Almost before she knew it another figure joined Bertie and she could hear the two conversing, but she didn’t dare move closer. The newcomer struck a match to light a cigarette and carefully shielded though it was, Janet was close enough to glimpse his face. It was that of a stranger. The match went out and the night seemed darker.
Janet wanted to get closer, but as she moved forward she stumbled over something in the dark and plunged headlong into the sand.
Before she could regain her feet she heard a muttered exclamation and knew she had been discovered.
Then the thin beam from a shielded flashlight struck her face.
Janet knew her only chance was to run for it and she tried to rise, but her feet were entangled in a tough creeper.
“Look out! She may scream!” warned Bertie.
Janet opened her lips to cry out, but before she could do it, the man with Bertie leaped forward and thrust a heavy hand against Janet’s mouth. Suddenly the world went black, the stars vanished, and she dropped into the sand.
Chapter XXVI
BOMBS FROM THE SKY
It was later in the evening when Janet was missed. Helen thought her companion had gone to visit some other member of the company and it was well after ten o’clock when she became alarmed and started making inquiries.
“Looking for someone?” asked Bertie Jackson, who seemed to be everywhere.