“Now I reckon they’ll have their own job getting out!” cried Tom, grimly.

“Go to a front window and watch the road,” ordered his big brother.  “If you see any help coming, call them.”

Tom at once departed, to station himself at the window of one of the front bed chambers.  By this time a clattering of feet could be heard on the garret stairs.

“He has locked the door on us!” came a cry in Jesse Pelter’s voice.

“How did he get free?” asked Japson.  “I thought we tied him good.”

“He cut the ropes!” cried Josiah Crabtree.  “But how he got hold of his knife to do it, I can’t guess.”

Dick had to smile to himself.  Evidently the rascals thought his father had liberated himself and turned the tables on them.

“Hi, Rover!  Are you out there?” called Jesse Pelter.  “If you are you had better unlock that door.”

To this call Dick did not answer.

“He must have run away!” exclaimed Japson.  “Break the door down!  We must catch him!”

“That’s the talk!” added Josiah Crabtree, in great excitement.

“Touch the door at your peril!” cried Dick, sharply.  “I am armed and I will stand no nonsense!”

“Who is that?” asked Japson.

“That wasn’t Rover’s voice,” added his partner.

“I think I know who that is,” answered Josiah Crabtree, and his voice commenced to tremble.  “Dick Rover, is that you?” he called, faintly.

“Yes.  Don’t you dare to touch that door, Crabtree,” replied Dick.

“Is it Dick Rover?” questioned Pelter.

“Yes.”

“Anderson Rover’s oldest son?  The one who was in the rowboat with the others?”

“Yes.”

“Then we have been followed after all!” shouted Japson, hoarsely.  “We have been trapped!”

“You’ve hit the nail on the head,” called out Dick.  “Now, don’t touch that door, or it will be the worse for you.”

“Is he alone?” whispered Pelter.

“No, I am not alone!” answered Dick.  “Hi, Tom, am I alone?” he called.

“Not much!” answered Tom.  “We are all on deck here, and all armed.  You just sit still and suck your thumbs until the officers come,” he added, dryly.

“The officers!” shrieked Josiah Crabtree, and was so overcome that he sank down on one of the steps of the stairs.

“See here, Dick Rover,” said Jesse Pelter, after a pause.  “Let us see if we can’t—­ er—­ patch this up somehow.”

“You can do your patching-up after you are in jail, Mr. Pelter.”

“If you have me arrested, boy, you will be sorry for it!” growled the broker.

“We can ruin your family, and disgrace your father,” added Japson.  “Better let us go and fix this up without the police.”

“No, I am going to have you locked up,” replied Dick, determinedly.  “As to what charge will be brought against you, I’ll have to consult my father about that first.”