CHAPTER IX.
A DESPERATE PLIGHT.
"I believe that man is following us!"
It was Jack who spoke. He and Frank had now been in the Englishmetropolis two days, and to-day were walking along the Strand, watchingwith the greatest interest the preparations for war.
Upon all sides troops were being moved through the streets, on their wayto the front. They marched along singing and cheering, while from thewalks great crowds cheered them as they passed. The boys had justresumed their walk after watching one body of troops pass, when Jackmade the remark that begins this chapter.
"Followed!" exclaimed Frank in surprise. "Why should anyone follow us?"
"I am sure I don't know," was Jack's reply; "but just the same I am surethat man is following us."
"Well," said Frank, "we'll try and see if we can't give him the slip.Come on!"
The lads quickened their pace and turned quickly into the first sidestreet. As they rounded the next corner they glanced back and saw thatthe man Jack believed was on their trail hurrying after them.
"Quick!" said Frank, catching Jack by the arm, "into this store!"
The lads dodged into an open doorway, and a moment later saw theirpursuer hurry by. The lads immediately slipped from the store andretreated in the direction from which they had come.
"Well, I guess we got rid of him, all right," declared Jack.
"Have you ever seen him before?" asked Frank.
"His face seemed familiar, but I cannot place him," was Jack's reply."Hold on, though," he exclaimed suddenly, "I know now who he is!"
"Who?" demanded Frank.
"He was one of the sailors aboard Lord Hastings' yacht. I remember thatlong, sharp nose. Now what do you suppose he is following us for?"
"You've got me. However, I guess he is not following us any longer!"
But Frank was wrong.
The man who had been following the two boys had not been thrown off thetrail by their ruse. He was too old a hand at the game to be shaken offso easily; but he had recognized the fact that the boys knew they werebeing shadowed. Now he kept farther in the background, well out ofsight. As a result the lads, upon returning to the American hotel, wherethey had taken rooms, were not aware that their pursuer had followedthem to its doors.
After dinner the boys sat down in the lobby of the hotel, awaiting thearrival of Hetherington, who had promised to meet them there at 8o'clock. A taxi driver entered, approached the desk, and a moment latera page started through the lobby, calling:
"Mr. Templeton! Mr. Templeton!"
"Here," said Jack, rising.
The page handed Jack a letter.
"It's from Hetherington," Jack told Frank, after a hasty perusal. "Sayshe is unable to meet us here, but for us to come to his place in thetaxi he has sent for us."
"All right," replied Frank. "But I must go upstairs a moment first," andhe started hurriedly for the elevator.
"I'll wait in the taxi," called Jack, and he followed the chauffeur tothe street, where the taxi stood in the shadow of the hotel.
The chauffeur opened the door and the lad climbed in. As he did so, twostrong hands reached out from the darkness of the cab and took him bythe throat, while a third hand was clapped over his mouth to prevent hismaking an outcry. At the same moment the door was slammed shut, and thetaxi rolled swiftly away.
Jack struggled desperately, but in vain. The sudden attack had been welltimed and, struggle as he would, Jack could not shake off the hold onhis throat, but soon sank back unconscious.
Then the hand upon his throat relaxed and a voice exclaimed in German:
"He's as strong as an ox. It's a good thing both of them didn't come."
"Well, we have got him, all right," came a second voice, "and this isthe one the chief wants, I am sure."
When Jack regained consciousness the taxi was still rushing swiftlyalong, and the lad found that his hands were securely bound behind hisback.
"What's the meaning of this?" he demanded of the darkness of the cab.
There was no reply, and Jack repeated:
"I say, what's the meaning of this?"
"You will know soon enough," replied a voice in a harsh tone. "In themeantime, if you don't keep quiet, we shall gag you!"
Under this threat, Jack held his peace.
