CHAPTER XV.--THE BOY GUIDE.
The reader can fully appreciate the peril of Will when they know whatwas behind him, and that he had a room, unknown to him, and with anoccupant asleep in it, to cross, before he got out, while he littleknew where the door would lead him, or whether he would be any nearerescape than where he then was.
Cautiously he raised the fireboard from within and began to move itoutwardly as though it swung on a hinge.
He did this noiselessly, and soon had space enough to get through.
This he did and rose to a standing posture, the little bundle still athis back.
Then he put the fireboard back in its place and stepped forward.
The floor creaked and startled him, and he walked quickly to the door.
As he reached it the sleeper started, turned in bed, raised his head,and glanced toward the window, while he muttered: "What a deuce of astorm is raging."
Then back dropped his head, and he did not see the boy crouching downwithin two feet of him, and who held, grasped firmly and ready for use,a boot-jack, that his hand accidently touched.
Had the man attempted to get out of bed, or had he glanced toward theboy, he would have felt the weight of the boot-jack, for Will wasdetermined to escape at all hazards, even if he had to strike at humanlife, for he did not doubt, coming to this room as he had from the denof the Land Sharks, that the occupant was one of the band.
But, fortunately for the man he dropped off to sleep again, andfortunately, too, for Will, who might have made a miss blow and thenbeen killed or captured.
As soon as the heavy breathing of the man indicated that he was oncemore asleep, Will turned to the door and placed his hand upon the key.He turned it slowly in the lock, and yet it creaked loudly to his ears;but the noise of the storm without drowned the sound as far as wakingthe sleeper was concerned.
Taking hold of the knob he drew back the latch, and moved the door. Itcreaked loudly, so he shut it to quickly as he saw the man moveuneasily. He kept still, and the man once more breathed naturally in hisslumber.
Drawing the key from the door Will then opened it quickly and steppedoutside, closed it after him, though trembling at the loud creakingsound it made.
At the same time he thrust the key in the door and turned it, just as heheard the man spring out of bed.
Where he was he did not know, for all was blackness about him, but he atonce moved away from the door, feeling his way cautiously, while hecould hear the occupant of the room moving hastily about, and then graspthe knob of the door.
A smothered curse followed the words: "The key is gone!"
Then there was a shaking of the door, and Will nearly fell down a flightof stairs; but caught himself on the rail.
As he hastily descended there appeared a crescent-shaped light beforehim, and he knew that it was over a door, and a moment after he reachedit.
It was locked, but the key was on the inside and hastily he turned it,and he could hardly restrain a shout of joy as he found himself out inthe street.
The storm was at its height, the rain was pouring in torrents and thenarrow street was flooded; but the daring boy cared little for that andturning noted the house and number.
Then he darted away, unmindful of the rain.
At the corner he saw the name of the street, and once more pressed on,seemingly acquainted with the locality and aiming for a certain point.
Not even a policeman was seen out in that driving rain, so the boy metno human being as he ran along up to his ankles in water.
Here and there a light burned dimly, evidently in some sick-room, andall else was darkness, excepting the flickering street-lamps at thecorners. Turning into another street he came in sight of a colouredlamp, jutting out from a large brick house.
Toward this he ran and a moment after, dripping wet, bare-headed,shoeless and jacketless he darted into a room where sat several officersin police uniform, while one wearing the badge of a captain of the forcesat behind a desk in a small adjoining room.
The boy appeared like an apparition to the officers, but he gave them notime for thought, as he said: "Is not that Sergeant Daly?" and hepointed to the officer in the other room.
"Yes, it is _Captain_ Daly, for he's been promoted," answered anofficer.
"Ho, Murphy, any one to see me?" called out the captain.
"Yes, sir, a boy that looks as if he'd just swum across East river," wasthe reply.
"Ah! I know that face, you are Will Raymond, who captured the convictfor me over a year ago," said Captain Daly coming out.
"Yes, sir, and I've come to tell you a strange story, and guide you tothe den of a band of outlaws that call themselves Land Sharks for I justescaped from them," and Will spoke quickly, though with not a particleof excitement in his manner and voice, so well did he control hisfeelings.
The name of Land Sharks caused the police present to gather near at onceand appear deeply interested, while Captain Daly said: "If you know thehiding-place of that gang, my lad, you know more than any policeman ordetective in New York has been able to find out."
"I do know it, sir, and two ways of getting there; but what you do, youmust do now, as they will escape, so I'll tell you all I can while youget your men ready, and there are over a dozen in the band."
"Murphy, call up twenty men and a sergeant at once."
"Now, Master Will, for you see I have not forgotten your name, let mehave your story."
In as few words as possible, Will told of his having been stopped by awell-dressed stranger and then sent to the den of the Land Sharks, as anexcuse to get him into their clutches.
His manner of getting there, and his reception he made known, togetherwith his acquiescence, as the outlaw supposed, in their plot to get thereward offered for Willie Rossmore, the little son of the Baltimoremillionaire.
His escape, bringing with him in a bundle, the photographs, andwell-worn clothing the kidnapped boy had on when taken, he also madeknown, and they were displayed before the police captain, who said:"These can wait, and will dry by the time we get back; but Will, you area natural born detective, and you shall have work as such, that willkeep your mother and sister from want; but here are my men, my braveboy, and we will start at once--ho! I forgot that you were wet andshivering but I'll soon make you comfortable."
An order to an attendant brought from a package room a thick suit andindia-rubber coat, into which the boy had no difficulty in getting, asthey were nearly double his size, and a policeman's hat sheltered hishead.
Then, side by side with Captain Daly, and with a score of policemenfollowing, they stepped out into the driving rain to go upon the raidagainst the Land Sharks.