"You've stepped on my sore toe!" howled the man. "Phew! how it hurts!"
The two men talked about the hurt toe for several minutes. Then their voices suddenly ceased. Tom and Dick strained their ears, but could hear absolutely nothing.
"They must be up to some trick," whispered the eldest Rover. "Hi, you, what are you doing?" he called out.
There was no answer and the silence was just as ominous as before. The light in the inner room had gone out.
"What are you doing?" repeated Dick, and ran close to the door to listen. Nothing but absolute silence followed.
What to do next the two boys did not know; They waited for fully five minutes—then five more. Presently they heard Sam coming back.
"I yelled for Jack and the others, but I got no answer," said he. "What are the men doing?"
"We don't know," answered Tom. "We are afraid they are up to some trick."
"A trick?" repeated Sam. Then he gave a gasp. "The room—isn't there a back door, leading out to the shed?"
"I don't know," answered Dick.
"I'll run and see."
Sam was gone less than two minutes when they
