Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN So it was! Not a chink of light showed anywhere. Julian shone his torch on to each window. They were all tightly shut, as if the house were indeed empty and deserted.

'There's a tree that reaches up to that balcony,' said Dick. 'I'll shin up and get on to it, and see if I can spot anything in the house. If the curtains aren't drawn there, I can shine my torch in.' Up the tree he went, the others shining their torches to show him which branches to climb.

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At last he was on the balcony, his own torch now shining brightly. There were glass doors there, and the curtains of the room behind weren't drawn across the panes. Dick shone his torch through the glass.

'The radio's in this room, I'm sure!' he cried. I can hear it clearly. It's on full, too- the noise is coming through a ventilator, above the glass doors! Oh!' 'What? What is it?' cried everyone, hearing a sudden strange note in Dick's excited voice.

'There's someone in this room!' called back Dick. 'Someone lying on the floor, but I can't see clearly enough. Whoever it is isn't moving at all. I'll tap and see if they hear me.' The others heard the sound of tapping, and then Dick's voice again. 'Yes- the person moved when I tapped. Who on earth can it be? He must be hurt, I think, but the doors are locked, so I can't get in. I'm coming down again, so shine your torches, will you?' Dick climbed quickly down the tree, and the others crowded round him excitedly. 'We'll have to get into the house somehow,' said Dick. 'I'm sure it's someone who's hurt- or maybe ill.' 'But how did they get in?' said Julian in wonder. 'And how can we get in, for that matter?'