CHAPTER XXIV.
ANOTHER UNPLEASANT SURPRISE.
To say that the lads were astonished is putting it mildly. There theywere, so they believed, sneaking upon an unsuspecting victim and nowthey found themselves absolutely in that victim's power, for it took butthe first glance to assure them that the face that gazed so evilly andsardonically into theirs was the face of Davis.
Now Davis grinned at them.
"I was expecting you, gentlemen," he said with biting sarcasm. "I didnot wish to seem discourteous, which is the reason I welcome you inperson. But, also, knowing your kind, I surmised that you would notannounce yourselves at the front door, as would most British gentlemen;therefore I receive you here. I assure you you are most welcome."
All this time he kept each lad covered with an ugly-looking automatic.
As neither Frank nor Jack replied, Davis continued.
"I would just like to add that if you desire to get ahead of me it willbe necessary to arise very early in the morning. What kind of a spy doyou think I am, anyway, not to know when I am being followed? I assureyou, gentlemen, you have misjudged me. I was not born yesterday."
Still neither lad replied.
"And now," Davis went on, "I must ask you to be so kind as to precede meto the parlor, where I shall entertain you more comfortably."
He emphasized this statement with a slight gesture with one of hisrevolvers and there was naught for the lads to do but obey.
Davis followed them closely, still covering them with his two revolvers.In the parlor he motioned them to seats and took a chair across theroom.
"Now," he said, "I would be pleased to have you tell me how you escapedfrom our enemies, the British."
"Well, I can see no harm in enlightening you," said Jack. "I would havesupposed that, being so brilliant, you had guessed it by this time. Weare British officers and not German."
"Would it surprise you," queried Davis, "if I should tell you I hadsurmised as much? And our good friend, Commander Bernstorff"--and hereDavis laughed--"how is he?"
"Well," replied Jack calmly. "And now I wonder if you would explain afew things to me?"
"You are at liberty to ask," smiled Davis.
"Then, how did you get here--why did you venture here--and what of yourlittle private expedition?"
"Those," said Davis, "are what I should call considerable questions.However, I can see no harm in answering them, particularly as you willnever be able to repeat what you hear now. I came here in our submarinethe U-16, which, by the way, I have rechristened _The Vulture_--asuitable name, don't you think?--and I came here because I had businesshere. Now, as to your other question. Our little privateering expeditionis progressing famously. We have already sunk one British ship andsecured a quantity of booty, which may have something to do with mypresence in Ostend."
"I see," said Jack.
"And," continued Davis boastingly, "I came in right under the noses ofthe Germans. My submarine lies in the harbor at this moment. I cameashore in the guise of a German officer. I was not questioned, nor wereyou, I take it?"
His last words formed a question, and Frank answered.
"No, we were not questioned," he said.
"I thought not. Well, when I presently have finished my business--which,by the way, has been increased since your arrival--I shall make my wayback to my vessel and put to sea again. I shall bother none of theGermans nor any ships of war unless they bother me--my business is withships of commerce, where there is booty to be had--and when I havereaped enough I shall go to America, where I shall live the life agentleman should."
"You'll make a fine gentleman," said Jack sarcastically.
"You think so?" said Davis, apparently unruffled. "So do I. But timepresses. I am sorry I can entertain you no longer. You will pleaseprecede me from this room and upstairs."
He arose, and with one revolver, motioned the lads out the door. Therewas nothing for it but to comply; for both lads realized that while theymight have jumped Davis, one of them probably would be shot down; norwas it for his own sake that each hesitated.
They preceded Davis up the stairs and into a large unfurnished room. Ashe entered, Jack looked toward the window. It was heavily barred and thewalls of the room, he saw, were very thick. Once locked in that room,the lad realized, there was little hope of escape.
"Now," said Davis, "please cross the room and stand with your backs tome. I shall leave you here to amuse yourselves. You will have lots oftime, for, I venture to say, the room will not be entered for months tocome--not until I return, which may not be for months. Then I shall givemyself the pleasure of calling on you. Now, good-bye. Turn and face thewall, please."
Jack realized that it was now or never and he took a sudden decision.
"Face the wall, Frank," he commanded quietly. "It's no use."
Frank obeyed.
"You too, if you please," said Davis blandly, flourishing a revolver,while at the same time he returned the other to his pocket.
"Look here, Davis," said Jack quietly, "this thing has gone far enough.We have been highly amused with your entertainment, but now it is timeto call a halt."
Davis looked at him expectantly.
"Well?" he queried.
"Just this," said Jack calmly. "Unless you drop that revolver thisminute, I shall have to take it away from you."
