"Great Scott!" exclaimed Nattie; "it's after eleven!"
"In less than an hour the board will sit, and at Tokio—twenty miles away!" Mori cried. "We have lost the chance after all."
"Not without a struggle," firmly replied the lame youth. "There's Mr. Burr over there. He is here to meet us. Nattie, take him to the nearest stationer, and purchase three or four quires of official paper, pen and ink. Be back in five minutes. Mori, come with me."
While Nattie, too bewildered to speak, hurried away on his errand, Grant grasped the Japanese youth's arm, and almost ran to the station master's office. They found the official seated at his desk.
"What time does the next train leave for the capital?" asked Grant.
"At eleven-thirty, sir."
"Too late. How long will it take you to start a special train?"
The railway employee stared at his questioner in surprise.
"A special train for Tokio?" he asked.