The little fellow shook his head. Then the voice which seemed to come from nowhere was heard again:
"You'll meet him in due time," it said.
A long silence followed. The lantern which gave out the light flickered in the wind and the beat of the rain increased in violence. In all the adventurous lives of the Boy Scouts nothing so weird, so uncanny, as this had ever occurred.
"Well," Jack said, more to break the strange silence than for any other purpose, "why don't you say something?"
Then, through the clamor of the storm, came the sharp ring of steel. It sounded to the listening boys like the purring of two swords directed against each other by strong hands.
Instantly the light was extinguished, and the shuffling of feet told the captives that the watchful six were getting into upright positions.
"Hello, the house!"
The challenging call came from the street outside.
"That's good, honest United States!" Jimmie whispered. "Shall I risk an answer?"
"You'll probably get a knife in your side if you do," Frank answered.
"The Chinks are still in the room."