CHAPTER VIII
GORDON KIDNAPPED
Gordon was a great reader and usually had two or three books stuck away somewhere in the plane whenever they went for a long trip. Up to this time he had had little time to read and had taken none of his books from the plane, but soon after Rogers and Bill had gone he bethought himself of a book that he had started before leaving home and which he thought he had put in the space under his seat. So they were hardly out of sight when he had found the book and selected a comfortable seat close by the plane.
The book was most entertaining and soon he was, as Bill often told him when he was reading, “lost to the world.” However, he was not so deeply engrossed that he did not look up from time to time to see that everything was all right. Half an hour passed and the book was getting more interesting every page when, without the slightest warning, a hand was pressed over his mouth and he was pulled over backward. So sudden was the attack that he was on his back before he realized what had happened.
Gordon was not one to submit to such treatment without strenuous protest and he grabbed for the arm which encircled his neck. But, even as he did so, a numbing pain gripped his neck which rung a low moan from his lips. At the same time a voice hissed close to his ear.
“Keep still and you’ll not get hurt.”
Realizing that he was in the hands of an expert when it came to inflicting pain he quickly decided that he had better obey for the time at least. So he ceased struggling and almost before he knew what was happening his hands were tied tightly together behind his back and his captor was ordering him to get up. As he expected his eyes, when he turned, fell on the smiling countenance of a Japanese, but whether or not he was the same one that had stolen the cells he was unable to say.
“What’s the big idea?” he demanded.
Instead of replying to the question the man searched him and took away his revolver which he carried in his coat pocket.
“What’s the idea?” Gordon again demanded.
“Maybe you will find out later, maybe not,” the man told him. He spoke in good English and with almost no accent, a fact which greatly surprised Gordon.
“But——” Gordon began, but the Jap interrupted.
“You stay right where you are a moment and don’t try to get away because I shall surely shoot you if you do and I’m a pretty good shot.”
Keeping his eye on the boy he stepped to the plane and Gordon could tell that he was doing something to it but could only guess what it might be. Then he stepped back and, pointing toward the northwest, ordered Gordon to walk in front of him.
“Suppose I refuse?” Gordon asked.
“Did you like that pain in the back of your neck?” the Jap demanded.
“Not particularly.”
“That was nothing to what I can do.”
“I believe you.”
“Then if you don’t wish for a demonstration you’ll do as I say.”
“You win,” Gordon told him as he turned and started off in the direction indicated.
“Step along lively now and don’t try any funny business,” the Jap ordered as he followed close behind.
“I’m not likely to as long’s you’ve got that gun trained on my back,” Gordon growled.
“You won’t get hurt if you do as I say.”
“Thanks.”
For twenty minutes they hurried along, the Jap directing Gordon as to the direction he was to take and telling him when to change it. Then they reached a thick clump of bushes, and when he had gone half way around it at the order of his captor, he perceived a narrow path leading directly into it.
“Here we are,” the Jap announced. “Go right in and I’ll follow.”
Knowing there was nothing else to do Gordon did not stop to argue the matter but led the way and a moment later found himself inside a small hut built of poles stuck in a circle and fastened together at the top much after the fashion of an Indian tepee. There were three boxes inside which served as chairs and a bed of grass covered with an old blanket.
“This where you live?” Gordon asked as he looked about him.
“Just at present,” the Jap told him.
“Well, now perhaps, you’ll tell me what it’s all about.”
“Not yet.”
“No?”
“You may sit down.”
“Thanks.”
Gordon sat down on one of the boxes and the Jap, still holding the gun in his hand, sat on another.
“What’s the name of the man with you?” he demanded.
“Rogers.”
“That’s a lie,” the Jap snarled.
“Well, if you know, why ask me?” Gordon demanded with no less heat.
“Maybe you think that’s his name.”
“You bet your life I do, and what’s more, I know it is.”
“Who’s the other boy?”
“My brother.”
