“It must be the fellow we are after!” returned Pepper.  “What shall we do next, go after him?”

“Yes, but we had better try to arm ourselves.”

“I’ve got the fork.”

“I’ll take this,” said Jack, picking up a bronze ornament from the mantelpiece.

Hardly daring to breathe, the two cadets stole from the dining-room to the hall and prepared to mount the stairs.  As they did this they heard more footsteps, this time in the rear of the upper floor of the mansion.

“There he goes, Jack!”

“Sounds as if he was going to try to get out the back way!”

“Hi, there, stop!” called Pepper, at the top of his voice.  “Stop, you rascal!”

“Don’t you try to stop me!” was the reply from the upper hallway.  “If you do, it will be the worse for you!”

“Who is he?” asked Pepper, quickly.  “I’ve heard that voice before.”

“I think I know,” answered his chum.  “Come on, and we’ll soon see if I am right.”

CHAPTER XXVI

WHAT THE CONSTABLE THOUGHT

Up the stairs went the two cadets, Jack leading the way.  On the upper landing they paused, for the sounds of footsteps had suddenly ceased.

“Which way did he go?” whispered Pepper.

“I don’t know, Pepper.  Go slow now, we don’t want to walk into any trap.”

With caution the chums made their way to the back end of the hall.  As they did this a door close by came open and a cold draught of air met the lads.

“This way!” cried Jack.  “He has opened a window!  That air comes from outside!”

He rushed through the open door, to find himself in a bedroom.  In an alcove was a window and this was wide open.  Beyond the window was the top of a back porch, with a trellis reaching to the ground.

“There he goes!” exclaimed Jack, pointing down among the trees.

“Stop! stop!” came in a cry from the side of the mansion, and a moment later Andy appeared, followed by Fred.

“Stop the rascal!” shouted Jack, and bounced out on the porch with all speed.  Down the trellis he came, with Pepper following.

By this time the fleeing individual had gained the shelter of a number of trees.  Beyond these was a hedge, and he dove through this and then into some brushwood that lined the highway.

“Can you catch him, Andy?” asked Jack.

“I can try!” was the answer.

“Keep back, unless you want to get shot!” roared the man, and he raised something he held in his hand.  It was too dark to see if it was a pistol.

Andy came to a halt, and in a few moments his companions joined him.  By this time the fellow was out of sight.  The cadets strained their ears, but in the snow no sounds of footsteps reached them.

“I guess we have lost him,” murmured Fred.

“Sorry I didn’t keep after him,” grumbled Andy.