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t like to protect them against another whom they liked less。 I made up my mind； in like wise； to go round to the police…station nearest me。
And so； having dressed myself in my black coat； and put on a round hat and gloves； I bought me a Malacca walking…stick； such as was then in fashion； and called upon the captain in style。 I told him I lived next the church； and that on such and such a night there was a regular row among roughs； and that several of them went storming up the alley in a crowd。 I said； 〃Although your men were there as quick as they could come； these fellows had all gone before they came。〃 But then I explained that I had seen a fellow hanging about the alley in the daytime； who seemed to be there for no good； that there was a hand…cart kept there by a workman； who seemed to be an honest fellow； and； perhaps； all they wanted was to steal that； that； if I could； I would warn him。 But meanwhile； I said； I had come round to the station to give the warning of my suspicions； that if my rattle was heard again； the patrolmen might know what was in the wind。
The captain was a good deal impressed by my make…up and by the ease of my manner。 He affected to be perfectly well acquainted with me； although we had never happened to meet at the Century Club or at the Union League。 I confirmed the favorable impression I had made by leaving my card； which I had had handsomely engraved： 〃MR。 ROBINSON CRUSOE。〃 With my pencil I added my down…town address； where； I said； a note or telegram would find me。
I was not a day too soon with my visit to this gentleman。 That very night； after my mother and Frida had gone to bed； as I sat in my easychair； there came over me one of those strange intimations which I have never found it safe to disregard。 Sometimes it is of good； and sometimes of bad。 This time it made me certain that all was not well。 To relieve my fears I lifted my ladder over the wall and dropped it in the alley。 I swung myself down and carried it to the very end of the alley； to the place where I had dragged poor Frida in。 The moon fell on the fence opposite ours。 My wing…fence and hand…cart were all in shade。 But everything was safe there。
Again I chided myself for my fears； when； as I looked up the alley to the street； I saw a group of four men come in stealthily。 They said not a word； but I could make out their forms distinctly against the houses opposite。
I was caught in my own trap！
Not quite！ They had not seen me； for I was wholly in shadow。 I stepped quickly in at my own slide。 I pushed it back and bolted it securely； and with my heart in my mouth； I waited at my hole of observation。 In a minute more they were close around me； though they did not suspect I was so near。
They also had a dark…lantern； and； I thought； more than one。 They spoke in low tones； but as they had no thought they had a hearer quite so near； I could hear all they said。
〃I tell you it was this side； and this is the side I heard their deuced psalm…singing day before yesterday。〃
〃What if he did hear psalm…singing？ Are you going to break into a man's garden because he sings psalms？ I came here to find out where the girl went to； and now you talk of psalm…singing and coal…bins。〃 This from another； whose English was poor； and in whom I fancied I heard the Dane。 It was clear enough that be spoke sense； and a sort of doubt fell on the whole crew； but speaker No。 1； with a heavy crowbar he had； smashed into my pine wall； as I have a right to call it now； with a force which made the splinters fly。
〃I should think we were all at Niblo's；〃 said a man of slighter build； 〃and that we were playing Humpty Dumpty。 Because a girl flew out of a window； you think a fence opened to take her in。 Why should she not go through a door？ and he kicked with his foot upon the heavy sloping cellar…door of the church； which just rose a little from the pavement。 It was the doorway which they used there when they took in their supply of coal。 The moon fell full on one side of it。 To my surprise it was loose and gave way。
〃Here is where the girl flew to； and here is where Bully Bigg； the donkey； let her slip out of his fingers。 I knew he was a fool； but I did not know he was such a fool；〃 said the Dane （if he were the Dane）。
I will not pretend to write down the oaths and foul words which came in between every two of the words I have repeated。
〃Fool yourself！〃 replied the Bully； 〃and what sort of a fool is the man who comes up a blind alley looking after a girl that will not kiss him when he bids her？〃
〃Anyway；〃 put in another of the crew； who had just now lifted the heavy cellar…door； 〃other people may find it handy to hop down here when the ‘beaks' are too near them。 It's a handy place to know of in a dark night； if the dear deacons do choose to keep it open for a poor psalm…singing tramp； who has no chance at the station… house。 Here； Lopp； you are the tallest；jump in and tell us what is there；〃 and at this moment the Dane caught sight of my unfortunate ladder； lying full in the moonlight。 I could see him seize it and run to the doorway with it with a deep laugh and some phrase of his own country talk； which I did not understand。
〃The deacons are very good；〃 said the savage who had lifted the cellar…door。 〃They make everything handy for us poor fellows。〃
And though he had not planted the ladder； he was the first to run down； and called for the rest to follow。 The Dane was second； Lopp was third； and 〃The Bully；〃 as the big rascal seemed to be called by distinction； was the fourth。
I saw him disappear from my view with a mixture of wonder and terror which I will not describe。 I seized my light overcoat； which always hung in the passage。 I flung open my sliding…door and shut it again behind me。 I looked into the black of the cellar to see the reflections from their distant lanterns； and without a sound I drew up my ladder。 Then I ran to the head of the alley and sounded my rattle as I would have sounded the trumpet for a charge in battle。 The officers joined me in one moment。
〃I am the man who spoke to the captain about these rowdies。 Four of them are in the cellar of the church yonder now。〃
〃Do you know who？〃
〃One they called Lopp； and one they called Bully Bigg；〃 said I。 〃I do not know the others' names。〃
The officers were enraptured。
I led them； and two other patrolmen who joined us； to the shelter of my wing…wall。 In a few minutes the head of the Dane appeared； as he was lifted from below。 With an effort and three or four oaths； he struggled out upon the ground； to be seized and gagged the moment he stepped back。 With varying fortunes； Bigg and Lopp emerged； and were seized and handcuffed in turn。 The fourth surrendered on being summoned。
What followed comes into the line of daily life and the morning newspaper so regularly that I need not describe it。 Against the Dane it proved that endless warrants could be brought immediately。 His lair of stolen baggage and other property was unearthed； and countless sufferers claimed their own。 I was able to recover Frida's and her mother's possessionsthe locks on the trunks still unbroken。 The Dane himself would have been sent to the