The manacles hampered them and as no more lights were turned on the four stumbled along the cabin to the low door. Jim lead the way, and had to stand on a brace while Arto came after him. Then the two jumped together, landing on something rather slippery, which Austin thought might be mossy stones. Pedro appeared almost immediately, for the Admiral was urging speed, so the two on the ground braced themselves to help. At last they were all out, and Jim glanced about him curiously. One thing he noticed, nothing seemed wet, so he decided that the storm had been a local and not a general one.
“You guys stay where you are,” the Admiral snapped authoritatively.
“I got a gun on ’em.”
They stood perfectly still a short distance from the plane, and Jim took a look at her. The design was quite different from any he had ever seen; she was especially trim, and although he could not see well, he made up his mind that she was twin motored. If he got a chance to examine her more closely he would know something about flying her in case they could break away from their captors. There was no chance of doing anything of the kind now for the Admiral had them covered with a brace of six-guns, but just the same, Austin wasn’t going to give up merely because of a pair of shooting irons.
CHAPTER X
SHIVERING ROCKS
“Hey you, come on en watch your step,” the Admiral ordered abruptly although the little band of prisoners had seen or heard nothing which announced that the next move was to be made.
“Right-O, don’t rush the mourners,” Jim answered, then he turned to his bracelet-mate and grinned broadly. “After you, my dear Gonzalas.”
“Pray, I beg of you go first,” Arto responded equally cheerful.
“Now, none of your funny business,” the General snapped suspiciously.