"We'll have to try the rear," said Greg.
The question then was how to get around to the back. The whole block presented an unbroken brick front from First Avenue to the Square.
At the Square they joined the other men and Pa Simmons who was there with his cab. The latter reported that de Socotra had not left the house.
"Damn glad you come," said he. "I'm at the end of my wits, how to keep watching that house without the police force getting wise to me cab. I watches from this corner for awhile, then runs around the block and takes a stand down by First. Then I come back again. But there's a cop down there's got his eye on me already. I don' know where to go now."
"You can be our mobile scout," said Greg. "Keep moving. Drive through this block every minute. We'll signal you if we need you."
Pa Simmons drove off.
At the corner where they stood there was a modern apartment house. A space of three feet separated the back wall of this building from the side wall of the first dwelling. This crack offered the only discoverable opening into the interior of the block. As the house they were seeking to enter was the sixth from the corner, it meant that they must climb six back fences to reach it.
"Bull, how are you on climbing fences?" asked Greg.
"O.K., if somebody will hold me overcoat."
"Hand it to one of the fellows. Estuban, Bull and I will go over the fences and break in the back way. You other fellows hide yourselves up and down the block here, but choose places where you can watch that house. If anybody comes out you are to jump on him and frisk him for the little black book, see? If it isn't on him let him go. If we get in the rear all right, and want your help, one of us will come to the front door, and saw his arm up and down so, like a semaphore."