Mrs.Hicks, by a gesture, signified that Betty and Hannibal were to ascend these stairs; they did so and found themselves on a narrow landing inclosed by a partition of rough planks, this partition was pierced by a low door.

Mrs.Hicks, who had followed close at their heels, handed the candle to Betty.
"In yonder!" she said briefly, nodding toward the door.
"Wait!" cried Betty in a whisper.
"No," said the woman with an almost masculine surliness of tone.

"I got nothing to say." She pushed them into the attic, and, closing the door, fastened it with a stout wooden bar.
Beyond that door, which seemed to have closed on every hope, Betty held the tallow dip aloft, and by its uncertain and flickering light surveyed her prison.

The briefest glance sufficed.

The room contained two shakedown beds and a stool, there was a window in the gable, but a piece of heavy plank was spiked before it.
"Miss Betty, don't you be scared," whispered Hannibal.