CHAPTER IV
THE SEARCH
For a moment Ned could scarcely understand what Tom meant. It scarcelyseemed possible that such a thing could happen. That some one infar-off Russia--be it the Czar or one of the secret police--couldoperate from such a distance, seeking out a man in an obscure house ina little American village, and snatching him away.
"It isn't possible!" declared Ned breathlessly.
"What difference does that make?" asked Tom. "The thing has happened,and you can't get out of it. Look at all the evidence--there's been afight, that's sure, and Mr. Petrofsky is gone."
"But maybe he went away of his own accord," insisted Ned, who wassometimes hard to convince.
"Nonsense! If a man went away of his own accord would he smash up hisfurniture, leave his papers scattered all about and go off leaving thedoors and windows open for any one to walk in? I guess not."
"Well, maybe you're right. But think of it! This isn't Russia!"
"No, but he's a Russian subject, and, by his own confession an escapedexile. If he was arrested in the usual way he could be taken back, andour government couldn't interfere. He's been taken back all right. Poorman! Think of being doomed to those sulphur mines again, and as heescaped they'll probably make it all the harder for him!"
"But I thought our government wouldn't help other nations to get backprisoners convicted of political crimes," suggested Ned. "That's allMr. Petrofsky was guilty of--politics, trying to help the poor in hisown country. It's a shame if our government stands for anything likethat!"
"That's just the point!" exclaimed Tom. "Probably the spies, secretpolice, or whoever the Russian agents were, didn't ask any help fromour government. If they did there might be a chance for him. But likelythey worked in secret. They came here, sneaked in on him, and took himaway before he could get help. Jove! If he could only have gotten wordto me I'd have come in the airship, and then there'd be a differentending to this."
"I guess you're right, Tom. Well, that ends it I suppose."
"Ends what?"
"Our trip to the platinum mine."
"Not a bit of it. I'm going to have a hunt for it."
"But how can you when Mr. Petrofsky can't go along to show us the way?Besides, we wanted to help rescue his brother, and now we can't."
"Well, I'm going to make a big try," declared the young inventorfirmly. "And the first thing I'm going to do is to get our friend outof the clutches of the Russian police."
"You are? How?"
"I'm going to make a search for him. Look here, Ned, he must have beentaken away some time to-day--perhaps only a few hours ago--and theycan't have gone far with him."
"How do you make that out?" Ned wanted to know.
"Well, I guess I'm detective enough for that," and Tom smiled. "Lookhere, the doors and windows are open. Now it rained last night, andthere was quite a wind. If the windows had been open in the stormthere'd be some traces of moisture in the rooms. But there isn't adrop. Consequently the windows have been opened since last night."
"Say, that's so!" cried Ned admiringly.
"But that's not all," went on Tom. "Here's a bottle of milk on thetable, and it's fresh," which he proved by tasting it. "Now that wasleft by the milkman either late last night or early this morning. Idon't believe it's over twelve hours old."
"Well, what does this mean?" asked Ned, who couldn't quite follow Tom'sline of reasoning.
"To my mind it means that the spies were here no later than thismorning. Look at the table upset, the dishes on the floor. Here's onewith oatmeal in it, and you know how hard and firm cooked oatmeal getsafter it stands a bit. This is quite fresh, and soft, and--"
"And that means--" interrupted Ned, who was in turn interrupted by Tom,who exclaimed:
"It means that Mr. Petrofsky was at breakfast when they burst in onhim, and took him away. They had hard work overpowering him, I'llwager, for he could put up a pretty good fight. And the brokenfurniture is evidence of that. Then the spies, after tying him up, orputting him in a carriage, searched the house for incriminating papers.That's as plain as the nose on your face. Then the police agents, orwhoever they were, skipped out in a hurry, not taking the trouble toclose the windows and doors."
"I believe it did happen that way," agreed Ned, who clearly saw whatTom meant. "But what can we do? How can we find him?"
"By getting on the trail," answered his chum quickly. "There may bemore clews in the house, and I'm sure there'll be some out of doors,for they must have left footprints or the marks of carriage wheels.We'll take a look, and then we'll get right on the search. I'm notgoing to let them take Mr. Petrofsky to Russia if I can help it. I wantto get after that platinum, and he's the only one who can pilot usanywhere near the place; and besides, there's his brother we've got torescue. We'll make a search for the exile."
"I'm with you!" cried Ned. "Jove! Wouldn't it be great if we couldrescue him? They can't have gotten very far with him."
"I'm afraid they have quite a start on us," admitted Tom with a dubiousshake of his head, "but as long as they're in the United States we havea chance. If ever they get him on Russian soil it's all up with him."
"Come on then!" cried Ned. "Let's get busy. What's the first thing todo?"
"Look for clews," replied Tom. "We'll begin at the top of the house andwork down. It's lucky we came when we did, for every minute counts."
Then the two plucky lads began their search for the kidnapped Russianexile. Had those who took him away seen the mere youths who thusdevoted themselves to the task, they might have laughed in contempt,but those who know Tom Swift and his sturdy chum, know that two moreresourceful and brave lads would be hard to find.