“There will always be someone here to see that you don’t get away!” said the voice. “If you make any trouble, you won’t get anything to eat! Now, be good!”
“You can keep me as gentle as a lamb by feeding me right!” Alex. said, with a chuckle which was rather forced. “Why don’t you show up?”
“You’ll see me soon enough,” the voice went on. “In the meantime, don’t show that electric light again, and if you have any weapons lay them on the floor in this corner.”
“I haven’t any,” lied Alex. “I brought the light instead.”
As he spoke the boy nudged Jule, and he, understanding, slid his revolver along the floor in the direction of the voice. It struck against the wall with a metallic thud.
“That’s right!” the voice in the darkness said. “Now, you with the light, send it over here. I might want to use it!”
Alex. slid his torch along the floor. In its progress the button was pressed and a round illumination sprang up on the wall. Almost in the center of this they saw the white hair and beard of the old man who had invited them into the room above!
The boys sat for a long time in serious thought after that, well knowing that every word uttered would be heard by their guardian. Alex. was more than hopeful in his views of the situation.
“If these fellows were professionals,” he mused, “they wouldn’t take any chances on us not having more weapons and more lights. They would make sure by searching us! I don’t believe they ever took a prisoner before, or that they are very anxious about keeping us. I guess we just butted in where we’re not wanted, and they’ll let us go after a time. Anyway, they’re easy!”
Directly loud noises were heard in the old house, and the insecure walls shook under heavy burdens. It seemed to the listening lads that huge boxes and barrels were being transferred from one room to another.