“Your p-p-place is in front,” says he. “Git back there quick.”
He was right about it. We had left our station unguarded.
“What’s the matter?” I yelled at Plunk.
“Man tryin’ to cut the rope that holds up the stairs,” says he, “and I’m pokin’ away his knife. He’s got it tied to a pole.”
Motu and I hurried around in front and got there just in time, for two Japanese were trying to sneak up a ladder, quiet, without hearing. From then on we didn’t have time to bother about Plunk and his troubles.
CHAPTER XIX
Motu and I soon disposed of the two Japanese and their ladder. As soon as they had picked themselves up we heard The Man Who Will Come calling to them. Motu said he was telling them to quit monkeying around there and come to help him.
“I will watch here,” says Motu. “You go to help Mark Tidd.”
I was willing enough because I wanted to see what was going on, so I ran around the corner just in time to see Mark leaning as far over as the size of him would allow and smearing something on the stairs where they were hauled up.
“What you doin’?” I asked. “Feedin’ them?”