midnight
With a splintering crash , the door gave way before the shock , and Merry staggered into the corridor . He was followed by Starbright and Morgan . Recovering his equilibrium , Frank straightened up and whirled to follow and overtake the mysterious unknown if possible . The man of the midnight eyes had disappeared . The smashing of the door had startled and aroused others in adjacent rooms , and they now came swarming into the corridor . One of them clutched at Frank , but was flung aside ; others dodged back to let him pass . Merry ran to the head of the stairs , down which he leaped .