60 Zom p Seven Years Old.

 

‘“ Remember—in the middle of the night —
three knocks. Come outside at once; but
don’t make any noise, you know.”

Tom nodded. They went to bed. Tom
always meant to lie awake a little to think,
but somehow he never could manage it. He
was in the middle of a funny dream, when he
suddenly jumped up with a great start. Some-
body wads knocking at the door. The first
minute he was frightened, but the next he
remembered it was only Bob. It was very
cold, and very dark. While he was huddling
on some of his clothes, he began to wish he
had never promised. After all, what did it
matter if a thousand cats met round the
chimney to squall? They hurt nobody. In
the meantime, Bob was growing impatient.
He whispered through the keyhole—

“T say, Tom, whatatime youare! Aren't
you coming P”

“Flere I am,” whispered Tom, opening the
door softly, and shivering all over.

It was quite black outside; the stairs were
quite black, and so was Bob. }