Jeffries was quite satisfied to take the part assigned to him. He moved
off in one direction, while Hocker and Ned took the other. Bug was left
alone in the bushes.

Jeffries was already in conversation with Moxley when his companions
reached the wasteway. They could hear the voices of the two men
indistinctly.

Hocker motioned Ned to the rear seat beside Abner; then seizing the oars
he pulled the boat swiftly into the deep shadows under the mill. The
next step was a more difficult one.

Bidding Abner take the oars, and keep the boat in the same position if
possible, he tossed the rope over the very beam to which Ned had
descended, and catching the end, tied it to the main part of the rope in
such a way as to form a sort of swinging loop, which could not slip. By
standing on the seat he managed to get one foot in this loop; then
clutching both parts of the rope he drew himself quickly up, and after
swaying to and fro for an instant, threw one arm over the rafter. An
instant later he was straddling it, and pulling the rope after him he
untied the loop.

"Now, lad," he whispered, "call your companions. They won't know my
voice."

But this was rendered unnecessary by a sudden rasping noise above, as
the loose plank was carefully lifted from its place.

"Randy! Randy!" whispered Ned. "It's all right. We're going to rescue
you."

A glad murmur of voices was heard, and Randy incautiously replied:
"Hurry up then. Now's your time, for Moxley is at the other end of the
mill talking."

"Not so loud, lad," whispered Hocker. "Hold steady now and look out for
the rope end."

But before Hocker could throw it footsteps came hastily over the floor
above, and then a loud shrill whistle was heard--Jeffries's signal.

An instant of breathless suspense was followed by the sudden thrusting
of a shiny object through a hole in the floor a little to one side of
the closet.

"No you don't," cried Moxley in a savage voice. "You can't play that
game on me. Get out of that at once, or I'll riddle you with buckshot.
In ten seconds I shoot."

It was not a time to hesitate or parley. The plank dropped into place,
and by a reckless swing and drop Hocker landed fairly in the center of
the boat, very nearly capsizing it. Abner dropped the oars, and the
current whirled the craft swiftly down the wasteway.

It was a bitter disappointment, especially to Ned. Jeffries hastened to
the spot as the party landed.

"I'm awful sorry," he s