* * *
He extinguished the flashlight, and groped his way forward into the darkness. Harry followed, closing the shelves behind him. Thus they advanced, feeling the sides of the tube through which they were passing.
Then they entered a larger cavern. They must be a hundred feet from the house, Harry judged.
“Shall I use the light?” whispered Blair.
“Let’s listen, first,” replied Harry.
Everything was quiet. The minute that they waited seemed very long.
“Here goes,” whispered Blair Windsor. But before he could press the button of the flashlight, the place was suddenly illuminated. From the other side of the underground room, two men sprang upon them.
Blair went down beneath the onslaught. His automatic was torn from his grasp. He was helpless beneath the body of the man who had seized him. He cried for aid as he was pinned to the floor.
By a skillful bit of dodging, Harry escaped his own adversary. He fired three shots directly at the man as he hurtled by.
The range was extremely close. The shots could not fail to take effect.