“Joan, that is enough!” Epworth hissed. “You are going to obey me, and you are going to stay right in this room during the entire trip—stay where I can keep my eyes on you.”
“Where you can keep your eyes on her, ha, ha!”
Toplinsky smiled crookedly.
CHAPTER XI
Tables Turned and No Eats
With a cautious movement that did not attract Toplinsky’s attention Billy Sand touched Epworth on the shoulder.
“The hatches may be closed but not locked,” he suggested in a whisper. “Perhaps we can get out on the top of the old crate, and find a way to get inside of the airchambers.”
Epworth dropped down as silently as possible from the air hole. The second he was away from the hole, Toplinsky popped up, and slammed the panel shut.
“Ah, ha, my young cockerel,” they heard him exclaim exultantly, “I guess that will fix you. I have not promised that I would save your life when it was in jeopardy. True I have said that I would not kill you. While this was under durance I shall stick up to it. However I am not responsible for the temperature of space. You should have remained where you belong.”
They heard him cackling shrilly but without pausing to hear more, accompanied by Michael, who had informed them that his last name was Strauss, they ran hurriedly to the hatch, pushing it open.
“Lady Luck,” Epworth exclaimed as he stepped out on the top of the airship. “Not a living object in view, but——”