Seeing how matters stood, Captain Folsom directed the table be pulled away and then, commanding the boys to keep in the background, he and Tom Barnum stepped out to the stoop and poured the contents of their revolvers, fast as they could pump them, into the smugglers.
The surprise of the latter was complete. Caught between two fires, they did not know which way to turn. They wavered a moment, then dashed away 161 along the wall of the radio plant in an opposite direction from the door.
As they disappeared among the trees, pursued by a detachment of Lieutenant Summer’s men, the latter with a half dozen followers dashed up to the radio plant and, in the lighted doorway, recognized the figure of his colleague, Captain Folsom.
Greetings were exchanged, and then Captain Folsom called the boys forward and introduced them.
“Plucky lads, if ever I met any,” he said, warmly, “and resourceful, too. Their ingenuity has pulled us through time and again to-night.”
“Not to mention,” said Bob, gruffly, “that it was my darned foolishness that got us into this scrape to begin with.”
“Nonsense, my boy,” said Captain Folsom. “You did only what any of us would have done in jumping that rascal, Higginbotham. Well, now, let us head for the house. Probably that is where these rascals will take refuge. They must be wondering who you are, Lieutenant, and how you happened to appear on the scene.”