Not one of the little group volunteered to do so.

“He’s a desperate chap,” ventured one; “and as he’s above he’s going to have us at a disadvantage. I don’t care to tackle him alone, I allow.”

“Bah!” retorted Boggs, “you are a coward.”

He shirked the undertaking himself, however.

“Perhaps it would be safer for three to go up,” he said a minute later. “Can the dog have mistrusted our plan?”

“Hark! what was that?” exclaimed one of the soldiers as a loud crash from within the house broke the stillness of the night.

CHAPTER XV.
TURNING THE TABLES.

In a moment the little squad were on the alert.

No sound, however, followed the crash which seemed like the concussion of a falling body.

“Some one is in the house!” whispered Boggs, whose stock of courage never was great, was fast leaving him.