upposed hospitality of
the Red Cross? I'm hungry. So is Doc."

"Right this way," and Mazie hurried through the door.

Half an hour later the two were enjoying such a meal as they had not eaten
for months; not because of its bountifulness, nor richness, but because it
was prepared by a woman.

"To-morrow," said Johnny, as he murmured good-night, "I am to venture into
one more unknown land."

"Yes, and may your patron saint protect you as he has done in the past,"
said Mazie.

"My patron saint is a miss," smiled Johnny, "and her name is Mazie.
Good-night."

* * * * *

Realizing that he was trapped, the instant that forms blocked the door of
the machine sheds at the Seven Mines, Pant tackled the problem of escape.
If these were natives or yellow men, they would treat him rough. If they
were Bolsheviki, he could hope for no better fate. His only hope lay in
escape. The place had no other door and no open windows. He must gain his
freedom by strategy. Evidently, he must play the cat-and-mouse act about
the piles of supplies and machinery.

As he dodged back to a position behind a large ore crusher, he managed to
catch sight of the two men.

"Bolsheviki!" he gasped inaudibly. "What giants!"

Full-bearded giants they were, reminding him of nothing so much as of
Bluebeard in the fairy books, or the Black Brothers in "The Lost River."

Seeming to scent him, as a dog scents a rat, they moved cautiously down
the narrow passage between piles. As yet, they had not caught sight of
him. Hope rose. Perhaps they would pass by him. Then he could make a dash
for it. Yet, this was not entirely satisfactory. They would follow him,
would see where he had gone, if he escaped to the mine. Then all his plans
would go glimmering.

Instantly there flashed through his mind a bolder and, if it worked, a
better plan. Moving close to the crusher, he put his hand to the great
hopper that rested on and towered above it. This was made of iron and was
fully eight feet wide and quite as deep. His keen eye measured the
aperture at the bottom. No giant, such as these were, could crowd through
that hole. And the hopper was heavy. Applying all his strength to it, he
felt it give ever so slightly. It was not bolted down; it was merely
balanced there. He would be able to topple it over. And, once over, it
would be a difficult affair to handle, especially from beneath.

As he waited, his heart thumped s