The boys ran from the vault and across the lower floor of the old mill. Then an outer door opened and the man called Vidder appeared.
He presented a comical appearance and under ordinary circumstances the boys would have laughed at him. Over one shoulder dangled a cow’s hide and over the other a pair of fearful looking horns. In one hand he carried a light, placed in an object formed to represent a large human skull.
“What does this mean?” he asked, when Bert ran full tilt into him, hurling him flat. Then the youth ran through the doorway, and the cadets followed him.
“Beware of traps!” sang out Pepper. “Let us keep in a string and join hands.”
This was done, Bert forming one end of the line and Dale the other. Once they stepped on a platform that threatened to go down with them, but they were on the alert and got off in a hurry. Then they dashed straight into the woods, where they knew the men would have difficulty in following them.
“Well, I guess we have accomplished what we set out to do,” said Jack, when they finally came to a halt.
“Yes, indeed!” cried Bert. “And I do not know how to thank you enough,” he added, warmly.
“Don’t you want to read that will over and see if it is really in favor of your mother?” asked Dale.
“Yes.”
A light was made, and all of the boys looked over the document with care. The will left small sums of money to various servants and employees and then the bulk of the Robertson estate went to Bert’s mother and her heirs—the only heir now being Bert himself.