Then Bob heard him descend the stairs, and heard the opening and closing of the door.
Bob at once set to work freeing himself. He did not care for the threat which had been made. Probably Blake had become frightened, and would not return at all.
Close to where Bob was bound was a large blue chest, with iron-bound corners. When he had been brought to the spot the youth had noticed that one of the iron corners was broken, leaving a sharp edge sticking from the top.
Bob could just reach the chest with his feet, and, by rubbing the rope around his ankles over the rough edge of the iron, he managed after considerable trouble to wear the rope in two, thus freeing his feet.
But his hands were still tied behind him and to a small bit of joist between two upright beams.
Planting his feet firmly on the floor Bob tugged at the joist with all his strength, and was at last overjoyed to find he had loosened one end.
To loosen the other was a comparatively easy job, and then Bob stood a free boy, but with his hands still fastened to the bit of wood. Bending over the chest, he again began his rubbing process, and soon the wood fell to the floor, and Bob’s hands were once again ready for use.
He lost no time in tearing the dirty gag from his mouth. While he was doing this, he heard the door at the foot of the stairs unlocked, and Grogan came up.
Bob knew the Irishman’s tread too well to be mistaken. He turned to flee, then, not knowing where to go, he stopped short and faced his enemy.
Grogan carried a lantern on one arm. He cast the rays over to where Bob had been tied, and uttered an exclamation of dismay.