"Old Peleg Growdy, to be sure; and the door wasn't fastened then. D'ye
suppose he did anything to it when he went out?" asked William, as he
tried to assist Jud, now straining and pushing in a useless endeavor to
move the heavy door.

"That's nonsense," said Paul, as he pointed to the fact that the door
could not be locked, since it gave an inch or so each time the boys
pushed.

"Ginger! it's got something braced against it outside, that's what!"
announced another fellow.

"As sure as you're born it has!" echoed Bobolink.

All doubt was dissipated just then, for a series of loud and derisive
shouts in boyish treble welled up from outside.

"Shucks!" grunted Bobolink, in sheer disgust; "we've gone and let the
Slavin fellers have another crack at us. A nice lot of scouts we look
like, not to keep sentries on duty when we have a secret meeting. And now
they've got us cooped up here like a lot of old hens! Shucks! I say
again!"

"Well, that's no reason we have to stay cooped up, is it?" demanded Jack,
as he turned to hunt around for some object which could be used for a
battering ram so as to force the barricaded door of the barn.

"T-t-try the b-b-big wagon doors, fellows!" whooped Bluff.

They did, but with no more success than had attended their puny efforts