Part 11 (1/2)
”What?” exclaimed the young inventor ”Where are they? Who are they?”
”I don't know. Those Russian police, maybe out front, and maybe we can catch them!”
Grabbing up the big monkey wrench, Ned made a dash for the large sliding doors, followed by Tom who had an iron bar, and Eradicate with a small pair of pliers.
”By golly!” cried the colored man, ”ef I gits 'em I'll pinch dere noses off!”
CHAPTER X
OFF IN THE AIRs.h.i.+P
Going from the brightly lighted shop into the darkness of the night, illuminated as it was only by the stars, neither Tom, Ned, nor Eradicate, could see anything at first. They had to stand still for a moment to accustom their eyes to the gloom.
”Can you see them?” cried Tom to his chum.
”No, but I can hear them! Over this way!” yelled Ned, and then, being able to dimly make out objects, so he would not run into them, he started off, followed by the young inventor.
Tom could hear several persons running away now, but he could see no one, and from the sound he judged that the spies, if such they were, were hurrying across the fields that surrounded the shop.
It was almost a hopeless task to pursue them, but the two lads were not the kind that give up. They rushed forward, hoping to be able to grapple with those who had looked in the shop window, but it was not to be.
The sound of the retreating footsteps became more and more faint, until finally they gave no clew to follow.
”Better stop,” advised Tom. ”No telling where we'll end up if we keep on running. Besides it might be dangerous.”
”Dangerous; how?” panted Ned.
”They might dodge around, and wait for us behind some tree or bush.”
”An' ef dat Foger feller am around he jest as soon as not fetch one ob us a whack in de head,” commented Eradicate grimly.
”Guess you're about right,” admitted Ned. ”There isn't much use keeping on. We'll go back.”
”What sort of fellows were they?” asked Tom, when, after a little further search, the hunt was given up. ”Could you see them well, Ned?”
”Not very good. Just as I went to get you that wrench I noticed two faces looking in the window. I must have taken them by surprise, for they dodged down in an instant. Then I yelled, and they ran off.”
”Did you see Andy Foger?”
”No, I didn't notice him.”
”Was either of them one of the spies who had Mr. Petrofsky in the hut?”
”I didn't see those fellows very well, you remember, so I couldn't say.”
”That's so, but I'll bet that's who they were.”
”What do you think they're after, Tom?”