“I knew you were lying to me,” Truem heard Tom say to one of the men above. Then he called down to Truem:
“You fellows can bring your prisoner up through the trap.”
“All right,” shouted Truem; “we’ll be there in just a minute.”
He communicated Tom’s request to Chot, and the latter marched his prisoner into the chamber. Then Truem pushed the trap-door open, and in this way the boys ascended into the basement of the lodge, revolvers ready for any emergency.
But they saw that their chums had indeed been successful in their capture of the other smugglers, Fleet having completely disarmed the men while Tom and Pod covered them. The smugglers were now huddled together in one corner, and the man brought up by Chot and Truem was placed among them.
“Now, to rescue Bert,” said Chot.
“I s’pose that’s your pal that we’ve got on the other island?” said the leader of the smugglers.
“Yes.”
“Well, you’ll never get him, for there’s ten men over there, and they’ll be coming to see what’s wrong with us in a few minutes.”
“And they’ll find out,” said Tom. “But I don’t believe your story of ten men. You told us a lie before, and the man who lies once will lie as often as the occasion demands.”