vered?" the
general asked.

"There's an outside air shaft leading down into the cellars. It is
covered with vines and there is a tree growing beside it," Tony said. "I
used to be able to slide down that shaft."

"A good idea," Stan said. He was beginning to realize that Tony would
not be able to travel very far or very fast. "Let's get going."

"See, they are making a circle around the woods," Tony said.

Lights were flashing above and below them. But the Germans did not seem
to think it necessary to throw a line between the woods and the house.
Arno and General Bolero helped Tony. Stan and Allison brought up the
rear. They moved through the trees and across a garden thickly planted
with shrubbery and grapevines.

Behind them the woods were filled with German soldiers. The searchers
had fanned out into the valley below and upon the hills above the villa.

"Here is the shaft," Tony said as they halted in the black darkness
under a tree.

Stan could see nothing that looked like a shaft or like the roof of a
wine cellar.

"We must be careful not to disturb the vines or the bushes." Tony
laughed softly. "Mr. Sachetti went to a great deal of trouble in hiding
the cellar and the shaft. He said they ruined the beauty of his garden."
Tony was pushing aside bushes as he spoke. Finally he called very
softly. "Come now."

The raiders moved under the spreading branches of the tree and from
there they crawled under a leafy vine. They found an open shaft with a
high metal cone over it. Tony and Arno went down first. When the general
tried it he had trouble squeezing down the shaft. Stan was the last to
slip through. He lowered the guns and grenades to Allison before he
descended. Sliding down he found himself in total darkness.

"Now we have to hide. The Germans will be coming down here often for
wine." Tony spoke eagerly. "We'll hide behind the vats containing the
new crop of grapes. The Germans will drink only the old wines. They are
on this side."

Feeling their way they located a row of huge barrels and crawled in
behind them. Stan and Allison located themselves near the outside
barrel.

"We can hear the doors open when anyone comes down here," Tony said.
"The hinges are rusty and will squeak loudly."

"How about dressing your wound now, Tony?" General Bolero suggested. "I
will tend to it myself."

CHAPTER XIV

NIGHT FLIGHT

The creaking hinges of the wine cellar door served as a warning signal
to t