“That looks suspicious!” cried Gilbert, and immediately drew his pistol, while Ben did the same.
“Hadn’t we better get help?” asked Ben. “If that rascal is in there with some of his friends, he may show fight.”
“Yes, get some of the guards we met at the upper corner, Ben.”
Going up to the door, Gilbert knocked loudly.
“Open in the name of the Mikado!” he cried, in Russian.
There was a stir within, but no one came to the door. Then Albert heard hasty footsteps retreating to the rear of the building.
“Watch this door and don’t let Snokoff escape,” he said to the clerk.
“I will do my best, sire,” was the trembling answer.
Running around the side of the building, the young captain was just in time to see the figure of a man, bundle in hand, leaping from a back window. The man was disguised as a Chinaman, and had his face stained.
“Stop!” cried the young American. “Stop, or I will fire!”