One step he took in the blackness, and then something tripped him up. It was a strong cord stretched across the bottom of the steps, a foot from the ground. The man had fallen into a booby trap of the simplest possible kind, which Jack had set in the event of any unauthorized callers disturbing his slumbers.
With a startled cry quickly suppressed, the intruder sprawled forward, clutching wildly, and measured his length on the floor. As he fell his head came in violent contact with the edge of the table.
In a flash Jack was sitting bolt upright, collecting his wits. Then he remembered the booby trap, but he did not laugh now. The thing had evidently done its work.
With a bound he leaped from his berth, grasped his stick, and landed on the intruder, who was already scrambling to his knees. It was now the boy’s turn to stumble, but they both recovered at the same moment.
Neither could see the other, although not more than three feet separated them as they instinctively sprang apart.
“Stand still, or I’ll shoot!” called Jack. At the same moment he moved toward the door, but before he could reach it the man was on him and had borne him to the floor.
Jack struggled frantically, but his opponent was stronger than he. A hand was thrust over his mouth and a knee pressed heavily on his chest.
“Keep still, or I’ll crush the life out o’ you!” a voice hissed.
But Jack had no intention of keeping still in the circumstances. One of his legs was free, and with it he kicked out lustily, making as much noise as possible, but doing no harm to his assailant.