"I'm coming," grunted the scientist. "I certainly can't be blamed if the pebbles and twigs hurt my feet, can I?"
And with that, he sprang.
Like a human octopus, all long arms and legs, he launched himself at the spy. His hands clutched at the red-head's throat. His legs wrapped around the man's waist and dashed him backward to the ground.
"Help!" screamed the spy. With a wild motion he hurled the package from him in a long arch.
Bang!
But the explosion was the crack of a detonating cap, not the thunderous roar of a heavy charge of powder.
Major Coggleston lunged forward. His fists beat a meaty tattoo on the spy's face.
The next instant the crackle of military commands and the thud of footsteps burst upon them. The four—Professor Paulsen, Major Coggleston and the spy, in a heap on the ground; and Henry Horn, wide-eyed and trembling, standing near at hand—were illumined in a powerful flashlight's beam. Half a dozen soldiers rushed up.
"Major! We heard that shot! Are you all right?"