"One, two, three," counted Bob, and smote the door with all the strength he could muster. A second later Hugh followed suit. The door was made of heavy oak, however, and stood fast. Bob and Hugh shrank back against the wall and waited for any result of their efforts. Silence pervaded the house. "I guess that man was the only one here," said Hugh. "It seems so; let's try it again." Once more the chairs crashed against the door, but without effect. Again and again the two boys exerted themselves to the utmost, but the sole result of their efforts was to break the chairs. Finally, well-nigh exhausted, they stopped. "It's no use, Bob," panted Hugh. "The door is stronger than the chairs." "We've got to get out of here though." "The only way I can see is the window." "But we can't jump that far; we'd only break a leg or something. There isn't even a roof to help us." "Can't we make a rope out of our clothes and slide down?" "I say to try the door again," exclaimed Bob. "But we can't smash it with these chairs," Hugh protested. "I know it; let's try the table." "How are you going to do that?" "I'll show you," said Bob. "Take hold of this end with me." They grasped the table and dragged it to a spot directly in front of the door and eight or ten feet distant from it. "Now," exclaimed Bob. "When I say, 'three,' we'll push it with all our might against the door." "It'll never work," said Hugh, with a shake of his head. "Try it," cried Bob. "We've got to do something." They took firm hold of the table and set themselves. "Now," said Bob. "One, two, three." They pushed with all their strength and a moment later the table crashed into the door. The door creaked and groaned but did not give way. "It won't work," said Hugh with great conviction. "Yes, it will too," exclaimed Bob. "Stick to it." They dragged the table back and once again drove it hurtling against the door. This time their efforts met with some success for the corner of the table drove straight through one of the panels. "See that?" cried Bob excitedly. "I believe that if I put my hand through that opening I can reach the key and unlock the door." "You don't suppose for a second that that man left the key in the door, do you?" "I don't suppose he did," admitted Bob, somewhat crestfallen. "Still there's no harm in trying anyway." "There may be somebody on guard in the hall." "We'll have to risk that." Bob thrust his arm through the opening made in the door panel, but soon withdrew it. "The key is not there," he said. "Of course not," exclaimed Hugh. "Get out of the way and let me get a few whacks at that panel with the chair." He attacked the door furiously and in a few moments had knocked out the panel completely. "I guess we can squeeze through there now," he said. "Let me go first," exclaimed Bob. "I've got a gun."