IX

JOHNNY GOES INTO ACTION

The first precaution taken by Johnny and Pant, after leaving the shed in
the back garden, was to hasten to the water-front where their friends, the
rough and ready mining gang, were still living in a cabin near the
gasoline schooner. Selecting eight of these, Johnny detailed them to work
in two shifts of four each, to lurk about the building where Mazie was
being confined. They were instructed to guard every exit to the place,
and, if an attempt was made by the kidnappers to change base, to put up a
fight and, if possible, release Mazie.

Johnny realized that time was precious, that not one moment must be lost
in going to the rescue of his girl-pal, but in this land of many soldiers
and little law it was necessary to move with caution. When darkness came,
with his gang of miners and a few other hardy fellows, he could rush the
place and bring Mazie away without being caught in the hopelessly
entangled net of Russian law.

Pant appeared to have lost all interest in the case. He went prowling
along the water-front, peering into every junk-shop he came to. What he
finally pounced upon and carried away, after tossing the shopkeeper a
coin, amused Johnny greatly. It was a bamboo pole, like a fishing-pole
only much larger. He estimated it to be at least five inches across the
base.

"Now what in time does he want of that?" Johnny asked himself.

Arrived at the Red Cross station, Pant disappeared with his pole inside an
old shed that flanked the Red Cross building. Johnny saw little more of
him that day. Pant went out after lunch to return with a cheap
looking-glass and a glass cutter. There was an amused grin lurking about
his lips as Johnny stared at him, but he said nothing; only returned to
his shed and his mysterious labors.

As darkness fell, the clan gathered. The miners in full force and
variously armed with rifles, automatics, knives and pick-axes came in from
the water-front. Pant came out from his hiding. He carried on his back a
bulky sack which did not appear to weigh him down greatly. It gave forth a
hollow rattle as he walked.

"Sounds like skulls," said one miner with a superstitious shudder.

The little band received a welcome shock as they rounded the corner of the
street by the cathedral. They chanced to be beneath a flickering
street-lamp when some one shouted:

"Hello there, 'ere's the gang!"

It was Jarvis and Dave Tower. Having alighted from the balloon and
pr