He stood regarding us with his sardonic smile, while our captors surrounded us, searching our belts for other weapons. And he added, “I was garbed like you when we last met. Now you are garbed like me. How is that?”
THEY led us into the lighted area of the grove. “The American who knows New York City so well,” Tako added. “And the Bermudian says he knows it also. It is what you would call an affair of luck, having you here.”
He seemed highly pleased. He gazed at us smilingly. We stood silent while the men roughly stripped the broken wires and disks from us. They recognized the equipment. There was a jargon of argument in their strange guttural language. Then at Tako’s command three of them started for the house.
Jane had cried out at sight of us. Her captor had ordered her back to her seat by the tree.
“So?” Tako commented. “You think silence is best? You are wise. I am glad you did not make us kill you just now. I am going to New York and you shall go with me; what you know of the city may be of help. We are through with Bermuda. There are not many girls here. But in the great United States I understand there are very many. You shall help us capture them.”
Don began, “The girl over there——”
“Your sister? Your wife? Perhaps she knows something of New York and its girls also. We will keep her close with us. If you three choose to help me, you need have no fear of harm.” He waved aside the men with imperious commands. “Come, we will join this girl of yours. She is very pretty, is she not? And like you—not cowardly. I have not been able to make her talk at all.”
The dawn of this momentous night was at hand when, with the networks of wires and disks properly adjusted upon us, Tako took Jane, Don and me with him into the Fourth Dimension.
Strange transition! Strange and diabolical plot which now was unfolded to us! Strangely fantastic, weird journey from this Bermuda hilltop through the Unknown to the city of New York!
CHAPTER VI