That is, unless they have already bagged their booty, and have gotten away again." Just inside of the open door, Dick halted again.

He listened, but there was no sound.
"These scoundrels are surely the original mice for soft moving," muttered the boy grimly.

"What part of the establishment can they be in?
Hadn't I better slip out and get the police?
I can't learn anything in here unless I use my light." Yet Prescott didn't want to turn on that flare.

The light was much more likely to show him up to the burglars than to enable him to find men who were not making a sound.
So Dick penetrated a little further, and a little further, listening.
As he moved he was obliged to grope his way.
At last, however, he found himself confused as to the points of the compass.

In this darkness, he was not even sure which was the way out.
"I'll have to use the flash now," concluded Dick.
Taking the long tube from one of his pockets, he pressed the button briefly, giving a flash that lasted barely a second.
"What was that ?" muttered the boy, with a start, as the light went out.
Clearly enough, now, he heard stealthy steps.