that was it. Somers got pretty badly used up. His scalp was cut
some considerable. He was taken into a house nearby, and a doctor called
in to stitch him up. Somers sent us to find his messmates. We found
your friend, Hastings, and took him around there. Hastings wanted us to
find you, and bring you there, messmate."

"Poor old Eph!" muttered Jack. "Tough luck, and at a bad time for us."

"We'll take you 'round to where your messmates are," volunteered the
sailor. "Hastings was particular that you come at once."

"I'll get a carriage to bring Mr. Somers home in," Jack suggested.

"Oh, your messmate, Hastings, has sent a feller for a carriage," broke
in the first sailor, hastily.

"Good enough," Jack nodded. "Then say, boys, I'll just run back to the
hotel. I left Radwin in there. I'll be right back with you. You'll
wait for me, surely, won't you?"

"Oh, sure!" chorused both sailors. Then, as Jack Benson scurried down
the street, the two supposed sailors turned to each other, chuckling
softly.

"Sure we'll waits" repeated one of the pair.

It was several minutes ere Jack returned, coming up almost breathlessly.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, boys," he spoke, hastily. "But I'm here at
last."

"Oh, that's all right, messmate. Come along and we'll pilot you straight
to your friend, Winter--"

"Somers," corrected the other sailor.

Between the pair, some two minutes later, Jack Benson turned off a side
street into an alleyway. The houses down in this alley were dark. Most
of the little buildings here were occupied only in the daytime, as junk
shops and old rag stores.

"Don't mind the dark," spoke one of the sailors, as he pushed open a
door. "There's light enough on the second floor. That's where you'll
find your friend, Winter."

"Somers," remonstrated the second sailor.

On the dark stairway Jack Benson found himself suddenly attacked, not
only by the sailor pair, but by at least two other men, as well.

CHAPTER IX

BUT SOMETHING HAPPENED NEXT

"Oh, you--" Jack shot out, hoarsely, he felt himself borne under by
crushing weight.

"Go easy, messmate, and you'll sleep more peaceful to-night!" chuckled
one of the sailors, holding a big hand over the submarine boy's mouth,
while another unseen assailant pinned Jack's hands at the wrists.

Flare! A sudden glow of light illumined the dark hallway. Then more
light.

"Jerusby!" howled one of the sailor pair, leaping to his feet