rst hopeful ones, for the hands came out
empty.

"Not a thing!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Not a blessed thing! They have
even taken my keys and--my fountain pen!"

"I guess they searched us all while they were struggling with us, tying
us up," suggested Ned. "I had a knife with a big, strong blade, but
it's gone."

"So is mine," echoed Tom.

"And I haven't even a screwdriver, or a pocket-wrench," declared the
engineer, "though I had both."

"They evidently knew what they were doing," said Lieutenant Marbury. "I
don't usually carry a revolver, but of late I have had a small
automatic in my pocket. That's gone, too."

"And so are all my things," went on his naval friend. "That Frenchman,
La Foy, was taking no chances."

"Well, if we haven't any weapons, or means of getting out of here, we
must make them," said Tom, as hopefully as he could under the
circumstances. "I don't know all the things that were put in this
storeroom, and perhaps there may be something we can use."

"Shall we make the try now?" asked Ned. "I'm getting thirsty, at least.
Lucky we had supper before they came out at us."

"Well, there isn't any water in here, or anything to eat, of so much I
am sure," went on Tom "So we will have to depend on our captors for
that."

"At least we can shout and ask for water," said Lieutenant Marbury.
"They have no excuse for being needlessly cruel."

They all agreed that this might not be a bad plan, and were preparing
to raise a united shout, when there came a knock on the door of their
prison.

"Are you willing to listen to reason?" asked a voice they recognized as
that of La Foy.

"What do you mean by reason?" asked Tom bitterly. "You have no right to
impose any conditions on us."

"I have the right of might, and I intend exercising it," was the sharp
rejoinder. "If you will listen to reason--"

"Which kind--yours or ours?" asked Tom pointedly.

"Mine, in this case," snapped back the Frenchman. "What I was going to
say was that I do not intend to starve you, or cause you discomfort by
thirst. I am going to open the door and put in food and water. But I
warn you that any attempt to escape will be met with severe measures.

"We are in sufficient force to cope with you. I think you have seen
that." He spoke calmly and in perfect English, though with a marked
accent. "My men are armed, and will stand here ready to meet violence
with violence," he went on. "Is that understood?"

For a moment none of