Stepping round one of the lumber piles, he came upon the injured man. He lay in a huddle on the planked floor of the wharf. One arm was upraised, as if to ward off a blow, as he heard Tom's footsteps.
"Don't hit me again! Don't!" he begged.
"I'm not going to hurt you. I'm—— Gracious heavens!" he half-shouted the next instant. "It's—it's Professor Podsnap!"
There was a red stain on the professor's face, as if he had been struck by some blunt weapon. His face was white and pitiful, as he looked up at Tom. He recognized him with a groan of dismay.
"You—you've come too late, my boy," he exclaimed weakly, and fell back.
It was some seconds before Tom, kneeling beside him, was able to catch any more. Then the professor spoke again. But his voice was so feeble that Tom had to bend down to catch the words.
"Jack—" gasped the man of science, "Jack and Sandy—they——"
"Yes," spoke Tom eagerly, "yes, where are they?"
"Gone!"
"Gone?"