrance to the cellar.

"Here goes!" cried Gerald, as Philip, laughing, but with outstretched hand, and anxious to put an end to this acrobatic business, pressed hard upon him. Down jumped Gerald into the trap. Without an instant's hesitation Philip leaped after his charge. Both landed, laughing and breathless, in the dry new cellar, the only light coming through the square opening overhead.

"Dear me! Didn't that take the wind out of me, though?" exclaimed Gerald, leaning against the wall. "That's an awfully deep cellar. It must be eight or nine feet; it jarred me all over!"

At that instant, shrill and unmistakable, the locomotive whistle broke the current of their thoughts.

"The train, Gerald, the train!" Philip cried, rushing under the open trap. "It's ready to go, as sure as you live!"

They sprang for the flooring above. Each appreciated, after the first leap, that getting