“What’s his name?”
“Bill Hunniwell.”
“And yours?”
“Gordon.”
“Where do you live?”
“In Maine.”
“Rogers live there too?”
“No, he lives in New York.”
“How long have you known him?”
“Rogers?”
“Certainly.”
“About a year. But, say, what’s the idea of all the questions?”
“That’s my business. You answer them, that’s all you’ve got to do right now. What is this Rogers’ business?”
“You mean what does he do for a living?”
“That’s what I mean.”
The affair was getting more mysterious to Gordon every minute. That the Jap was an educated man was plainly evident and that he was a determined one was even more so. Gordon was, by this time, certain that there was much more involved in the game than appeared on the surface. But what the game was he had no idea. However, he had come to the conclusion that he had better be a bit guarded in his answers. So he hesitated a moment at this last question.
“Well?” the Jap snapped.
“I’m not so sure,” Gordon told him.
“You mean you don’t know what he does?”
“No, I didn’t mean that.”
“What did you mean, then?”
“Why, you said it was well and I said I wasn’t so sure. As a matter of fact it isn’t at all well from my point of view.”
“Don’t get funny,” the Jap snarled. “What does he do?”
“I don’t think I shall tell you that,” Gordon said slowly.
“You won’t? Why won’t you?”
“Well, for one thing I don’t like your attitude and for another I’m not sure that it’s any of your business.”
“Then I’ll make you.”
“How?”
“That pain in your neck, it wasn’t very pleasant, was it?”
“I’ll say it wasn’t.”
“Now you understand how I can make you?”
“I think I get your drift.”
“That pain was nothing.”
“Maybe not, but it felt something to me,” Gordon grinned.
In spite of the man’s actions and threats there was something about him that drew him and he did not believe he would torture him.
“Once more, are you going to answer my question?” the Jap asked getting up from his seat.
“Suppose you tell me why you are so anxious to know,” Gordon suggested.
“You are in no position to dictate.”
“I guess you’re right there. Still, I’d like to know.”
“But you aren’t going to, that is, not now.”
“I reckon that goes both ways then,” Gordon smiled.
“You’ll feel differently about it in a minute,” the Jap told him as he stepped forward still holding the gun pointed at him.
As the man advanced Gordon also got to his feet and for an instant the two looked in each other’s eyes as though it were to be a battle of wills. Then, taking another step, the Jap placed his left hand on the back of the boy’s neck at the same time pressing the gun against his breast.
“You’re a mighty brave man,” Gordon sneered.
Instead of replying to the taunt the Jap pressed with his fingers and again that fierce pain ran through his neck. But only for an instant. Angered now to the point of not caring what happened, Gordon suddenly ducked and threw himself against the other’s legs and they came to the ground together, the gun flying from the Jap’s hand. But it was, of course, a useless gesture. Even had his hands been free he would have been no match for the man skilled as he was in the traditional art of his race. All this Gordon realized as he felt himself yanked to his feet.
“You are a very brave boy,” the Jap declared as he picked up the revolver, “and I shall not hurt you again.”
“Thanks,” Gordon grinned and resumed his seat on the box. “In return for your kindness I wish I could tell you what you want to know but I don’t think it would be right, not with my present amount of knowledge. You see, he’s a very dear friend.”
“All right. I don’t blame you. Maybe I can find out some other way. I suppose they’ll start hunting for you as soon as they get back.”
“Probably.”
“That’s what I want them to do.”
“You do?”
“I certainly do.”
“Say, did you do anything to the plane?” Gordon asked after a short pause.
“I fixed it so that they can’t fly it.”
“What was the idea, if you want them to find me?”
“They might have been scared off and left.”
“Don’t you believe it. They’re not that kind.”
“Probably not, but I wasn’t taking any chances. I’m going outside a minute to see if I can see anything of them. Don’t try to get away because you can’t.”
He was gone only a moment and when he returned it was with a puzzled look on his face.
