It was pitch-black in there amid the trees.

Guided by his ears, Tom moved closer and closer without making a betraying sound.

Suddenly he found the tall figure looming up almost in his path.
"Now, I've got you!" cried Tom exultantly, making a bound that should have carried his hands to the throat of the prowler.
But the other, like a flash, went on the defensive.

Tom felt himself parried, then clutched at.

The next instant the prowler had the young engineer in a tackle that carried Tom Reade back to the good old high school days at home.