He gazed at Davis steadily.
The latter's shifty eyes could not meet the steady gaze of the lad andhe looked away, but kept Jack covered with his revolver.
"Oh, I guess not," he said.
"Oh, yes I shall," said Jack easily.
"Come," said Davis, pulling himself together and raising his revolver soit pointed between Jack's eyes. "Enough of this. Get back there now or Ishall fire."
Instead, Jack took a step forward, still looking Davis squarely in theeyes.
"Put down that gun!" he commanded sharply.
His tone startled Davis, and for a brief moment he allowed the weapon towaver; and in that moment Jack leaped upon him.
Taken off his guard, Davis nevertheless still had time to raise therevolver and fire. Jack staggered back as he felt something like ared-hot iron pierce his right arm; and the member dropped limply to hisside.
Again Davis fired, but Jack ducked even as he pulled the trigger and thebullet passed over his head.
There was a cry from behind him and Frank pitched forward to the floor.The bullet had struck him a glancing blow on the side of the head.
Jack's heart grew sick as he heard his chum's cry, for he realized in aflash what had happened; but he did not turn his head to look. Instead,stooping low, he leaped lightly forward and seized Davis' pistol armeven as the man fired again. Jack jerked the arm upward at the momentthe weapon went off and the bullet passed him harmlessly. Then, with avigorous wrench, the lad twisted the revolver from Davis' hand andkicked it to one side as it fell to the floor at his feet. Then hestruck Davis sharply across the face with his left hand, and as the manstaggered back, thrust his hand into the pocket where so recently Davishad placed his second revolver.
Davis grabbed at it but too late.
Jack stepped back and, walking across the room, picked up the otherweapon. Then, opening the door, he tossed both weapons outside, closedthe door and faced Davis.
"I've still got a couple of guns in my own pockets," he said quietly,"but I'm going to thrash you within an inch of your life without use ofa weapon--and with a bad arm besides. I may shoot you later, I haven'tdecided about that yet. It all depends upon how badly you have hurt myfriend here."
He stepped forward and aimed a hard blow at Davis with his left fist.Davis stepped aside and the blow missed. At the same time Davis swunghard with right and left and the second blow caught Jack on the helplessright arm. Jack winced but said nothing. He was deadly cool, and headvanced upon Davis smiling.
"Now," he said, "I'll give you an imitation of how I treat a dog likeyou."
He backed Davis into a corner of the room by a series of si
ngle-armfeints and then struck out heavily. Davis put up both arms to block theblow but it did him no good. His guard was swept away as though it hadbeen a feather and the heavy blow crashed through and caught him in theface.
Davis staggered back with arms covering his face protectingly and againJack struck him heavily between the eyes. Davis fell to the floor in aheap, where he lay whining. Jack stood over him angrily.
"Get up!" he commanded quietly. "Get up and fight. I'm not through withyou yet."
Davis grovelled upon the floor, seeking to clasp the lad's knees.
"Get up!" commanded Jack again.
Davis made no move to rise.
Jack stretched out his uninjured arm and jerked the man rudely to hisfeet.
"Put up your hands and fight," he ordered. "Don't show yourself the dogyou are!"
Davis did as Jack commanded and aimed a blow at the lad's head.
Jack promptly knocked him down again.
A second and a third time this was repeated; but after the last fallDavis grovelled and moaned like a whipped child.
Jack gazed down at him in disgust.
"And I hadn't half begun," he said angrily. "However, I can't stand hereand knock down a man who will make no attempt to defend himself. I amthrough with you now. You can go."
Slowly Davis raised himself to his feet and moved toward the door,looking furtively about as he did so. As he reached the door, he sprangsuddenly outside with a loud cry. Jack sprang after him and seized hisarm just in time to deflect a bullet he would have fired from a revolverhe picked up without.
"I thought so," said Jack grimly. "I thought that was about your size. Ihad it all figured out, only when it came to a show down I couldn't dowhat I had intended. I had intended to let you pick up your gun, andwhen you tried to shoot me, to kill you. But I can't do it. Get out ofhere now before I change my mind."
Davis started to move along the hall, but at that moment there wereheavy footsteps upon the stairs and a moment later a figure in the fulluniform of a German battleship commander stood before them.
"What's the meaning of this?" he demanded in a harsh voice.
He glanced at the two quickly, and then realizing that he apparently wastalking to a German naval officer, and his subordinate, he addressedJack.
"You know his Imperial Majesty's orders in regard to fighting withcivilians?" he asked.
Jack could do nothing but bow.
"Then," said the commander, "I shall have to place you under arrest!"