KENNETH SUCCEEDED IN THROWING THE SPY TO THE FLOOR
"Get a strap, a rope, or something, old man," he exclaimed breathlessly. "We've collared a spy."
Rollo obeyed. It was one of those rare instances when he acted on the spur of his chum's orders and argued the situation afterwards. He could not understand how Kenneth had effected the capture without any previous warning. To him, a lad brought up in a country where law and order moves with slow and majestic deliberation, it looked like a case of illegal arrest. Nevertheless he found a length of packing-cord, and deftly secured the arms of the now exhausted spy, tying them at the wrists behind his back.
The two female assistants—Belgian girls—had fled screaming at the commencement of the struggle. Two or three customers at the other end of the long shop had watched the scene without attempting to interfere; but directly the shopkeeper was secured they rushed into the street, yelling that a spy had been captured.
The utterance of the word "Espion" was sufficient instantly to attract a huge crowd. Civil Guards and soldiers found their way through the press, and kept the curious onlookers from the door.
"Who denounces the accused?" demanded a sergeant of the Civil Guard.
"I do," promptly responded Kenneth, at the same time producing his identity papers.
The sergeant glanced at the documents, and entered Kenneth's name in a book.