“An’ maybe ready to pounce on us the moment we get out,” suggested the blond lad. “Gee! I only hope nothing’s happened to Bob.”

“They’d never catch him napping,” said Dick.

“Oh, I don’t know about that. For all we know, they may have tied him up an’ tossed him in a corner like a sack of wheat. Look out, fellows! This time it goes.”

With all the strength of his powerful arms the big lad hurled the stool.

The sound of a fearful crash instantly followed. The woodwork was torn asunder, while showers of glass rattled over the floor, or, falling outside, were splintered and smashed to bits on the ground. A dull thud announced the arrival of the stool on the turf.

“Not a neat job, but effective,” remarked Dave.

“Would have been quite a pretty sight from down below,” commented Sam.

A number of heads were immediately poked out through the broken window.

“Hello, Bob, hello!” yelled Tom.

The others joined in a rousing chorus.