e it was far more so below, and the boys shivered in
spite of themselves. The cellar had only a mud bottom and this was
covered with slime and mold. There was little there to interest them
outside of an old chest which, when they pried it open, proved to be
empty.

"Listen!" cried Tom, suddenly, and held up his hand.

"What did you hear?" demanded several of the others.

"I thought I heard somebody walking around upstairs. There it is again!"

All gave attention, and heard the unmistakable sounds of footsteps on
the stairs leading to the second story.

"Who is up there?" called out Dick, and turned to leave the cellar,
followed by his brothers and chums.

"Stay where you are!" came back in a harsh voice. "Don't any of you dare
to come out of that cellar!"

"It is Merrick!" burst out Tom.

Hardly had he spoken when they heard a door shut sharply and a bolt
dropped into place. Then the footsteps retreated.

"He has shut the door to the cellar!" cried Dick, flashing the light
upward. "We are locked in!"

"Hark! I heard more than one person running from the house," said Larry.

"That Pike must be with him."

"Or else Tad Sobber."

As quickly as he could, Dick ran up the old stairs and tried the door.
It was in fairly good condition and refused to budge.

"Smash it down!" called out Tom, and went to his brother's assistance.

"We must get out and collar those rascals," said Sam. "Can't you get the
door open?"

"We ought to be able to," answered Dick. "Here, catch the light and take
the gun."

In a few seconds Dick, Tom and Songbird were pressing on the door with
all their strength. All stood on the top step of the cellar stairs.

"Now then, all together!" cried Dick, and they shoved with might and
main. Then came a crack below them, and an instant later the cellar
stairs collapsed, carrying them with it. As they went down in a confused
heap the stairs struck the electric light and smashed it. It also
knocked the shotgun from Sam's hand.

Bang! went the firearm, with a report in the narrow confines of the
cellar that was deafening.

"I'm killed! I'm killed!" came from Larry, an instant later. "You've
shot my hand off!"

CHAPTER XXIX

A WRECK AND A CAPTURE

"Get off of my fingers!"

"Please let me get out of this hole!"

"Say, how can I get up if you're going to sit on my legs?"

These and a few more utterances came from the boys as they endeavored to
clear themselves of the wreckage