For an instant, Aleck Hunt was too terrified to move. The weird sound of flapping wings filled the room. A black object flashed close to his head; then another, and Aleck, with a stifled cry, dodged hastily through the doorway, and collided with George Clayton.
“Good gracious! What’s the matter?” gasped the latter, in alarm.
“Bats,” answered Aleck, laconically.
George peered cautiously in.
“Jiminy, the room is full of them!” he cried. “Never saw so many in my life.”
“I got an awful crack on the head,” said Aleck, ruefully. “Nearly knocked me over.”
“Moral: never go into a perfectly dark and deserted place without looking,” laughed George.
The moonlight streaming through the broken panes revealed a number of the creatures wildly circling around and around, sometimes skimming close to the wall.
“Look out!” yelled Aleck, suddenly.
One of the bats veered sharply, flew through the doorway directly over their heads, and disappeared into the next room. Another followed its lead, and the boys hastily moved away.