"Sure, I'll be afther goin'," Pat cried, and he did go—not up the rope, but out of the room, as fast as he could go.
Nor did he pause until outside of the house, as Fritz could tell by the sound of his rapidly retreating footsteps.
"Vel, dot vas purdy goot fun," Fritz muttered with a grin. "I dink I vil vait dil some vone else comes."
He had not long to wait before footsteps sounded once more, coming up the stairs, just as the storm broke loose outside, and torrents of rain poured down upon the roof, while the thunder rumbled ominously.
Presently two men entered, one carrying a lantern, for it was now quite dark.
Both were roughly dressed and brutal-looking fellows, wearing heavy black beards.
"Humph!" was Fritz's mental comment, as he beheld them. "I'll bet a half-dollar I smells von mice. Uff I haff not made a big mistake, I dinks I haff stumbled right inder the smugglers' den vot I am looking for."
It was only a sudden suspicion, to be sure; nevertheless it struck him very forcibly.
One of the men set the lantern upon the table, and then perched himself beside it, while the other sat down upon a chair and gazed speculatively at the ghastly object which hung suspended from the ceiling.
"I wonder how long afore the rest o' ther boys will be here," he growled.