"These" were papers which seemed to be maps of different places carefully marked and figured, and other diagrams of different kinds.
"What are they?"
"As well as I can see, sir, material to forge steel chains on those rascals who brought us here. They appear to be plans of United States ports and details of our harbor defenses. But we've no time to look them over now. Come, sir!"
The lad stuffed the papers in his blouse.
He had noticed with his keen eyes that few things escaped, that the Pulsifers had not locked the front door when they entered their hut. He now flung it open, and, a second later, he and the inventor stood under the open starlight, their hearts leaping excitedly.
In front of the door, a dark shadow in the gloom that had set in following the sinking of the moon, was the automobile.
A little gasoline, and more than a little good luck, was all that lay between them and safety.
"Crank her up, sir. I'll stand guard here," breathed Ned.
The inventor bent over the front of the machine and jerked the cranking handle over. There was no explosion.
Again he turned it, without result.