Then the patrol thundered up, and Zip, still shackled, was carried out and placed in it. Stationing a policeman at the front and another at the back of the house and calling, “See you later!” to Bill, the detectives and Frank got into the patrol and went rattling down the street.
Bill heard a voice; a determined, quiet voice at his elbow. “Now, Bill Wolfe, what is it all about?” said Elizabeth.
CHAPTER XIII
The night passed quickly to the tired trio in the cave.
Eddie was the first to wake. He rose, stretched himself, and went to peer out of the cave mouth. He did not like to go out until Ernest gave the word. Ernest and Dee slept on and on, and Eddie fumed, not liking to disturb them. At last the pangs of hunger so beset him that he shook Dee and then Ernest into wakefulness. Just as he succeeded in persuading that last named person to open both eyes at the same time and sit up the two Secret Service men appeared. They had been thoughtful enough to bring some breakfast for all hands, and as they themselves had driven from Louisville without stopping to eat, they sat down in a circle near the mound of shale and consumed innumerable sandwiches and hot coffee from the thermos bottles.
Breakfast over, the detectives carefully scooped the shale away from the canvas cases containing the explosives. Lifting one of them, with the greatest gentleness and care they opened it. Inside, wrapped in rolls of cotton, were rows of little brass cylinders.
The sight of them seemed to excite Eddie. He started, stared and pointing a shaking finger at them, managed to ask in a dry whisper:
“What are those?”
“Infernal machines!” said one of the detectives.