"Very well. The door is locked, as you know, and Gerald has the key with him, so you can't get out that way. The only other way out is through the catapult openings. Gerald and Cecil will be working by the small one, so you'll have to climb up the large one and get out on the roof. I'll go over and get everything ready...." He paused to eye Marc excitedly. "Now, wait a min...!" Marc began. * * * * * But Toffee caught his eye with a glance. "Why that's wonderful, George," she said. "Hadn't we better get started?" "Okay," George said eagerly. He got up and began working at Toffee's chains. "I knew you'd like the idea." "But are you sure...?" Marc said. "We love it," Toffee put in quickly. "I'm sorry I've misjudged you." "That's all right," George said, releasing Marc's chains. "Now, you stay here, and I'll be right back." He disappeared in the direction of the catapult. "What's the matter with you?" Marc asked. "Don't you realize that fiend is getting ready to shoot us off into eternity?" "Yes, I know," Toffee said. "But we don't have to wait for him to do it, do we? We're free now. Let's get moving." "But we haven't the key to the door. And that's the only way out." "I know," Toffee said. "We've got to work fast. Come on." Already she was moving toward the scaffolding, looking for something. Presently her eyes fell on a small length of pipe. She picked it up and brought it to Marc. "I can't unlock the door with that," Marc said. "Yes, you can," Toffee said. "Hang onto it." "What am I supposed to do with it?" "You'll know when the time comes," Toffee said. "Quickly! Get back in the shadows." Then suddenly she began to scream at the top of her lungs. "Marc!" she wailed. "You're floating again! Catch my hand!" Marc jumped back into the shadows completely by surprise. And not a moment too soon. Instantly there was the sound of running footsteps and Gerald appeared around the edge of the scaffolding. He stopped, looked at Toffee, then glanced apprehensively upward. It was then, true to Toffee's promise, that Marc knew what to do with the pipe. Stepping forward, he placed it firmly on the back of Gerald's skull. With a small cry of surprise, the little man dropped to the floor. Quickly Toffee bent over him, put her hand in his pocket and brought out a key. "Thank heavens we got the right one," she breathed. "Hurry!" She and Marc sped for the door, dodging swiftly through the tangle of apparatus as they ran. Behind them there was the sound of running, exclamations. Toffee reached the door first and quickly thrust the key into the lock. Marc joined her and helped her unlock the door and shove it open. They darted across the veranda, down the creaking steps, and out into the night. "Stop!" they heard Cecil yell behind them, "Come back!"