The cottage mentioned by Andy was located about a hundred and fifty feet from the road. It was set among some small trees, and a roadway led to the front door. Along this roadway dashed Jack and the acrobatic youth.
The boy who had uttered the cry for help was a tall, thin lad, with a shock of black hair and deep, black eyes. He was a cripple, walking with a crutch, one leg being bent at the knee. He had come out of the cottage hopping on his good limb and flourishing his crutch menacingly at the two individuals in the green masks and hoods.
“Give up the wrench!” cried one of the strange individuals, shaking a barrel stave in the boy’s face.
“We must have it!” shouted the second masked person. “We need it for opening the treasure chest!”
“Go away!” cried the boy. “Go away, I tell you!”
As he spoke he swung the crutch around and hit one of the masked men on the shoulder. At this the fellow leaped back and uttered a wild laugh.
“Stop that!” cried Jack, as he leaped from his wheel. “Let that boy alone!”
“Ha! ha! The police have arrived!” cried the second masked man, who was armed with a small section of a garden hose.
“We must vanish!” cried the other masked fellow. “They want to put us in jail for a thousand years!” and he began to retreat towards the woods behind the cottage.
“Here, hold up!” called out Andy, a sudden thought flashing into his mind. “I think I know those chaps,” he added to Jack.