A head was poked cautiously through the opening, and a second later a uniformed arm appeared. Jack leaned forward, put his hand on the man’s head, and gave a violent push. The head disappeared on the inside; there was the sound of a heavy fall below, followed by a sound of great confusion and muttered imprecations.
“Wonder what they’ll try next?” muttered Jack to himself.
He had not long to wait. A second time a head was poked cautiously through the opening, and a second time Jack’s hand shot forth and there was the sound of a heavy fall below. A third time this was tried, but, when the third man had been hurled back, no fourth head appeared in the opening.
“Well,” mused Jack, “I guess they have had enough of that. Suppose they have something else up their sleeves now. I shall have to be watchful.”
At that moment the lad heard a footstep behind him, and turned quickly, just in time to grapple with a man who sprang upon him. While Jack had been busy watching the trap door, a ladder had been placed against the side of the house, and the pursuers were climbing up.
With a quick wrench Jack hurled the man from him, dashed toward the ladder and arrived just in time to deal the man who was just about to set foot upon the roof a heavy blow. A quick glance showed him several more forms swarming up the ladder.
With a quick kick he swept the ladder aside, hurling all upon it to the ground with stunning force; then turned again just in time to meet the assault of the one man already on the roof.
This assailant struck out vigorously, but, in spite of Jack’s youth, the man was no match for him when it came to close quarters. Jack picked the man up in his arms bodily and ran to the trap door just as another head appeared in the opening.
Standing over the opening Jack lifted up his human burden and let him drop. He struck squarely upon the head of the other, and both went to the floor below with a loud thud. Jack glanced quickly around, to see if there were any other ladders being placed against the side of the house.
He could see none, so he mounted guard over the trap door. But not another form appeared through this opening either. Jack stood there for several moments, but no further attempts were made to reach him. Making sure that there was no one below, the lad walked quickly around the roof.