The Nicky Nights before them heard them coming and immediately began a retreat, for the voice was next heard further off. On both sides of them they could hear other cries of “Nicky Night” and a few seconds later a cry of triumph, “We’ve got you!” One set of Nickys had been captured. The pair before Buck and Drummer still retreated.
“They’ll probably take to a tree pretty soon and allow us to go under them,” said Buck. “That’s the thing we have to look out for. There, what did I tell you! That ‘Nicky Night’ came from the air!”
The last “Nicky Night” had indeed come from the air, a weak and treacherous cry, and they pushed on until they came to an open space. Here they found the house which some of the boys had been in and where Ted had seen the man with the lantern roaming around.
“Hello, here is that old house with all the furnishings,” exclaimed Buck.
“Yes, and the Nicky Nights are hiding up there in the cupola on the porch roof!” cried Drummer excitedly. “I just saw something move up there. Come on and get them!”
“I don’t know how to get into that tower room from the house,” said Buck.
“We won’t get in through the house. Let’s climb the front porch,” replied Drummer.
“All right. But there must be a door from the main part of the house into that cupola, and they may escape.”
“Never mind, we’ll chase them through the house,” said the sturdy fat boy.
Buck stepped onto the low porch, quickly “shinned” his way up the supporting roof support, and reached the low front porch roof. Drummer followed him with remarkable agility and they swiftly crossed the roof and looked into the little octagon cupola.