ocured for their exiled friends comfortable quarters in a place of
refuge, they had gone out in search of Johnny Thompson, and here they had
found him.

"What's up?" demanded Dave.

Johnny told him the situation in as few words as possible, ending, "You
want in on it?"

"Yer jolly right," exclaimed Jarvis, "and 'ere's 'ate to the bloomin'
'eathen!"

So, strengthened by two good men, the party moved cautiously forward until
they were only one block from their destination.

"Split up into two sections," commanded Johnny in a whisper. "One party
under Dave go up street beyond the place, the other under Jarvis stay down
street. Pant and I will drop back into the garden and try to establish
connection with the prisoner. We'll get the general lay of things and
report. If a shot is fired, that will be a signal to rush the place."

They were away. Creeping stealthily forward, they entered the gate to the
garden. Then, skulking along the wall, they made their way toward the shed
where they had spent part of the previous night. Twice the hollow things
in Pant's sack rattled ominously.

"Keep that thing quiet, can't you?" snapped Johnny. "What y' got it for,
anyway?"

"Show you in a minute," whispered Pant.

So they crept on toward the goal. No lights shone from these back windows.
The place was dark as a tomb. Somewhere in the distance a clock slowly
chimed the hour. A shiver ran over Johnny's body. Things would happen
soon.

"All I ask is five minutes; five minutes, that's all," whispered Pant, as
he lowered his sack cautiously to the ground and unlaced its top.

Dimly through the darkness Johnny could see him draw several long objects
from the bag. When the bag was empty, he began setting these objects end
to end. Evidently they were fitted with sockets, for, once they were
joined together, they stuck in place. He soon had them all together.
Johnny surmised that this was the reconstructed bamboo pole with all
obstructing joints taken out; but what Pant meant to do with it, he could
not even guess. He watched with impatient curiosity.

"A speaking tube," he whispered at last. "It's a good idea."

"Mebby; but that ain't it," breathed Pant.

"Well, whatever it is, be quick about it. Somebody out front may spill the
beans any time. If the military police rush the boys, the game's up."

Pant paid no attention. His movements were as steady and cautious as a cat
stalking a robin.

"Now, I guess we're about ready,"