“We won’t get found out,” put in a fourth person.  It was Larkspur.  “Come ahead, and don’t waste time here.”

With great haste the masked ones picked up the three Rovers and Stanley and dragged them into the kitchen of the old house.  Then one after another the unconscious ones were taken down into a dark and musty cellar and placed on some straw.

“Now to fix up the evidence!” cried Koswell.  “We must be quick, or it may be too late!”

For all of a quarter of an hour the three Rover boys and Stanley Browne lay where they had been placed on the moldy straw.  They breathed with difficulty, for the strange vapor still exercised its influence on their lungs.

At last Sam stirred and opened his eyes.

“Wha—­what’s the matter with me?” he murmured, and then sat up.

He could see next to nothing, for the cellar was dark.  His head ached keenly, and he could not collect his senses.  He also felt somewhat sick at the stomach.

“Dick!  Tom!” he called.  “Where are you?”

There was no reply, but presently he heard somebody stir.

“Don’t—­don’t kill me!” murmured Stanley.  “Take the ghosts away!”

“Stanley!” called Sam.  “Whe—­where are we?”

“Who—­who is tha—­that?” stammered Stanley, sitting up.

“It is I—­Sam!”

“Whe—­where are we, Sam?”

“I—­I don’t know.”

“My head is go—­going around like—­like a top.”

“So is mine.  Tom!  Dick!”

“Is that you, Sam?” came faintly from the elder Rover as he opened his eyes.

“Yes.  Where is Tom?”

“Here, I guess, beside me.”  Dick shook his brother.  “Tom!  Tom!  Wake up!” he cried.  But Tom continued to lay quiet with his eyes tightly closed.

Sam was feeling in his pocket for a matchbox, and presently he brought the article forth and made a light.  He was still so dizzy he could scarcely see about him.  Stanley had fallen back again, gasping for breath.

By the dim light afforded by the match the two brothers looked at Tom.  He was gasping in a strange, unnatural fashion.

“I believe he is choking to death!” said Dick hoarsely.  “Air!  He must have air!” He arose unsteadily to his feet.  “Bring him here!”

And he made for a closed cellar window with all the strength he could command.

CHAPTER XXVI

THE EVIDENCE AGAINST THEM

Fortunately a loose brick lay handy and with this Dick smashed out the panes of glass in the cellar window.  Another window was opposite, and this he likewise demolished.  At once a current of pure air swept through the place.

“Hold him up to the window,” said Dick as he staggered around.  And he and Sam raised Tom up as best they could.

“If we could only get outside,” mumbled Sam.  His head was aching worse than ever.

“I’ll see what I can do,” answered his oldest brother, and stumbled up the narrow stairs.  To his joy, the door above leading to the kitchen of the house was unfastened.