Part 15 (1/2)

”Yes. He is a police spy. He wanted to get you into a fight and then he and you would be arrested by the local authorities. They'd clap you into jail, and hold us all here. It's a game! They suspect us, Tom! The Russian spies have had some word of our presence! We must get away as quickly as we can!”

CHAPTER XIV

HURRIED FLIGHT

The announcement of Ivan Petrofsky came to Tom with startling suddenness. He could say nothing for a moment, and then, as he realized what it meant, and as he recalled the strange appearance and actions of the man, he understood the danger.

”Was he a spy?” he asked.

”I'm almost sure he was,” came the answer. ”He isn't one of the villagers, that's sure, and he isn't a tourist. No one else would be in this little out-of-the-way place but a police official. He is in disguise, that is certain.”

”I believe so,” agreed Tom. ”But what was his game?”

”We are suspected,” replied the Russian. ”I was afraid a big airs.h.i.+p couldn't land anywhere, in France without it becoming known. Word must have been sent to Paris in the night, and this spy came out directly.”

”But what will happen now?”

”Didn't you see where he headed for? The village. He has gone to send word that his trick failed. There will be more spies soon, and we may be detained or thrown into jail on some pretext or other. They may claim that we have no license, or some such flimsy thing as that.

Anything to detain us. They are after me, of course, and I'm sorry that I made you run such danger. Perhaps I'd better leave you, and--”

”No, you don't!” cried Tom heartily. ”We'll all hang together or we'll hang separately', as Benjamin Franklin or some of those old chaps once remarked. I'm not the kind to desert a friend in the face of danger.”

”Bless my revolver! I should say not!” cried Mr. Damon. ”What's it all about? Where's the danger?”

They told him as briefly as possible, and Ned, who had been working in the motor room, was also informed.

”Well, what's to be done?” asked Tom. ”Had we better get out our ammunition, or shall I take out a French license.”

”Neither would do any good,” answered the Russian. ”I appreciate your sticking by me, and if you are resolved on that the only thing to do is to complete the repairs as soon as possible and get away from here.”

”That's it!” cried Ned. ”A quick flight. We can get more gasolene here, for lots of autos pa.s.s along the road through the village. I found that out. Then we needn't stop until we hit the trail for the mine in Siberia!”

”Hus.h.!.+” cautioned the Russian. ”You can't tell who may be sneaking around to listen. But we ought to leave as soon as we can.”

”And we will,” said Tom. ”I've got the magneto almost fixed!”

”Let's get a hustle on then!” urged Ned. ”That fellow meant business from his looks. The nerve of him to try to pick a quarrel that way.”

”I might have told by his manner that something was wrong,” commented Tom, ”but I thought he was a fresh tramp and I didn't take any pains in answering him. But come on, Ned, get busy.”

They did, with such good effect that by noon the machinery was in running shape again, and so far there had been no evidence of the return of the spy. Doubtless he was waiting for instructions, and something might happen any minute.

”Now, Ned, if you'll see to having some gasolene brought out here, and the tanks filled, I'll tinker with the dynamo and get that in running shape,” said Tom. ”It only needs a little adjustment of the brushes.

Then we'll be off.”