ctual efforts to sit
straight, he rolled over on his back.

A moment later heavy snores came from his parted lips. He was
undoubtedly asleep.

It may be imagined with what anxiety Ned had been watching this little
scene through the crevice.

"The time has come," he whispered to his companions. "Moxley won't wake
in a hurry now. But to make sure, suppose you mount guard there, Randy."

"What are you going to do?" asked Randy, as he crouched down on the
floor. "Break the door open?"

"Not much. I'll show you in a moment."

The closet in which the boys were confined was built right against the
rear end of the mill. Its dimensions were ample--eight feet long and
about four wide. Underneath was the wasteway, but its usual roar was now
subdued by an influx of water from the flooded creek.

Ned had been quietly examining the situation during the day, and had
noted the shaky condition of the floor planks. He now directed Clay and
Nugget to stand close to the door. Then kneeling down he inserted both
hands in a crevice between two of the planks and pulled with all his
might.

A ripping noise, a sharp crack--and the worm eaten plank came free of
the beams, leaving a gaping orifice in the very center of the floor,
four feet long by a foot and a half wide.

Ned trembled like a leaf.

"Is it all right?" he whispered eagerly.

"Yes," replied Randy. "The rascal is sound asleep. He didn't budge."

"I'm glad of that."

The boys looked timidly down the hole, and crouched closer to the wall.
Far below, through the network of crossed beams, they could see the
eddying flood. It looked immeasurably distant.

"You don't expect us to go down there, I hope," queried Clay.

"No, but I intend you to lower _me_ through," answered Ned. "If I can
reach one of those rafters I will be all right. It won't be a difficult
matter to get out on land. Then I will hurry around to the door,
liberate you fellows, while Moxley is sleeping, seize his gun--and then
away for freedom."

Ned drew a long breath at the prospect.

"Now this is what I want you to do," he resumed in a calmer tone. "If
the rafters are too far below me you must let me down to them by one of
your coats. Brace yourselves now so you can stand the strain."

The boys obeyed and Randy stripped off his coat in case it should be
needed.

Then Ned lowered himself at one end of the hole, and swung clear down.

He pulled himself up, and clung by his elbows. "No good," he whi