Part 8 (1/2)
”You haven't any right to lock us in here.”
”Then we take the right,” answered Tom grimly.
”Let us smash the door down,” came in a low tone from inside the room.
”If you try it we'll surely fire,” said d.i.c.k, and c.o.c.ked his pistol so the men might hear the click. Tom did the same with the shotgun.
”See here, you let us out and we'll make it all right with you,”
remarked Sh.e.l.ley, after another pause. ”We are not the bad fellows you take us to be. We were only going to play a joke, that's all.”
”I suppose you think Sid Merrick's doings are a joke, too,” said Sam, before he had time to think twice.
”Ha! what do you know of Merrick?” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Cuffer. ”They must have been listening to our talk,” he added, in a low tone to his companion.
”Yes, and if so, we are in a bad box,” answered Sh.e.l.ley. ”I'd give a good deal to be out of here just now.”
”Talk to them, while I take a look around,” continued Cuffer, struck by a sudden idea.
Sh.e.l.ley did as told, pleading with the three Rovers to let him go and offering to pay fifty dollars for his liberty. He talked in a loud tone, to cover up what noise his companion might make. The boys listened, but refused to open the door until some sort of help should arrive, or until morning came.
”Sam, you go outside and see if Jack and the Ditwolds are anywhere around,” said d.i.c.k, and the youngest Rover departed immediately.
Presently Tom and d.i.c.k heard Cuffer give a cry of pain.
”You've stepped on my sore toe!” howled the man. ”Phew! how it hurts!”
The two men talked about the hurt toe for several minutes. Then their voices suddenly ceased. Tom and d.i.c.k strained their ears, but could hear absolutely nothing.
”They must be up to some trick,” whispered the eldest Rover. ”Hi, you, what are you doing?” he called out.
There was no answer and the silence was just as ominous as before. The light in the inner room had gone out.
”What are you doing?” repeated d.i.c.k, and ran close to the door to listen. Nothing but absolute silence followed.
What to do next the two boys did not know. They waited for fully five minutes--then five more. Presently they heard Sam coming back.
”I yelled for Jack and the others, but I got no answer,” said he. ”What are the men doing?”
”We don't know,” answered Tom. ”We are afraid they are up to some trick.”
”A trick?” repeated Sam. Then he gave a gasp. ”The room--isn't there a back door, leading out to the shed?”
”I don't know,” answered d.i.c.k.
”I'll run and see.”
Sam was gone less than two minutes when they heard a cry, and then he pounded on the door they had so carefully guarded.