CHAPTER XVII
THE CAPTIVE ESCAPES
Instead of proceeding to the front of the House on Wheels, the opening by which the remaining man had entered, Tom Swift turned to the rear, somewhat to the surprise of his chum.
"You can't get in that way," suggested Ned. "The back steps are up."
"I know," whispered Tom. "But they can be let down from the outside if you know the trick. I arranged a duplicate control, for I didn't know when I might run my machine into a tree and have to get in and out the back door."
Ned knew that Tom was only joking with his reference to ramming his beloved new car into a tree. But it was true that there was an inconspicuous spring outside, on the rear of the machine. This, when operated, let the folding steps down out of their safety recess and enabled one to enter the rear of the House without reference to what was going on in front.
"We'll give him a great surprise," whispered Tom.
Ned now understood what the proceeding was to be and he was close behind his chum as the latter approached the rear of the big car. Inside the lights were gleaming and the shadow of the intruder could be seen passing to and fro at the windows. Evidently he had no suspicion that the owner of the stolen machine was soon to take vengeance.
Pressing the switch of his flashlight for a brief instant, Tom located the control spring and as he pressed it the steps slowly slid down so he and Ned could mount them. The lowering of the steps also automatically unlocked the rear door.
The storm, after a brief cessation, was raging again, and the noise of this—rain on the leaves, drumming on the roof of the House on Wheels, and the howling of the wind—was enough to cover any slight noises Tom and Ned might make.
With Tom in the lead, the two young men entered the car. The intruder could be heard rummaging about up in front, evidently with the intention of appropriating to himself such portable property as he could before the return of his companion, with or without the "boss."
For the first time the young inventor and his chum now had a sight of the man whom they had designated "Small," because of his voice. His stature was in keeping with his tones. He was a short, squat individual, but looked powerful, and his face had an ugly look as he was observed moving about in the compartment near the front seat.
"Is that the rat-faced man you have been talking about, Ned?" Tom inquired.
"No, this fellow is a stranger to me."
"I never saw him until now, either, as far as I remember," said Tom. "But we're going to get better acquainted right away," he grimly added.
Looking to make sure his automatic was in readiness, an example followed by Ned, Tom stealthily advanced through the two back rooms of the house to the front one where the man was rummaging about.
Ned did not know just what Tom's plan of capture was, and perhaps the young inventor did not himself. But suddenly, as Tom observed the intruder pocket some toilet articles of silver, which, it developed later, Tom had placed in a dresser for the exclusive use of Mary Nestor, the young man's self control vanished.
With an angry exclamation Tom Swift fairly leaped into the front compartment where the man stood and, leveling his automatic at the intruder, the command came:
"Stick 'em up and do it quick!"
If the fellow had any intention of reaching for his gun, and a momentary deflection of one hand toward the side pocket of his coat would seem to indicate that, he soon gave over the idea as Tom went on:
"No tricks now! Put 'em up, and quick, or I'll let you have it!"
Ordinarily Tom Swift was the soul of politeness. But the sight of the vandal taking the things designed for Mary was too much for his self control. He "saw red," he afterward told Ned.
The look of amazement and fear on the man's face would have been laughable had not the situation been so serious. There was but a moment of hesitation and then up went the hands.
"Take his gun away, Ned," ordered Tom, and this was soon done. That momentary motion of one hand toward the coat pocket had indicated as plainly as words could have done where the weapon was hidden. It was an automatic of expensive make, and Tom put it in his own pocket with a grin of satisfaction.
"Now we've got you, let's hear your story!" ordered Tom, still covering the man with his pistol. "What are you doing here?"
"No-no-nothing," the fellow half stammered. "I just came here to get out of the rain. I saw this machine on the road, with nobody in it, so I crawled in. I didn't take anything——"
"What about these?" and Tom reached one hand into another pocket and took out the silver articles. "I suppose these grew here?"
"Oh, those! Well, I didn't think——"
"And I suppose you and the other man, who's gone to tell the boss, just thought my car was parked back there for you to run off with. Is that it?" went on Tom.
"Oh, so you——"
"Yes, I'm the owner and I know all about you and I've got you dead to rights!" snapped the young inventor. Part of his statement was true, at all events. Though he was far from knowing all about the man. Yet he decided to bluff some more.
"I know you!" proceeded Tom. "Hanson's your name——"
"You got me wrong there, chief," said the man, with an uneasy smile. "Gorro is my name."
"Gorro, then. I was coming to that!" snapped Tom, carrying out his bluff. "But even if you aren't Hanson you're in with him and——"
"No, chief, honest, I don't know Hanson."
"Who was the fellow who went after the boss?" asked Tom. "You might as well come through clean, for I'll find out anyhow."
