en suddenly a lantern flashed its light over their heads, and they
heard the words:

"Well, they're not here, at any rate."

The steps passed their hiding places, and the boys decided that there
were three men.

"If we could meet them on our own ground, we'd be more than a match for
them," muttered Harry. "But this strange place and in the dark, we'd be
completely at their mercy."

"Yes, and with the other rascal lurking about," answered Sam.

Just then they heard a long, shrill, peculiar whistle. The boys started,
for they did not recognize it. Following almost immediately came the
report of fire arms.

"Come along, boys!" cried Harry. "There's something doing somewhere, and
we must be on the spot!"

They all rushed on blindly in the dark, following the direction whence
the shot proceeded, the way still as dark as Erebus, but seemingly
straight ahead. When Dick and his partner reached the stone house on the
river, the man would have passed the door, but Dick held him back,
saying sharply:

"I know the house. I want to save time by having you show me its secret
passages and explain what nefarious practices are being carried on in
the place."

The man made no reply, but walked up the steps to the front door, opened
it with a key, and then passed into the unlighted hall, into which the
daylight could not penetrate, on account of the solid wooden door
shutting it off from the street, and the doors into the rooms all being
closed. A sudden misgiving seized Dick. Had he been prudent in coming
into this strange house alone with an avowed enemy? It was true the
Liberty Boys were somewhere about, but could they reach him in time,
should danger present itself? He drew out both pistols, and backed
against the wall, while he made the man procure a light. Instead he gave
a long shrill whistle, which was immediately answered, and there could
be heard the onrushing of feet. The Tory gave a mocking laugh,
exclaiming:

"Captain Slater of the Liberty Boys has walked into his own trap!"

The only reply Dick made was to give the melancholy hoot of an owl. The
prisoner jumped and looked about, and then laughed a little sheepishly,
but at the same instant, there came bursting into the hallway the three
ruffians who had passed the other boys such a short time before.

"Surrender!" hissed the Tory.

CHAPTER VI.--In Dangerous Quarters.

"Not at all!" cried Dick, pistols in hand and barring the passage of the
three men. "St