Then came the sounds of heavy feet tramping through the house. Hal and
Chester were both wide awake now and lay silent, listening. For an hour
the heavy footsteps continued to ring through the house, and there was
the sound of slamming doors and moving furniture.

And finally came the voice of the woman again: "I told you there was no
one here."

But apparently the German officer in command was not yet satisfied.

"Have you searched the attic?" he demanded of his men; "and the cellar?"

"There is no one in the cellar," came a voice in reply, "and there is
no attic."

"I'll have a look for myself," came the reply, and heavy footsteps
ascended the stairs into the room directly beneath Hal and Chester. There
came to the lads' ears the sounds of heavy blows against the floor on
which they lay. Evidently the German officer was making sure that there
was not an opening in the ceiling of the room below. But after a while he
desisted. The boys heard him descend the stairs, and a few moments later
the sound of his voice:

"There is no one up there."

Both lads drew a breath of relief. A moment more and a slamming door gave
evidence that the Germans had departed.

"I was afraid he would locate the trap-door," said Hal to Chester, after