street below. Now a
patrol wagon came jangling by. Now a squad of policemen emerged from one
alley to plunge down another. A riot call had been sent in and the
streets were alive with patrolmen and detectives all on the trail of
Johnny and his Japanese companion. By this time, too, they must be on
the trail of the Radicals. So far as Johnny knew, the Radicals had not
actually interfered with the enforcement of the law. Now driven to
desperation at the thought of the loss of that treasure which was still
in Johnny's possession, they had stepped over the line. From now on the
police would be after them. Johnny was awakened from these reflections
by the voice of Hanada.

"That man," the Japanese youth was saying, "that Russian, the one we
have followed so far, he is the big one, the head of the Radical
movement, and he is at this moment in conference with all his chosen
leaders. To-morrow, next day, next week, he may strike. And what will
the result be? Who can tell? In the whole world he has millions of
followers who will rise at his call. We must get him, get that man
before it is too late. I am a member of the Japanese Secret Police. And
you?"

"A plain American citizen," answered Johnny, "which, by the laws of our
land, makes me a policeman, a marshal, a member of the secret
service--anything and everything, when the safety of my people, the
stability of my government, is at stake." Johnny's chest swelled
proudly.

"Oh! I understand," breathed Hanada.

"But," said Johnny quickly, "you say we must get that man. I have had
opportunities to kill him, to let him be killed and always you have
hindered me. Why?"

"Don't you see even now?" Hanada asked. "Don't you see that now is the
time to strike? Now he is meeting with his leaders. We must take him not
alone, but the whole band. We must scatter them to the ends of the
earth, put them in prison, banish them. Then the whole affair will be
ended forever."

Hanada leaned forward. His eyes glowed; his words were sharp with
excitement. Johnny listened, breathless.

"We must get them all," he continued. "That is why our secret service
people allowed him to break through the lines at Vladivostok, and make
his way north to cross the Strait. That is why I followed him, as an
Eskimo, to dog his tracks and yet to protect him. That is why he could
not be killed. He was to be a decoy; a decoy for the whole band. Your
Secret Service, of which I thought you were a member, would