ery word; but we'll drop the matter now and attend to business.
I've got a general idea of the lay of the land, and there must be no
more time wasted. Keep close behind me."

Harvey then held a whispered conversation with his companions, during
which it was decided that the barricade should be scaled near the gate,
and the dog silenced, if possible, in the manner Jet settled the other
one.

"Don't shoot unless it is absolutely necessary," Harvey said in
conclusion, "for we must take those fellows by surprise."

"It isn't likely they've been obliging enough to leave the door open so
we can walk in," one of the party suggested.

"By attacking that with the heaviest sticks of cordwood after the brute
is killed, we should be able to pound our way through in a very few
seconds. Now come on, and work lively after we are in the yard."

Harvey led the way, and on arriving at the gate it was found to be an
extremely difficult point at which to effect an entrance, because of
its height, therefore the plan was so far changed as to move farther
toward the rear of the building, where the party began clambering the
wood.

During all this time the dog had kept up a furious barking, and when
Harvey stood on the top of the barricade ready to leap down, the animal
was directly beneath him ready for a spring.

It would have been an easy matter to shoot him then and there; but the
detective was not willing to discharge his weapon, and, armed with a
heavy stick, he leaped upon him.

Unfortunately, just as he jumped some of the wood rolled from beneath
his feet, and he was turned in such a manner that he fell prostrate
before the enraged brute.

In another instant, and before he could have scrambled to his feet, the
dog would have had him by the throat but for Jet, who was on the alert
for just such an accident.

In a twinkling he was inside the enclosure, and the remainder of the
party hardly had time to understand what had happened before his club
descended on the animal's head.

One such blow was sufficient to put an end to this portion of the
battle, and when Harvey stood erect once more the dog was still in
death, save for the muscular twitching of his body.

Again Harvey clasped the boy by the hand, for the latter's timely
action had saved the man from severe wounds, if nothing more serious,
and then all advanced cautiously toward the house.

Listening at the door an instant, not a sound could be heard.

From the si