The German workmen were startled out of their wits a second or two later when five armed men stepped out from behind barrels and covered them with machine guns and a rifle. They stared at General Bolero, blinked their eyes wildly, and then elevated their arms toward the ceiling.
“Tie them up,” Stan ordered. “Take the door with Arno.” He nodded to Allison. “If any more men come, cover them and bring them back here.”
Tony and the general and Stan got busy. It took a little time to bind and gag eight men when the bonds and gags had to be ripped from their clothing with trench knives. Before that was finished Allison and Arno added two more noncom officers who had come in to hurry up the squad.
“I suggest we each roll a barrel outside,” General Bolero said. “We can use them as something to hide behind if we meet resistance.”
“Good idea,” Stan agreed. He turned to Tony. “Can we get out without charging the main gate? If we rouse the Germans, we’ll be in the same spot we were in the first time we got loose.”
“I don’t think so,” Tony answered.
The problem was solved by the appearance of an officer. He bellowed angrily into the cellar, then took a step or two into the dark passageway. That was a mistake. Allison tapped him over the head with a gun barrel and dragged him back.
“He says the villa has been fired. There is only a few minutes to load up and get out.” Allison laid the officer beside his men.
“We won’t tie him up. When he comes to he can free his men. I wouldn’t roast even a German,” Stan snapped. “Get a barrel and let’s get going.”
The floor and the passageway sloped gently down into the cellar because the barrels always came in full and went out empty. The boys soon discovered that it took two of them to roll a heavy barrel. They managed to get three barrels rolling and headed for the entrance.