, as he bent over to
pick at the knot of the rope around his legs. His own voice sounded
strange to him.

"I don't know what it's all about, any more than you do," he went on,
speaking to the others. "It's a fierce game we're up against, and we've
got to make the best of it. As soon as we can move, and talk, we'll
decide what's best to do. Whoever these fellows are, and I believe they
are the foreign spies I've been warned about, they are in complete
possession of the airship."

Tom found it no easy matter to loosen the bonds on his feet. The ropes
were well tied, and Tom's fingers were stiff from the lack of
circulation of blood. But finally he managed to free himself. When he
stood up in the dim storeroom, that was now a prison for all save Koku,
he found that he could not walk. He almost toppled over, so weak were
his legs from the tightness of the ropes. He sat down and worked his
muscles until they felt normal again.

A few minutes later, weak and rather tottery, he managed to reach Mr.
Damon, whom he first unbound. He realized that Mr. Damon was the oldest
of his friends, and, consequently, would suffer most. And it was
characteristic of the eccentric gentleman that, as soon as his gag was
removed he burst out with:

"Bless my wristlets, Tom! What does it all mean?"

"That's more than I can say, Mr. Damon," replied Tom, with a mournful
shake of his head. "I'm very sorry it happened, for it looks as though
I hadn't taken proper care. The idea of those men stowing themselves
away on board here, and me not knowing it; and then coming out
unexpectedly and getting possession of the craft! It doesn't speak
very well for my smartness."

"Oh, well, Tom, anyone might have been fooled by those plotting
foreigners," said Mr. Damon. "Now, we'll try to turn matters about and
get the best of them. Oh, but it feels good to be free once more!"

He stretched his benumbed and stiffened limbs and then helped Tom free
the others. They stood up, looking at each other in their dimly lighted
prison.

"Well, if this isn't the limit I don't know what is!" cried Ned Newton.

"They got the best of you, Tom," spoke Lieutenant Marbury.

"Are they really foreign spies?" asked Captain Warner.

"Yes," replied his assistant. "They managed to carry out the plot we
tried to frustrate. It was a good trick, too, hiding on board, and
coming out with a rush."

"Is that what they did?" asked Mr. Damon.

"It looks so," observed Tom. "T