For almost an hour the taxi bowled along swiftly, then finally came to astop. One of Jack's captors alighted, and the other pushed Jack from thecab. They dragged him up a short gravel path to a rather pretentiouslooking house and into the door.
In the house the lad was taken to the third floor, where he was led intoa nicely furnished room. Then his hands were untied, and his captorsbacked out of the room, locking the door behind them.
"I wonder what on earth this is all about," Jack asked himself when hewas left alone. "I'll bet they have me mixed up with someone else. Well,I'll have to wait and see!"
For an hour Jack sat silently awaiting the arrival of someone; but noone came.
"Guess I might as well lie down and get a little rest," he told himselffinally; "I'm likely to need it."
He lay down on a couch at one end of the room and was soon asleep.
Two hours later he opened his eyes again. A drop lamp was lighted uponthe table, which also contained a tray with a most appetizing supper ofbroiled squab, salad, ices and coffee. The boy arose, and for the firsttime explored the room.
The door was of oak, two inches thick, and was bolted upon the outside.Deciding that no personal violence was intended for the present, Jackthought he might as well fortify himself with a good meal.
As to his whereabouts he hadn't the slightest idea. He had scarcelyfinished the squab, when the door was unlocked and a burly man with ablonde beard and the general appearance of a savant came in.
Carefully securing the door behind him, the visitor drew a chair up tothe table and comfortably seated himself.
"I trust the supper is to your liking, Mr. Templeton? You haveeverything you wish?"
"Yes," replied Jack, as he pushed back his chair; "and now, would anexplanation of why I was brought here be in order?"
"Why, yes, I guess so," was the reply.
"I'll be glad to hear it," said Jack.
"Well, I have been led to believe that, through the activity of England,the life of the Triple Alliance was snuffed out. I think that admissionwill do no harm; and while, of course, I might have snared a greaterbird than you--a man higher up--I decided that you would not be soquickly missed."
"But what have I to do with the death of the Triple Alliance?" demandedJack.
The German, for such Jack knew him to be, shrugged his shoulders andsmiled.
"You see, we have discovered the part you played in Tripoli," he said."Knowing enough to be allowed to take part in such a coup, you must knowa great deal more. I know that the Triple Alliance was put to deaththrough English aid; and I know that you know it. Also I know that youknow how it was done, and the names of all connected with the coup. Thatis what I expect you to tell me."
"Well," said Jack quietly, "I won't!"
"Come now," was the reply. "I know you know these things."
"Admit for the sake of argument, then," said Jack, "that I have certaininformation. How do you intend to extract it--against my will?"
"It does appear difficult to you, doesn't it?" was the rejoinder. "Butwe have learned to manage all that with little trouble."
"You'll not manage me!" declared the lad.
The visitor smiled.
"Are you familiar with the weed that produces what is called theSleeping Sickness?" he asked.
"Yes," replied Jack, becoming interested, for he had seen many animalsunconscious for hours after eating the weed.
"Very well," continued the visitor. "Now, I will tell you that we haveextracted the juice of the weed, and that the liquid can easily be mixedwith any sort of food or drink. Do you follow me?"
Jack nodded his head.
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"Whoever eats food or drinks anything containing a quantity of thisshortly becomes delirious, and while in that condition will talk of thethings that have been most impressed upon his mind. In the food you havejust eaten a sufficient amount of this tincture has been placed to putyou in such a condition."
Jack was conscious of a cold chill running through his back at thepossibilities so coolly suggested, and his jaw set with a greatdetermination.
"But suppose I should not talk?" he asked.
"There is not one chance in a million of failure," was the reply; "but,if it does fail, I shall probably consider it necessary to do somethingworse."
Again the cold chill ran through Jack's body. He opened his mouth tospeak, but before he could do so the visitor rose from his seat,remarking:
"Perhaps you will tell me what I desire to know without all thisunpleasantness, eh?"
"No," replied Jack.
"Very good, then. I have talked enough," and he approached Jack. "It istime to act!"