"Nope."
"We'll wait a while and if he does not let us out, we'll have to find a way for ourselves."
For a time they made the best of their situation, Stacy grumbling now and then, Tad bright and cheery, though in his heart he felt far from cheerful.
"I'm going to try to break the door down," announced Tad finally, after listening intently. "I can't hear anything. I believe the hermit has gone away and left us. Get up here beside me. Take hold of my hand and we'll rush it together."
They did so, throwing their combined weight against the door.
"Ouch!" yelled Stacy.
"Never mind, try it again," encouraged Tad, laughing in spite of himself.
Once more they hurled themselves on the obstruction. It resisted all their efforts. Tad lighted a match, examining the door carefully. The light revealed a heap of blankets in a corner of the chamber, where the old hermit slept.
"Must be his bedroom," decided Chunky.
"We've got to try something else," announced Tad. "Got your knife!"