Lawrence went to the wheel and settled himself for a pretty piece of airmanship. He too could hear the pulsation of the engine behind them. It sounded choked and muffled in the fog, which was now so thick that objects five feet away looked hazy.
More and more distinct came the sound behind, and suddenly like a phantom the dirigible appeared. Mr. Ridgeway gave a shout of surprise and anger as the balloon, instead of following his directions, slid close to them on the left. The cars bumped violently, and two muffled figures rapidly lashed them together fore and aft They had had the ropes ready and it took but a moment to secure them.
Then, almost before Mr. Ridgeway realized his predicament, he and the two men who comprised the crew found themselves looking into the muzzles of the revolvers held by their strange visitors.
“Hands up!” said a smooth voice which Lawrence recognized as that of their arch enemy. “No fooling! We intended to shoot you all, but if you give up the jewels and papers, Mr. Ridgeway, you may save your life and that of the boy over there. Keep that wheel steady,” he ordered, “or I shoot!”
He turned to Mr. Ridgeway. “If the papers and jewels are in my hands in two minutes, you are safe. Otherwise down into the sea you will go. However, perhaps it will be as well to wait until I hear my men coming up. There is a dirigible behind, with the rest of my men. The dirigible is the one O’Brien was going to take. O’Brien is dead, by the way.”
Under the air mask Smith grinned.
“Who are you anyway?” demanded Mr. Ridgeway.
The man laid one of his revolvers down and tore off his mask. Mr. Ridgeway looked at the smooth, smiling face and staggered backward.
“My private secretary!” he gasped.
“Nicely done, wasn’t it, Mr. Ridgeway? I don’t at all blame you for trusting me. I brought such wonderful recommendations!” The fiend chuckled. “Indeed, kings themselves have trusted me before this. However much as I might desire to talk over old times with you, I will ask you to tell me where the jewels are.”