CHAPTER XXVII

TRYING TO ESCAPE

The struggle was a sharp but short one. The boys were no match for the husky men, and though the lads kicked and punched with all their might, they could not save themselves. In a few minutes they were securely bound, and with the bags tight over their heads, were picked up by the men.

“Where you going to put ’em?” they heard Elkwood ask.

“The storehouse is a good place,” Bill Berry replied. “They can yell there all night and never be heard. Take ’em to the storeroom!”

The boys felt themselves being carried up the steps. Then they could tell, by the muffled footfalls, that they were being taken into some dungeon-like place.

“Shall we leave the bags on?” one of the men asked.

“No, I don’t want to smother ’em,” Bill replied. “They can’t make themselves heard in here, no matter how they yell. Besides, there’s nobody around. We’ve got Hardack out of the way and he’ll not be back until morning.”

“You forget the girl. She may be back any minute.”

“I guess not. Noddy has charge of her. He’ll detain her some way or other. Those motor boats have a habit of breaking down, you know.”

Then the bags were taken from the boys’ heads, but their bonds were not removed, and they were laid down on the cold stone floor of the storeroom. With sinking hearts they heard the men withdraw and lock the door, leaving them prisoners in total darkness.

For a few seconds none of the boys spoke. They were so surprised and shocked at the suddenness of it all they did not know what to say. At length Jerry’s voice broke the silence:

“Are either of you hurt?”

“Only scratched and bruised,” replied Ned.

“My wrists are cut by the rope, and my legs hurt,” said Bob. “I’m hun--”

“Let up on that!” exclaimed Jerry with a violence he seldom used. “This is no time to think of eating. Boys, it’s a mighty serious matter. These men are going to wreck the ship!”

“Do you think so?” inquired Bob.

“Of course; what else is it? They have carried their plot into effect, but they did it differently than I expected. Bill Berry’s going away was only a blind, and it fooled us. This new man, of course, is in the game. He came along as soon as Bill left, so no one else would be hired for the place.”

“Do you think they got Mr. Hardack away by a false message?” asked Ned.

“Of course they did. It was all in the game. Noddy is helping them.”

“If I ever get hold of him I’ll make him wish he’d never had a hand in it,” and Ned spoke so sincerely that his companions knew he would keep his word. They thought of Jessica out alone with the bully, who, possibly had purposely disabled the engine to keep her from getting back to the lighthouse.

“Oh, if we could only do something,” exclaimed Ned.

“We’ve got to!” cried Jerry. “We can’t let the ship be wrecked by them changing the light.”

“But how we going to stop ’em?” asked Ned.

“We must try and get loose,” Jerry replied. “They tied us in such a hurry maybe some of the knots will slip. That’s our only plan. There’s no use calling for help. It’s just as Bill said, no one would hear us. Try and work your hands free.”

They all tried but to little purpose. The ropes were firmly tied. Strain as they did they could not loosen the fastenings, and at last they had to stop, as the cords cut into their flesh.

“Well, they certainly got us into a trap!” exclaimed Jerry as, once more, he tugged at his bonds.

Suddenly Bob uttered an exclamation.

“Are you hurt?” cried Ned.

“Something cut my wrist!”

“What is it?”

“A piece of glass, I think.”

“Glass! Good!” came from Jerry. “Can you get it in your hands?”

“I have it.”

“Roll over towards me, and bring it with you.”

Bob did so. He came close to where Jerry was still tugging away at the ropes.

“How did you find it, Bob?”

“I was trying to get the knot loose and something sharp touched my wrist. I felt around until I found the glass.”

“What’s your plan, Jerry?” sung out Ned.

“I’m going to get Bob to hold the glass and I’m going to saw through the ropes on my hands. Then I’ll set you all free!”

“Can you do it?”

“I’m going to make a big try.”

Then in the darkness they began their efforts to escape. Bob stretched out on his face, holding the jagged piece of glass from a broken bottle between his bound hands. By careful feeling Jerry edged his way over to him, until he could bring his wrists close to Bob’s. Then both boys turned on their side, back to back, and Jerry began sawing at the cords that bound him.

It was hard work, and more than once they had to stop because their arms ached. Several times Jerry’s hands slipped and the glass cut him, but he did not mind. Back and forth he drew the rope over the keen edge until he could feel the strands giving way.

“It’s almost loose,” he said.

In another minute he gave a triumphant cry.

“I’m free!”

“Now to loosen us!” called Ned.

Jerry reached into his pocket for his knife. Luckily the men had not searched them, or taken anything away from the boys. With his hands free Jerry soon had the ropes from his legs. Then he cut the bonds of Ned and Bob. Their limbs were stiff, from being tied so long, but vigorous rubbing soon restored the circulation.

“Now to escape!” exclaimed Jerry. “We must find a way out of this, and stop the rascals from setting the false lights!”

They stumbled about in the darkness. The storehouse was filled with boxes and barrels, over which they fell as they felt around, seeking for some door or window. At last Ned cried out:

“Here’s a door!”

The other boys made their way toward the sound of his voice.

“It’s locked!” said Jerry, as he pushed against the portal.

“Can’t we batter it down with a box or a barrel!” Bob said.

They searched around in the gloom for something to use, but could find nothing. Everything was too heavy.

“Maybe we can cut around the lock with our knives,” suggested Ned.

In the darkness and silence they toiled. They could hear nothing from the men they knew must be in the lighthouse, working to cause the destruction of the steamer. They felt as if they were imprisoned in a vault.

“I wonder if we can get out and be in time?” said Ned. “It must be quite late.”

“Don’t talk! Work!” came from Jerry.

They redoubled their efforts to cut around the lock. But the door to the storeroom was thick and strong, and the lock was a heavy one.

“It’s no use,” declared Bob after an hour’s hacking away at the tough wood. “We’ll have to stay here until they let us out.”

“Don’t give up,” Ned spoke.

“Hark! What’s that?” asked Jerry.

The others listened.

“They’ve started the machinery!” cried Bob. “The lenses are turning.”

“Yes, and they are the wrong ones! They will get the ship on the rocks!” cried Jerry. “We must escape!”

Terror struck to the boys’ hearts. They had tried every means and failed. The plotters had outwitted them. They could do nothing. They beat upon the door with their fists as though by their feeble efforts they could break it down.

Ned stumbled aimlessly in the darkness, seeking for something with which to batter down the door. As he passed by a pile of boxes and barrels he uttered a cry.

“Have you found anything?” asked Jerry.

“Something, yes! A window in the wall! An open window!”

Bob and Jerry hurried to where they heard Ned’s voice. As they did so he had climbed up on a box. He pressed his face close against the wall. A cool wind fanned his cheek.

“There is an opening!” he exclaimed. “But it is too small for us to get out of. It’s only a ventilating window. But wait! Someone is coming!”

The boys almost held their breaths. Then Ned called in a loud whisper:

“Jess! Jess! Here we are! Let us out! Some bad men are in charge of the place and are going to change the lights! They are going to wreck a steamer!”