Part 28 (2/2)

Now he felt carefully of the lightning rod, next giving it harder and harder pulls, to make sure that it was strong enough to hear his weight.

That point settled, Halstead began to ascend. It was not a difficult task for a boy trained aboard seagoing craft.

Up and up he went, making little if any sound. At last he was able to lean outward from the rod, resting one elbow on the ledge of the lighted window. Yet, on peering into the room the young skipper received a shock that almost caused him to lose his hold on the lightning rod.

At the further end of the bare-looking attic stood a plain pine table, which held a reading lamp that gave a strong light. With his back to the window, seated in a rocking chair and his feet on another chair, lounged a boy, reading.

Even with his back turned, the unseen face bent over a book, that boy was known beyond the possibility of a doubt to Tom Halstead.

”Ted Dunstan, himself!” the young skipper almost cried aloud.

Not for one moment did Halstead even think of slipping down from the window and running for help. If he did so Ted was as likely as not to be gone upon his return.

”I've got to get him out of here, and on the jump, too,” puzzled the young captain. ”But how is the thing to be done?”

An appeal to young Ted himself would be worse than useless. That young heir, as the spy at the window knew, had altogether too complete a faith in his present comrades.

While Tom still hung on there another happening caused his heart to b.u.mp against his ribs. The busy eight were returning. He could hear the light tread on gravel under their feet.

Not a second was to be lost. Inwardly breathing a prayer, Halstead raised himself to the window sill with the utmost stealth. In another moment he was over the sill and in the room on his stockinged tip-toes.

Ted did not turn. Plainly he was too absorbed in his book to suspect any other presence. Not daring, of course, to remain near the window, which would place him in sight of the busy eight in the yard, as soon as they should reach the outbuildings, Halstead slid noiselessly along the wall, pressing his hands against it. His strained, intense look was all the time on the unsuspecting Dunstan heir.

”Ho, ho, ho!” chuckled Master Ted, throwing his head back, but he did not look around. Evidently something in the book on his lap amused him immensely.

Tom stood there, still praying under his breath, praying that the eight might quickly take up their new burdens and hasten sh.o.r.eward.

At last there came the sound of crunching against gravel. Tom, trying to stifle the sound of his own breathing, listened intently until the dying out of sounds outside made him believe that the men were once more out of the way.

Now trembling in every muscle, Halstead stole forward toward the Dunstan heir. The floor creaked; he stopped short in great alarm. For Halstead felt certain that, somewhere near at hand, there must be some one intrusted with the responsibility of watching over this young heir.

Master Ted, however, did not turn. Taking heart Tom stole forward as softly as ever Indian trod. Crouching, he was near enough now to reach out and touch the back of young Dunstan.

Of a sudden Halstead made the plunge. He leaped forward with the agility of a panther, fairly yanking Ted Dunstan out of the rocking chair and dropping him softly on the floor beside it.

Taken in this fas.h.i.+on, Master Ted would have let out a l.u.s.ty yell. Yet the instant he opened his mouth Tom Halstead's fingers gripped at his throat, shutting off the youngster's wind.

”I don't want to hurt you,” whispered Halstead sharply yet half apologetically. ”But I've got to keep you quiet no matter what I have to do to you.”

Ted's face betrayed absolute fear as well as unmistakable loathing, as that choking shut off his breath. His mouth opened, his tongue lolling out.

”Now you may breathe again, if you'll keep quiet,” Tom informed him.

”But, remember-I _won't_ have any noise!”

As soon as he could breathe again panting Ted's wits also began to clear. He raised one of his feet, as he lay prostrate with Halstead a-top of him, and brought that heel down against the floor. Halstead promptly threw his own body so that Master Ted could not again raise either foot.

”I see that I've got to go to extreme measures with you; you don't understand that I'm deadly in earnest,” panted Tom, finding that this wiry, out-of-door, agile boy of ten could be wonderfully slippery. ”Now listen, Ted Dunstan. If you don't want me to be ugly and to choke you until your senses fade, then prepare to mind me. Now then roll over on your face-and don't you _dare_ to make any noise doing it.”

A good deal cowed by the fierce glint in Tom's eyes, Ted almost pa.s.sively obeyed, though the young skipper was obliged to roll the young man himself.

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