The thought of retreating back along the tunnel and allowing Tom and his confederates to follow up he had dismissed at the moment it had arisen. These ruffians would have a point of vantage as soon as the tunnel opened out and might conceivably do much damage if they then determined to resist arrest. He was not going to abandon the strength of his position. It was no occasion for scruples, although he felt that the fears of the trapped men might have some foundation.

The knot was cut at the sound of a deep voice echoing from the trapdoor. “Heigh! You down below there!”

“That’s Whitehead,” said Moreland, naming one of his sergeants. He raised his voice to a shout. “It’s all right, Whitehead. This is Moreland. Stand by and your friends will come up like little gentlemen.”

“Right you are, sir,” agreed the sergeant. “We’ll be waiting.”

“Now then. Out you go,” said Labar, and slowly the men backed with the two inspectors and their aides following them closely.