HIGGINBOTHAM ESCAPES
A hasty marshalling of forces was first made. Besides the three boys, Captain Folsom and Tom Barnum, Lieutenant Summers had twelve men under his command. Thus they numbered eighteen in all. It was decided to split this force into two equal parties, one commanded by Lieutenant Summers, the other by Captain Folsom.
Tom Barnum went with Lieutenant Summer’s party as guide, the boys with Captain Folsom. They were to move against the front and rear entrances of the house, summon those within to surrender and, if necessary, to blockade the house until surrender was made. As an afterthought, each party detached a man, as they moved up through the woods, to stand guard over the tunnel and thus prevent any who had taken refuge either therein or in the house from making their escape.
As it proved, however, when Paddy Ryan discovered he was besieged by government forces, he 163 surrendered without resistance, together with the half dozen men with him. The others had scattered and made their escape. And when the government forces came to take inventory of their prisoners, it was discovered that among those who had fled was Higginbotham.
“Ye’ll get nothin’ out of me,” said Ryan sullenly, when he was questioned as to Higginbotham’s whereabouts. “He beat it away. That’s all I know.”
Frank’s quick eye, however, was caught by the gleam in Ryan’s glance, and he suspected the other knew more than he would admit. Drawing his chums to one side, he said in a low voice:
“Look here, fellows, I believe Higginbotham is hiding in one of two places. Either he is up in the attic, in that secret passage through which we made our escape from the dark room, or else hiding in the tunnel.”
“Maybe you’re right,” said Bob. “But we couldn’t ferret him out alone. If he is hiding in either place, he is armed, and would have us at his mercy. A desperate man would shoot. I believe we would be foolhardy to take such a chance.”
“Let’s ask Captain Folsom’s advice,” suggested Jack, sensibly.
Waiting an opportunity, they beckoned Captain 164 Folsom aside and Frank propounded his suspicions. The latter looked thoughtful.