Ned fumbled a moment at the fastening. Presently he found the catch sliding the sash back in its channel. An exclamation escaped him as he did so. The face of the visitor was none other than that of their missing acquaintance, Mackinder. Ned was astounded.
“Thought you were dead!” he cried in amazement.
“Hush!” cautioned the other. “Not so loud. Now, if you lads want to get out of here this is your time. Everybody’s busy or asleep!”
“How do you know we want to get out of here?” demanded Jimmie in a low tone as he approached the opening.
“Don’t you suppose I have eyes? I saw what you were up to!”
“Oh, you did, eh? Then what do you want us to do?”
“If you want to get away from this place according to your plan, now is the time to take action,” replied Mackinder in a whisper. “If you prefer to wait until tomorrow and stand trial for an offense of which you are innocent I cannot offer any objection of course.”
“Ned, I think we’d better make our getaway while the going’s good!”
“Second the motion!” declared Harry, who had softly approached the window. “Let’s make a noise like a drum!”