"Two t'ousand degrees above blood heat," seemed to issue from between the gleaming teeth. "Humph! pretty warm, that, I must admit," Hartly said, looking still more puzzled. Fritz, while perpetrating the ventriloquism, was also listening and planning. "Dot veller Hartly is der very chap to helb me oud mit my scheme," he muttered, "und ve must escape from here, pefore der smugglers return." Accordingly he slid down the rope into the room below. Hartly looked surprised. "Who the deuce are you?" he demanded, stepping back a pace. "Fritz Snyder, detective," Fritz replied. "I come here on pizness--vot for, you can easily guess. I vant you to helb me oud mit it, und I vil see dot you haff your liberty." "Ha! ha! that's your game, is it? Well, my friend, I'd like to do it, first-rate, but I can not oblige you." "Vy not?" "Because I swore allegiance to the cause you would have me betray, and it never shall be said that Hal Hartly was not a man of his word!" "But I heard you say dot you vas forced inder der pizness." "So I was, against my will, but that does not lessen the obligations of my oath. While I live, I shall adhere to my sworn promise." "You vas foolish--you don'd vil get any credit for your resolve. Yoost ash like ash not you will pe killed, on der suspicion dot's already against you." "Perhaps. If so, I shall submit, knowing I have been innocent of breaking my word." "Pshaw! dis vos all nonsense! You don'd vas vant to die no more ash any odder man. Let me cut der bonds vot fastens your arm, und ve vill climb up to der attic und escape vrom der roof to some place where we vil pe safe, undil we can make arrangements to break oop dis smugglers' league." "Nothing would please me more, but owing to my oath, I must positively refuse to do anything of the kind," Hartly persisted, firmly. "I admire your proposed attempt, and while I shall do nothing to interrupt it, I can not conscientiously do anything to help it along. Can you enlighten me any as to the mystery of this head, which, though not possessed of life, yet uses its voice so naturally?" "I dells you noddings apoud it," Fritz replied, shaking his head. "Hark!" "Yes! I hear it. It is Gregg and the boys coming back. Quick! or you will be seen!" Fritz made haste to shin up the rope to the garret once more, and had barely succeeded in so doing when the smugglers, headed by Captain Gregg, once more entered the room. They did not come boldly in, but thrust their heads in and took a look around first. Seeing that no harm had come to Hartly, they then ventured in. "Ha! ha! you're brave fellows, ain't you?" he laughed. "I didn't cut tail and run, although I have not even the use of my hands." "You're cussed brave, all at once!" Gregg growled, evidently not liking the taunt. "Did that thing speak again?" with a wry glance at the guiltless pate of the departed Budge.