Whether the fellow saw through Tom's bluff or whether he was just naturally stubborn did not at once develop. At any rate, a cunning and ugly light came into the prisoner's eyes and he said:
"Go ahead then. Find out the best way you can. I'll tell you nothing and, what's more——"
The fellow who had admitted his name was Gorro seemed about to shout and give an alarm, which might have been followed by a reckless attack on his part against Tom and Ned. But Tom guessed the man's intention and, stepping closer to him, pressed the automatic against his stomach and fairly growled out:
"If I hear so much as a peep from you I'll let you have it!"
Again Tom Swift was forcing himself to play a part. It is very doubtful, except to save the lives of himself and Ned, that he would have pulled the trigger. Yet Gorro undoubtedly thought that such might happen, for he shrank away and turned pale as he muttered:
"Don't shoot, chief! But I'm not going to give myself or my pals away."
"Well, don't try any monkey business then! Don't you make a sound. Now, Ned, you go through all his pockets while I keep him covered. We'll see who he is."
The man did not appear to fear that anything found in his pockets would disclose anything, for he held his hands high and made no objections as Ned went through his pockets.
After taking out the silver toilet articles there was nothing save a knife, some odds and ends, and a small sum of money. This last Tom told Ned to put back.
"Otherwise he might accuse us of having robbed him," said the young inventor.
There were no papers to disclose the fellow's identity or throw any light on who his companion or the mysterious "boss" was. And Gorro might as well be the captive's name as any other.
"Sit down!" said Tom, giving the fellow a sudden push to a folding seat on one wall. "I want to talk to you."
The action took the man by surprise, and Tom counted on this and also on the fact that a person standing naturally dominates the one sitting down. Police chiefs have found this out in questioning criminals.
But if Tom Swift thought to intimidate this man he was mistaken. Though Tom and Ned took turns firing questions at him, under the threat of the revolver, all Gorro would say was that he had seen the stalled car there and had entered it to get shelter from the storm.
"You're not telling the truth and you know it!" said Tom sternly. "You and that other man picked up this car near the old deserted house when we two were inside. You drove it here, branching off from the main road, and then you and your pal got out to find out where you were and how near to the place the boss said he'd meet you. Then you two came back, your pal went off to find the boss to arrange about going on to the castle and you came in here. You see I know all about you."
The man's eyes opened wide at this evidence on Tom's part that he had overheard some of the talk. Still he refused to answer any questions as to his own further identity or that of the man who had gone to speak to the "boss."
"No use asking me, I won't talk," snarled Gorro, and he relapsed into sullen silence out of which nothing seemed to stir him. Tom and Ned were a bit disappointed, but they were rejoiced to recover the House on Wheels and to have one captive as a result of their work.
"Though what we're going to do with him is more than I know," confessed Tom to Ned in a whisper, as they withdrew to the far end of the compartment and eyed the hangdog prisoner.
"Tie him up and leave him at the nearest police station," suggested Ned.
"The trouble is there aren't any police stations around here on Dismal Mountain," answered Tom. "And I don't like to have him in here with us, even if he is roped."
"No, he might get loose while we're asleep and do no end of damage," agreed Ned. "Well, I suppose the only thing we can do is to read him the riot act and let him go."
"Yet I hate to do that," confessed Tom. "He'll only make more trouble for us as long as we're in this neighborhood."
"Then you aren't going to clear out once you get started again?" asked Ned.
"I am not! I'm going to solve the mystery of this mountain or know the reason why!" asserted Tom Swift.
During this talk the prisoner, for such he was though not held in bonds, seemed to be cocking his ears and listening to something that was going on outside. For a time Ned and Tom did not notice this, being too intent on their consultation as to what was best to do.
But all at once Tom Swift became aware that Gorro, if that was his name, was listening to something more going on outside than merely the fall of the rain and the howling of the wind.
"Look at him, Ned," said Tom in a low voice, indicating, with his eyes, the prisoner. "What's he up to?"
Ned looked, but could form no guess. As a matter of fact, Gorro was still sullenly sitting in the seat to which Tom had pushed him. But there was a look in his eyes that boded no good.
"I'll give you one more chance!" said Tom suddenly, more for the sake of breaking the tenseness than of any hope that it would break down the fellow's resistance. "Will you tell?"
"No!" yelled Gorro. "And you won't be here much longer, either!"
With that he dived off the seat to the floor, where he wriggled along like some clumsy snake and a moment later before Tom or Ned could stop him or before Tom could fire, if he wanted to go to that length, the fellow was out of the front door and rushing away in the darkness.
At the same moment there was another noise outside and a shout as though some one had seen Gorro and had hailed him. Ned and Tom did not doubt that the other man had come back and was taken by surprise to see his pal thus leap from the House on Wheels they had so daringly captured.
"There he goes!" yelled Ned, which was really a useless exclamation, as Tom could see very plainly what had happened. "After him!"
"No!" shouted the young inventor, catching hold of Ned, who would have followed the escaped prisoner. "Let him go! He's met his pal outside and the other man has a gun. Let him go. Besides, we'd never locate him in this downpour."
As he spoke it seemed as if the heavens had opened and let down a flood of water, so heavily was the rain now beating on the roof and sides of the House on Wheels.