The problem was solved for them.
A door thudded in the distance. Then there was a muffled murmur of voices, growing in volume, and a trampling of feet.
"I tell you this nonsense has gone far enough. He'll sign, and he'll sign right now, or I'll know the reason why."
The boys started. For the voice was none other than the voice of the man who had ordered them out of the cove that afternoon.
"That's the stuff, chief!" returned some one. "Make him sign and promise to keep his mouth shut."
"If he doesn't he'll never live to tell about it, that's one thing sure!" snapped the first man coldly.
There was the sound of a switch being snapped, and then the boys could see a yellow beam of light beneath the door at their feet. From the sounds they judged that three or four men had entered the room beyond.
"Well, he's still here," said the man who had been addressed as "chief." He strode across the room and the boys could hear a chair scrape on the board floor. "You'll find that this is an easier place to get into than it is to get out of."
A weary voice answered him. The tones were low. The boys could not make out the words.
