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Updated: June 15, 2025
He spoke in poor, broken Russian, so that he would not be taken for a native of that country. Had he been, he would have at once been in great danger of being accused as an escaped exile. Finally a man who, the exile whispered to his Companions, was the local governor, came to their prison. He eagerly asked questions as to their mission, and Mr. Petrofsky answered them diplomatically.
"And they're coming right after us," added Tom, as he continued to gaze. "I thought so," was the quiet comment of Mr. Petrofsky. "That is what I started to say a few days ago," he went on, "when I stopped, as I hardly believed it possible. I thought they might possibly send an aeroplane after us, as both the French and Russian armies have a number of fast ones. So they are pursuing us.
J.M. rose to his feet and hurried down the porch toward the Petrofsky wing of the house, addressing himself to the tall, grave-faced figure in the doorway. "Oh, Mr. Petrofsky, may I have a few minutes' talk with you about your son?" he said.
They had realized, too late, that it was not a bomb, and that there was no immediate danger for them. "Come on!" cried Tom. "Make for the airship! We've got to get the start of them!" Leading the way, he sprinted toward the road that led to the place where the airship awaited them. He was followed by Mr. Damon and the detective, who had Mr. Petrofsky between them. "Are you all right?"
But the first floor was equally unproductive of clews, save those already noted, which showed, at least so Tom believed, that Mr. Petrofsky had been surprised and overpowered while at breakfast. "Now for outside!" cried the young inventor. "We'll see if we can figure out how they got him away."
"Yes," answered Tom, "if I push her to the limit." "Then do so," advised the Nihilist, "for there is need of haste. In making inquiries our friends might incur suspicions and Peter Petrofsky may be exiled to some other place." "Oh, we'll get there," cried Tom. "Ned, see to the gas machine. Mr. Damon, you can help me in the pilot house."
"I'd like to get on the track of that platinum treasure." "And we will do all in our power to aid you," said Ivan Petrofsky. "My brother and I owe much to you in fact Peter owes you his life; do you not?" and he turned to him. "I do," was the firm answer. "Oh, nonsense!" exclaimed Tom, who did not like to be praised. "I didn't do much." "Much!
Then, as night settled down, our friends gathered about in the cheerful cabin, in the light of the electric lamps, and talked of what lay before them. As Mr. Damon could steer as well as Tom or Ned, he shared in the night watch. But Mr. Petrofsky was not expert enough to accept this responsibility. It was when Mr. Damon finished his watch at midnight, and called Tom, that he remarked.
For several minutes the two Russians kept up their rapid-fire talk and then Mr. Petrofsky, evidently realizing that his friends must wonder at it, turned to them and said: "This is a very strange thing. This man is an escaped convict, as I once was. I recognized him by certain signs as soon as I saw him, though I had never met him before.
They were speeding off now, and Ned, turning the beams of the great searchlight below them, picked up the three guards who were gazing helplessly aloft after their fast disappearing prisoner. "You're having your first ride in an airship, Mr. Petrofsky," remarked Tom, when they had gone on for some little distance. "How do you like it?" "I'm so excited I hardly know, but it's quite a sensation.
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