The cabin door was fitted with a stout spring lock.
The adventurers were prisoners a thousand feet in the air.
CHAPTER XXIII.
PRISONERS IN DIRE PERIL.
"Locked in, by gosh!" exclaimed Ben Stubbs, as the lock clicked.
"What can they mean to do with us?" wondered Frank.
"So far we've been treated like lords, but I don't like the idea of being penned up in this cabin," said Harry.
Much more speculation was indulged in by the boys, but without their arriving any further at an accurate idea of what was likely to be their ultimate fate at the hands of Luther Barr's men. While they were still talking the light went out, as Malvoise had warned them it would, and they were plunged in total darkness.
Not being heroes of romance, but just healthy boys, the two lads were asleep a few minutes after they threw themselves in their bunks, which were provided with excellent springs, and bed-clothing of good material. As for Ben Stubbs, as he himself said, he could have slept on a whale's back so long as the animal didn't dive.
How long he slept Frank had, of course, no means of estimating, as it was too pitchy black in the cabin for him to see the dial of his watch, but he opened his eyes with a start and soon found out that he had been aroused by what seemed an unusual disturbance aboard the dirigible.