mportance. This man was reported to have made his way through the
Allied front near Vladivostok, and to have started north, apparently
with the intention of crossing to America. To capture him, the placard
declared, would be an act of practical patriotism.

Johnny had stared in wonder at the photograph attached. It was the
likeness of a man much younger than the Russian they had followed so
far, but there could be no mistaking that sharp chin and frowning brow.
They had doubtless followed that very man for hundreds of miles only to
lose him at this critical moment.

What had surprised him most of all had been the Jap's remark, as he read
the notice:

"The blunderer! Wooden-headed blunderer!" Hanada had muttered as he read
the printed words.

"Would you take him if you saw him?" Johnny had asked.

The Jap had turned a strangely inquiring glance at him, then answered:

"No!"

But they had not found him. And now the ice was going out. Soon ships
would be coming and going. Little gasoline schooners would dash away to
catch the cream of the coast-wise trading; great steamers would bring in
coal, food, and men. In all this busy traffic, how easy it would be for
the Russian to depart unseen.

Johnny sighed. He had grown exceedingly fond of dogging the track of
that man. And besides, that thousand dollars would come in handy. He
would dearly love to see the man behind prison bars. There would be no
holding him for crimes he had attempted in Siberia, but probably the
United States Government had something on him.

"Look!" exclaimed the Jap. "The tower has tipped a full five feet!" It
was true. The ice crowding from the shore had blocked behind the tower,
which stood several hundred feet from land. A dark line of water had
opened between the two towers. Evidently the harbor committee would have
some work on its hands.

"They're running down there," said Johnny, pointing to three men racing
as if for their lives toward the shore tower. "Wonder what they think
they can do?"

"Looks like the two behind were chasing the fellow in the lead," said
Hanada.

"They are!" exclaimed Johnny. "Poor place for safety, I'd say, but he's
got quite a lead."

At that instant the man in front disappeared behind the shore tower. As
they watched, they saw a strange thing: the swinging platform began to
move slowly along the rusty cable, and, just as it got under way, a man
leaped out upon it.

"He's started the electric motor and is