He was right. A moment later Hal came up to him.
"Did you give the general the paper?" asked Chester.
"Yes. Any one come out of the house?"
"I haven't seen any one, and I have been right here all the time you were gone."
"Hear any sounds from within?"
"Thought I did several times, but I couldn't be sure. Thought I heard a shot once."
"Well, we had better go and have a look. I don't believe they will harm
Uncle John, but he probably is beginning to be worried by this time."
He led the way and Chester followed him. Hal mounted the steps without hesitancy and turned the knob of the door. The door opened and the lad stepped inside, where he halted with a cry of surprise. Chester peered over his shoulder.
"Looks like a cyclone had struck this place," Hal ejaculated.
It did indeed. Robard was lying upon the floor, with a man on either side of him, and a fourth lay some distance away, his skull crushed in.