The reader can fully appreciate the peril of Will when they know what
was behind him, and that he had a room, unknown to him, and with an
occupant asleep in it, to cross, before he got out, while he little
knew where the door would lead him, or whether he would be any nearer
escape than where he then was.
Cautiously he raised the fireboard from within and began to move it
outwardly as though it swung on a hinge.
He did this noiselessly, and soon had space enough to get through.
This he did and rose to a standing posture, the little bundle still at
his back.
Then he put the fireboard back in its place and stepped forward.
The floor creaked and startled him, and he walked quickly to the door.
As he reached it the sleeper started, turned in bed, raised his head,
and glanced toward the window, while he muttered: "What a deuce of a
storm is raging."
Then back dropped his head, and he did not see the boy crouching down
within two feet of him, and who held, grasped firmly and ready for use,
a boot-jack, that his hand accidently touched.
Had the man attempted to get out of bed, or had he glanced toward the
boy, he would have felt the weight of the boot-jack, for Will was
determined to escape at all hazards, even if he had to strike at human
life, for he did not doubt, coming to this room as he had from the den
of the Land Sharks, that the occupant was one of the band.
But, fortunately for the man he dropped off to sleep again, and
fortunately, too, for Will, who might have made a miss blow and then
been killed or captured.
As soon as the heavy breathing of the man indicated that he was once
more asleep, Will turned to the door and placed his hand upon the key.
He turned it slowly in the lock, and yet it creaked loudly to his ears;
but the noise of the storm without drowned the sound as far as waking
the sleeper was concerned.
Taking hold of the knob he drew back the latch, and moved the door. It
creaked loudly, so he shut it to quickly as he saw the man move
uneasily. He kept still, and the man once more breathed naturally in his
slumber.
Drawing the key from the door Will then opened it quickly and stepped
outside, closed it after him, though trembling at the loud creaking
sound it made.
At the same time he thrust the key in the door and turned it, just as he
heard the man spring out of bed.
Where he was he did not know, for all was blackness about him, but he at
once moved away from the door, feeling his way cautiously, while he
could hear the occupant of the room moving hastily about, and then grasp
the knob of the door.
A smothered curse followed the words: "The key is gone!"
Then there was a shaking of the door, and Will nearly fell down a flight
of stairs; but caught himself on the rail.
As he hastily descended there appeared a crescent-shaped light before
him, and he knew that it was over a door, and a moment after he reached
it.
It was locked, but the key was on the inside and hastily he turned it,
and he could hardly restrain a shout of joy as he found himself out in
the street.
The storm was at its height, the rain was pouring in torrents and the
narrow street was flooded; but the daring boy cared little for that and
turning noted the house and number.
Then he darted away, unmindful of the rain.
At the corner he saw the name of the street, and once more pressed on,
seemingly acquainted with the locality and aiming for a certain point.
Not even a policeman was seen out in that driving rain, so the boy met
no human being as he ran along up to his ankles in water.
Here and there a light burned dimly, evidently in some sick-room, and
all else was darkness, excepting the flickering street-lamps at the
corners. Turning into another street he came in sight of a coloured
lamp, jutting out from a large brick house.
Toward this he ran and a moment after, dripping wet, bare-headed,
shoeless and jacketless he darted into a room where sat several officers
in police uniform, while one wearing the badge of a captain of the force
sat behind a desk in a small adjoining room.
The boy appeared like an apparition to the officers, but he gave them no
time for thought, as he said: "Is not that Sergeant Daly?" and he
pointed to the officer in the other room.
"Yes, it is _Captain_ Daly, for he's been promoted," answered an
officer.
"Ho, Murphy, any one to see me?" called out the captain.
"Yes, sir, a boy that looks as if he'd just swum across East river," was
the reply.
"Ah! I know that face, you are Will Raymond, who captured the convict
for me over a year ago," said Captain Daly coming out.
"Yes, sir, and I've come to tell you a strange story, and guide you to
the den of a band of outlaws that call themselves Land Sharks for I just
escaped from them," and Will spoke quickly, though with not a particle
of excitement in his manner and voice, so well did he control his
feelings.
The name of Land Sharks caused the police present to gather near at once
and appear deeply interested, while Captain Daly said: "If you know the
hiding-place of that gang, my lad, you know more than any policeman or
detective in New York has been able to find out."
"I do know it, sir, and two ways of getting there; but what you do, you
must do now, as they will escape, so I'll tell you all I can while you
get your men ready, and there are over a dozen in the band."
"Murphy, call up twenty men and a sergeant at once."
"Now, Master Will, for you see I have not forgotten your name, let me
have your story."
In as few words as possible, Will told of his having been stopped by a
well-dressed stranger and then sent to the den of the Land Sharks, as an
excuse to get him into their clutches.
His manner of getting there, and his reception he made known, together
with his acquiescence, as the outlaw supposed, in their plot to get the
reward offered for Willie Rossmore, the little son of the Baltimore
millionaire.
His escape, bringing with him in a bundle, the photographs, and
well-worn clothing the kidnapped boy had on when taken, he also made
known, and they were displayed before the police captain, who said:
"These can wait, and will dry by the time we get back; but Will, you are
a natural born detective, and you shall have work as such, that will
keep your mother and sister from want; but here are my men, my brave
boy, and we will start at once--ho! I forgot that you were wet and
shivering but I'll soon make you comfortable."
An order to an attendant brought from a package room a thick suit and
india-rubber coat, into which the boy had no difficulty in getting, as
they were nearly double his size, and a policeman's hat sheltered his
head.
Then, side by side with Captain Daly, and with a score of policemen
following, they stepped out into the driving rain to go upon the raid
against the Land Sharks.