ng as the
card game was in progress. This might be so long as to exceed the time
limit set for his return to Dick and Phil, and consequently give them
cause to worry.

Then followed disaster number two.

"If you chaps want to play cards and drink, you can do it without me.
I'm dog tired, too tired even to go home, and I'm going upstairs and
turn in for a while," said one of the quartet.

"All right, if you want to, take the room over this one," said Green.

Escape seemed to be cut off at all angles from Garry, not to mention the
chances of detection.

Quickly flipping the rug back in place over the register, he rolled back
under the bed, hugging up against the wall as close as he could. He
didn't know what he was going to do. For the present the only thing
possible was to remain where he was, trusting to chance not to be
detected.

For a moment he thought of making a dash for the hall or the other room,
but decided the danger was too great. It was well that he remained where
he was, for the door opened, and the man came in, yawning audibly.

He threw his clothes off and tumbled into bed, while Garry hardly dared
breathe for fear that his presence would be detected.

Fortunately the man was so tired that he did not lay awake long, and his
stentorous breathing soon told Garry he was asleep. Garry took counsel
with himself as to what was the best course to follow. He could stay
where he was till the card game broke up, and then steal down the stairs
and back through the cellar passageway, or he could make his way down
the front stairs and try and let himself out of the front door. There
was one drawback to this. Green might have locked the front door and
pocketed the key, and then, too, there was the danger that one of those
remaining up might go wandering through the house just as Garry made the
attempt.

There was one other alternative. He could remain in the house till
morning, and then when they had all gone, make his way out easily. Then
Garry remembered that this was impossible, as Everett would have a posse
come to the house if he were not back at six. That would be disastrous
now, for it would halt the bringing of the jewels across the border, and
Garry was determined that their seizure should be part of the grand
finale in cleaning up the smuggler gang.

He must get out of the house as soon as possible. But how?

Then he bethought himself of the tree outside of the window. He
remembered that the bran