“See them?” Gordon asked.
“Yes,” was the reply.
“But why all the trouble on your face. I thought you wanted them to come.”
“But they’re coming in the plane.”
“Thought you fixed it so they couldn’t. What did you do to it?”
“Took the brushes out of the motor.”
“I’m afraid you’re not so smart as I thought,” Gordon grinned. “We’ve got several pairs of extra brushes along.”
“I might have known it. Still, if they’re going to hunt you up, there’s no harm done.”
“Not to the motor,” Gordon grinned.
“You think they’ll hunt till they find you?”
“Sure they will, but if you want them to find me why don’t you get outside and let them see you?”
“You don’t think I’m fool enough to do that I hope.”
“Well, you see, I don’t know a thing about it, the whole thing seems a bit foolish to me. Here you kidnap me and then say you want them to find me. What is it, a ransom game?”
“Never mind what it is. I want you to do just as I say. Do you understand?”
“Well, I’ve been pretty gentle so far, haven’t I?”
“Because you had to be.”
“What is it you want me to do?”
“Wait till I take another look outside and perhaps I’ll tell you.”
“Suit yourself,” Gordon said as the Jap disappeared.
As before he was gone but a minute and when he returned it was with the news that they were flying in circles.
“That’s to make a thorough job of it,” Gordon told him.
“They won’t see this hut unless they fly directly over it.”
“Then let’s hope that’s what they’ll do.”
“It’s some machine you’ve got,” the Jap declared a moment later.
“You said something,” Gordon assured him.
“I suppose those brass cylinders I stole the other day are some new kind of a battery.”
“You suppose just exactly right. They are.”
“Did you invent them?”
“No.”
“Did the man you call Rogers?”
“No.”
“Who did then?”
“Couple of friends of ours back in Maine.”
“Boys?”
“About our age.”
“They must be smart.”
“They are.”
“It must seem strange to be in a plane and not have it make any noise.”
“It does till you get used to it.”
“What are you fellows here for?” He abruptly changed the subject.
“I can’t tell you that, not just now.”
“You mean you won’t?”
“That’s about the size of it.”
“I’ll find out later.”
“Which is on the knees of the gods,” Gordon grinned. “But, I say, you’ve got that cord tied mighty tight.”
“Does it hurt?”
“It’s beginning to feel mighty uncomfortable.”
“If I take it off will you give me your word of honor to do exactly as I order?”
Gordon hesitated a moment, then he shook his head. “Reckon not. I guess I can stand it a bit longer.”
Again the Jap went outside and this time he was gone longer than on the previous occasions. “They’re going to hit about right in about two more turns, I think,” he announced when he came back.
“Suits me,” Gordon said.
“You lie down on the ground close to the side there,” the Jap ordered.
“What’s the idea?”
“Never mind the idea. You do as I tell you, and when they come in here you keep perfectly still.”
“You want them to think I’m dead?”
“No. I don’t want them to know you’re here.”
“But they’ll see me.”
“I shall cover you up with a blanket.”
“And suppose I don’t keep still?”
“In that case you’ll wish you had. If you do as you’re told I promise that you’ll not be hurt.”
“How about my brother?”
“He won’t either, unless he does something very foolish.”
“And Rogers?”
For a moment the Jap did not answer.
“How about Rogers?” Gordon again asked.
“I make no promise in regard to him.”
“Then I think I’ll stay right here.”
“And I think you won’t. Come, they’ll be here soon. Get down there before I have to hurt you. You can’t help yourself you know and please don’t make me resort to harsh means. It’s so useless and unnecessary.”
For a moment Gordon pondered the situation and was not long in coming to the conclusion that the other was right. He was completely in his power and might as well do as he ordered before he was hurt as afterward.
“You win again,” he said shrugging his shoulders. “But I warn you not to hurt Rogers.”
“I hope it won’t be necessary,” the Jap said drily.