g."

"Who wuz dey?"

"That's what I don't know altogether. Say, Jerry, are there some tough
characters hanging around the river these days that ain't regular
crooks?"

"Is dey? Dere's a mess of 'em!"

"Where do they stay?" asked Johnny eagerly.

"Dat's it." The little fellow scratched his head. "I bin skulkin' 'round
'em to find out. Sometimes I follers 'em, like now. Dey always drop out
like this. Dey's queer. Dey ain't regular crooks, nor regular guys
either. Dey's cookin' soup for sump'n big."

"That's what I think," said Johnny. "What are they like?

"Dey's five Roosians, three Heinies, one Wop, an' one Jap, I seen."

"Say, Jerry," said Johnny suddenly, "do you want to earn some honest
money?"

"Not work?"

"No, spyin'."

"Not on me pals? Not on regular crooks?"

"No, on these queer ones."

"I'm on. Wot's de lay?"

"Find where they stay. Hunt them day and night till you do. Here's a
twenty. There's more where that came from. There's a century note if you
get them. Get me?"

The Rat ducked his head in assent.

"Then good night."

"Night," he mumbled.

They were out of the building now and Johnny made his way cautiously
back to his room. He had had quite enough for one night. Once he paused
to thrust his hand beneath his vest. Yes, the diamonds were still there.
His assailants had not had time to find them. He was not sure whether he
was glad or sorry.

CHAPTER XVI

CIO-CIO-SAN BETRAYED

Very alert, Johnny Thompson at the stroke of eight the next night crept
from a narrow runway between two buildings and walked briskly down the
street. He had reached the runway by a route known only to himself. He
was sure that for a time, at least, he would not be followed. At last he
reached the bridge which was coming to harbor many mysteries for him.
Halfway across the span he paused, and sinking into the shadow of an
iron girder, began watching the surface of the water.

He was, in fact, attempting to understand those murky depths. From his
room he had detected a strange light. Either reflected on the water or
shining up through it, this light appeared a pale yellow glow, such as
he had often seen given off by the jelly fish in the Pacific. That there
was no such jelly fish to be found in fresh water he knew quite well.
And he had never in his life noticed that glow in the river.

Now, as he surveyed the surroundings, he realized that the light could
not have been reflected from any illumi