Pant pulled him back to earth. “If it’s Mazie, they’ve got men watchin’. No good to spill the beans. To-morrow night we’ll make up a bunch an’ git ’em.”
Realizing the wisdom of these words, Johnny quieted his mad desire to rush the place at once, and sat down.
Just as the first red streaks striped the sky, there came a loud volley of shots.
Johnny plugged his ears and shivered. Perhaps they were executing the prisoners. Who could tell?
CHAPTER XIX
JOHNNY GOES INTO ACTION
The first precaution taken by Johnny and Pant, after leaving the shed in the back garden, was to hasten to the water-front where their friends, the rough and ready mining gang, were still living in a cabin near the gasoline schooner. Selecting eight of these, Johnny detailed them to work in two shifts of four each, to lurk about the building where Mazie was being confined. They were instructed to guard every exit to the place, and, if an attempt was made by the kidnappers to change base, to put up a fight and, if possible, release Mazie.
Johnny realized that time was precious, that not one moment must be lost in going to the rescue of his girl-pal, but in this land of many soldiers and little law it was necessary to move with caution. When darkness came, with his gang of miners and a few other hardy fellows, he could rush the place and bring Mazie away without being caught in the hopelessly entangled net of Russian law.