"Hold up!" cried Townsend. "Don't be in such a rush. Tell us what——"
But the negro was gone, clattering across the floor of an outer room and rushing down the outside stairs.
"What do you suppose put him in that kind of a taking, mates?" asked Dick.
"It puzzles me," answered Townsend.
"Suppose we look around," said Matt.
They were in the dark room in which Matt and Dick had had their short struggle at close quarters with Whistler and his man. Dick opened the door on the right. It led into the room that opened upon the outside stairs. The door at the head of the stairs was ajar, and the released prisoners could see that dusk had fallen outdoors.
"Nothing in this direction, mates," announced Dick. "Try that other door next to you, Matt."
Matt opened the door, and instantly a peculiar odor was perceptible.
"We've sniffed that before, Matt," said Dick.