"He says 'thumps and bangs,'" reported Donald.
"WELL!!!!" chorused the others in amazement.
"My light on the first night," added Jan suddenly; "it shone from there. Now, who says that it wasn't mysterious?"
There was little chance of signalling practice for the rest of that day, for rain came down in buckets as soon as breakfast was over and the mist quite blotted out the Chase from the Islanders. Night must be spent at Island Cottage, there was no doubt about that. "And I do hope it'll be fine to-morrow," said Peter, as the three boys undressed that night in the big attic upstairs. "Dad's to get here early in the morning, and it would be such a——"
Tap! tap! came at their door, and Jan's face appeared; her eyes were bright and her teeth were chattering. "Oh, I'm so glad that you're sleeping here to-night," she said, "because—"
"What's up?" inquired the boys.
"It's—my room; the noise again; only it's louder: thumps this time, and loud bangs, and—near. On the wall, I think, or behind the wall, and from near to the floor. Some one's knocking, I'm certain, and I think I heard a voice!"
It didn't take an instant for the boys to slip on their coats. In another they were on the stairs on their way to Jan's room. There was silence for a minute or two after they entered; then the rapping began again. From the wall near the fireplace it seemed to come. Then there was the sound of a voice, "Let me out;" the words were faint, but perfectly plain.
"Yes, we will. Don't lose heart," Robin's tones sounded clear in the little room. He dropped on his knees beside the wall: "Tell us what to do, and we can help you."
There was a pause, and then the voice very faintly came again: "Make haste, or—pull out the mantel-shelf; that's the way. Keep it straight as you pull, and—pull hard; I will push from here, but I have not much strength left!" Then followed a moment of tense suspense, while the boys followed the directions; then came a grinding noise, and a long creaking movement of the front of the fireplace; then came a cry from Jan.