"Remember Alexis," said Chester sententiously.

"That's different," replied Hal.

"Well, maybe so, but--"

Chester broke off and grabbed Hal by the arm.

"Sh-h-h," he whispered.

Hal listened attentively for a few seconds. The faint sound of footsteps
could be heard approaching from further back in the house. At the same
moment Robard groaned, moved about and sat up. The hands of the two lads
dropped to their pockets.

But before they could draw their weapons, they were startled by a voice
behind them.

"Hands up!" it said.

There was no mistaking the menace in the quiet tones and Hal and Chester
realized that the owner of the voice meant business.

"Good work, Fritz," came the voice of Robard, and he pulled himself to
his feet with some difficulty and advanced toward the boys. "I'll thank
you for your guns," he said. "No, I'll get them myself," he added as both
boys moved their hands toward the weapons.

He suited the action to the word and relieved the lads of their