He looked up at the tower. A small, forlorn face was looking out of the window there. Julian’s heart jumped and beat fast. That must be poor old George up there. He wondered if she had seen them. He hoped not, because she would know that he and Dick had been captured, and she would be very upset.

Where was Timmy? There seemed no sign of him. But wait a minute — what was that lying inside what looked like a summer-house on the opposite side of the yard? Was it Timmy? Surely he would have barked a welcome when he heard them coming into the yard, if it was Timmy!

“Is that my cousin’s dog?” he asked the sullen man.

The man nodded. “Yes. He’s been doped half the time, he barked so. Savage brute, isn’t he? Ought to be shot, I reckon.”

Red had gone across the yard and had disappeared through a stone archway. The sullen man now followed him. Julian and Dick were left by themselves.

“We’ve muddled things again,” said Julian, with a groan. “Now these fellows will be off and away, and take George with them — they’ve been nicely warned!”

Dick said nothing. He felt very miserable, and his bound wrists hurt him, too. Both boys stood there, wondering what would happen to them.

“Psssssst!”

What was that? Julian turned round sharply and looked in the direction of the door that led from underground into the yard. Jo stood there, half-hidden by the archway over the door. “Pssssst! I’ll come and untie you. Is the coast clear?”

Chapter Nineteen

Jo is very surprising

“Jo!” said the boys together, and their spirits lifted at once. “Come on!”

There was no one about in the yard. Jo skipped lightly across from the doorway and slipped inside the shed.

“There’s a knife in my back pocket,” said Julian. “Get it out. It would be quicker to cut these ropes than to untie them. My word, Jo — I was never so pleased to see anyone in my life!”

Jo grinned as she hauled out Julian’s sturdy pocket-knife. She opened it and ran her thumb lightly over the blade. It was beautifully sharp. She set to work to saw the blade across the thick rope. It cut easily through the fibres.

“I waited behind,” she said, rapidly. “Then I followed when it was safe. But it was very dark and I didn’t like it. Then I came to that door and peeped out. I was glad when I saw you.”

“Good thing the men didn’t guess you were there,” said Dick. “Good old Jo! I take back any nasty thing I’ve ever said about you!”

Jo beamed. She cut the last bit of rope that bound Julian, and he swung himself away from the iron loop and began to rub his stiff, aching wrists. Jo set to work on Dick’s bonds. She soon had those cut through, too.