An instant later they were in the house.
“Surrender!” yelled Tom, though he saw no one. “You’re surrounded! Surrender!”
Still no reply.
A hurried search of the first floor revealed no one. A look through the second floor was likewise unsuccessful. The attic revealed not a soul and the cellar was tenantless.
“We’re too late!” exclaimed Tom Swift. “They’ve gone! But they have been here!” he declared, pointing into a room with iron bars over the only window. “They’ve been here and I believe Ned was a prisoner here. Yes, he was!” he cried, picking something up in a corner.
“How do you know Ned was here?” asked Mr. Damon.
“This is his stickpin,” Tom replied, showing a scarf ornament of silver and jade. “Ned’s been here all right. But they have taken him away. We’re too late!”
“What’s to be done now?” asked Tagg.
“Follow them!” cried Tom. “We’ve got to get Ned back. Let’s have another look around.”
They looked, but found little to aid them in their search.