“Now to get back to the launch before I am discovered,” he said, and, turning, he started off rapidly in the direction from which he had come.
But he was not to carry his task to a successful termination so easily; for hardly had he gone fifty feet, when he was brought to an abrupt pause by the sound of a harsh command:
“Halt!”
Turning, the lad dropped his burden to the ground and, after a moment’s hesitation, threw his hands above his head.
“This is what I call tough,” he muttered.
For, not fifty yards behind him, and approaching at a run, came an officer with leveled revolver, and behind him a squad of soldiers.
CHAPTER XXVII.
NEUTRAL HOSPITALITY.
The officer came up to the lad quickly, and held out his hand for the boy’s revolver, which Jack gave him without a word.
“What is the meaning of this?” he demanded in broken English.
Jack smiled slightly.