“Well, there’s no more to tell,” she said, “except that the cistern room was most frightfully draughty, and I had to wrap my head up as well as my body when I lay down. And the cistern made awful noises — sort of rude noises, that made me want to say ‘I beg your pardon!’ all the time! Of course I knew you’d rescue me, so I wasn’t awfully worried!”

“And we haven’t rescued you!” said Julian. “All we’ve done is to get ourselves locked up as well as you!”

“Tell me how you found out I was here,” said George. So the boys told her everything and she listened, thrilled.

“So Berta went to stay with Jo!” she said. “I bet Jo didn’t like that.”

“She didn’t,” said Julian. “But she’s been quite a help. I only wish she was here now, and could do one of her ivy-climbing stunts, or something!”

“I say — Timmy’s very quiet all of a sudden!” said George, listening. “What’s happened?”

They listened. Timmy was not barking or whimpering. There was no sound of him at all. What was happening? George’s heart sank — perhaps those men had managed to do something to him?

But suddenly they heard him again, whimpering — but whimpering gladly and excitedly. And then a familiar voice came to their ears.

“Dick! Julian! Where are you?”

“Gosh — it’s JO!” said Dick, astounded. He limped to the door. “We’re in here, Jo. Unlock the door!”

Jo unlocked it and looked in, grinning. Timmy tore in like a whirlwind and flung himself on George, almost knocking her over. Dick limped out of the room immediately Jo rushed in, much to everyone’s astonishment. Then he returned, looking rather pleased with himself.

“Let’s go while the going’s good,” he said.

“Yes — but, be careful, those men will be out, now that Timmy isn’t there to guard them!” cried Julian, suddenly realising that the two angry fellows could easily escape while Timmy was in with them — and might lock the door on the whole lot of them, Timmy too!

“It’s all right — there’s no desperate hurry!” said Dick. “I thought of that. I slipped out and locked their door on them, as soon as Jo rushed in to us. And there they can stay till the police arrive in the morning. They can then collect the whole lot — the men upstairs too.”

“And I’m sure the police will be quite pleased to search the house and the cellars,” said Julian. “There will be plenty of stuff here that they will be interested in! Well, let’s go at once.”

They called a cheery good-bye to the two men. “We’re off!” shouted Dick. “You’d better look out for the dog in case he gets you!” They all went down the hall, Dick hobbling behind, for his ankle was still painful.

“We might as well leave in style,” said Julian, and unbolted and unlocked the front door. “Also it would be as well to leave this door open for the police to come in by — I don’t expect they will want to come in through the coal-hole! It was a good idea of yours to let the men think we were leaving Tim behind to guard them, Dick — they won’t dare even to climb out of the windows in case he’s waiting for them!”