This Tom and Ned had decided at once to do. But they were still suspicious over Kenny’s sudden breakdown after his capture. That might be a plot to throw them off the track, to enable the other plotters to get in their work. Tom resolved to be on his guard.
Koku and some of the others in the plane car had come out on hearing voices, and in a few words the young inventor explained what had happened.
“I keep him,” said Koku significantly, as he took hold of Kenny.
“Don’t let him kill me!” pleaded the prisoner.
“He won’t hurt you—that is, if you don’t try to get away,” said Tom grimly.
“I’m not going to. I’m through, I tell you. Why, if I had wanted to I could have blown you to pieces half an hour ago. Go over there and look!” he exclaimed, pointing to a spot near some empty boxes and cases, that had contained materials used in preparing the landing field.
“Take a look, Ned,” suggested Tom, handing his chum the flashlight.
In a few minutes Ned came back bearing an object, at the sight of which some of the workmen cried:
“It’s a bomb! Look out!”
“The firing apparatus has been taken out—here it is,” said Kenny, and he took something from his pocket. “It can’t go off the way it is,” he added.