Part 25 (1/2)

CHAPTER XXII

IN THE HURRICANE

There was a volley of shots from the prison guards, and the flashes of the rifles cut bright slivers of flame in the darkness, but, so rapidly did the airs.h.i.+p go up, veering off on a wide slant, under the skillful guidance of Tom that the shots did no harm.

”Bless my bullet pouch!” cried Mr. Damon. ”They must be quite excited.”

”Shouldn't wonder,” calmly observed Ned, as he went to help his chum in managing the airs.h.i.+p. ”But it won't do them any good. We've got our man.”

”And right from under their noses, too,” added Ivan Petrofsky exultingly. ”This rescue of an exile will go down in the history of Russia.”

The two exile brothers were gazing fondly at each other, for now that the Falcon was so high, Tom ventured to turn on the lights.

A moment later the three Russians were excitedly conversing, while Tom and Ned managed the craft, and Mr. Damon, after listening a moment to the rapid flow of the strange language, which quite fascinated him, hurried to the galley to prepare a meal for the rescued one, who had been taken away before he had had a chance to get his supper.

His wonder at his startling and unexpected rescue may well be imagined, but the joy at being reunited to his brother overshadowed everything for the time being. But when he had a chance to look about, and see what a strange craft he was in, his amazement knew no bounds, and he was like a child. He asked countless questions, and Ivan Petrofsky and Mr. Borious took turns in answering them. And from now on, I shall give the conversation of the two new Russians just as if they spoke English, though of course it had to be translated by Ivan Petrofsky, Peter's brother.

If Peter was amazed at being rescued in an airs.h.i.+p, his wonder grew when he was served with a well-cooked meal, while high in the air, and while flying along at the rate of fifty miles an hour. He could not talk enough about it.

By degrees the story of how Tom and his friends had started for Russia was told, and there was added the detail of how Mr. Borious came to be picked up.

”But brother Ivan, you did not come all that distance to rescue me; did you?” asked Peter.

”Yes, partly, and partly to find the platinum mine.”

”What? The lost mine that you and I stumbled upon in that terrible storm?”

”That is the one, Peter.”

”Then, Tom Swift may as well return. I doubt if we can even locate the district where it was, and if we did find it, the winds blow so that even this magnificent s.h.i.+p could not weather the gales.”

”I guess he doesn't understand about my air glider,” said Tom with a smile, when this was translated to him. ”I wish I had a chance to put it together, and show him how it works.”

”Oh, it will work all right,” replied Ned, who was very proud of his friend's inventive ability.

”Now, what is the next thing to be done?” asked Tom, a little later that evening, when, supper having been served, they were sitting in the main cabin, talking over the events of the past few days. ”I'd like to get on the track of that platinum treasure.”

”And we will do all in our power to aid you,” said Ivan Petrofsky. ”My brother and I owe much to you--in fact Peter owes you his life; do you not?” and he turned to him.

”I do,” was the firm answer.

”Oh, nonsense!” exclaimed Tom, who did not like to be praised. ”I didn't do much.”

”Much! You do not call taking me away from that place--that sulphur mine--that horrible prison barrack with the cruel guards--you do not call that much? My friend,” spoke the Russian solemnly, ”no one on earth has done so much for me as you have, and if it is the power of man to show you where that lost mine is, my brother and I will do so!”

”Agreed,” spoke Ivan quietly.

”Then what plans shall we make?” asked Tom, after a little more talk.