t shuffle of a foot, the rustle of arbor vines, and the form of a
man crawled up to the window. With inconceivable stealth and carefulness
it glided through the aperture, followed by a companion.

Lorry and Anguish were at the opening a second or two later, lying flat
on their stomachs and listening for sounds from within. The dim
light was still there, the window was open, and there was a sound
of whispering. Lorry raised his head and peered through, taking
calculations while the light made it possible. He saw an open door on
the opposite side of the low room, with steps beyond, leading upward.
Between the window and the door there were no obstacles. Up those steps
he saw three men creep, the leader carrying the dim light. The door was
left open, doubtless to afford unimpeded exit from the building in case
of emergency. Harry Anguish touched Lorry's arm.

"I took the two pistols from that Vienna man out there. We may need
them. Here is one for yourself. Go first, Lorry," he whispered.

Lorry stuck the revolver in his coat pocket and gently slid through
the window to the floor below. His friend followed, and they paused to
listen. Taking Anguish by the hand the other led the way straight to the
spot where he remembered seeing the door.

Boldly the two men began the breathless ascent of the stone steps. The
top was reached, and far ahead, down a narrow hall, they saw the three
men and the dim light moving. Two of them wore uniforms of guards.
Keeping close to the wall their followers crept after them. Up another
flight of steps they went, and then through a spacious hall. The
Americans had no time and no desire to inspect their surroundings. The
wide doors at the far side of the room opened softly, and here the trio
paused. Down a great marble hallway a dim red light shed its soft glow.
It came from the lamp at the foot of the broad staircase.

The cook pointed to the steps, and then gave his thumb a jerk toward the
left. Without the least sign of fear Geddos and Ostrom glided into
the hall and made for the staircase. The watchers could not but feel
a thrill of admiration for these daring wretches. But now a new danger
confronted them. The cook remained standing in the doorway, watching his
fellows in crime! How were they to pass him?

There was no time to be lost. The abductors were creeping up the steps
already, and the cook must be disposed of. He had blown out the light
which he carried, and was now a very dim s