"But I have more faith in my own vigilance than in bolts and bars." Bloundel and Leonard then returned to the shop, where the former immediately began to make preparations for storing his house; and in the prosecution of his scheme he was greatly aided by the apprentice.
The grocer's dwelling, as has been stated, was large and commodious.

It was three stories high; and beneath the ground-floor there were kitchens and extensive cellars.

Many of the rooms were spacious, and had curiously carved fireplaces, walls pannelled with fine brown oak, large presses, and cupboards.
In the yard, at the back of the house, there was a pump, from which excellent water was obtained.

There were likewise three large cisterns, supplied from the New River.

Not satisfied with this, and anxious to obtain water in which no infected body could have lain, or clothes have been washed, Bloundel had a large tank placed within the cellar, and connecting it by pipes with the pump, he contrived an ingenious machine, by which he could work the latter from within the house--thus making sure of a constant supply of water direct from the spring.
He next addressed himself to the front of the house, where he fixed a pulley, with a rope and hook attached to it, to the beam above one of the smaller bay windows on the second story.