But Hal Hastings stepped between them so neatly that the Frenchman
collided with him instead.
"Hold this fellow a moment, please," requested Captain Jack. "I've found
something interesting."
Hal Hastings grabbed Lemaire's right arm. Jacob Farnum instantly
possessed himself of the other. David Pollard sprang forward so that
he could take a hand, if need be.
Captain Jack stood holding the spy's walking stick, ferule end upward.
It was a rather long, slender-looking ferrule of steel. But what
interested young Benson most was that he had found that the ferrule
was hollow.
Quickly the submarine boy examined the rest of the cane.
"Release me! Hand that stick back to me!" hissed the Frenchman. "Oh,
some one shall pay for this unpardonable outrage!"
But Hal and Mr. Farnum only gripped the spy the more tightly.
"I believe I've found out something," announced Jack, in a low voice.
"Wait a second or two."
He had come upon a concealed spring near the head of the cane. Stepping
to the edge of the porch, the submarine boy pointed the ferrule end at
the ground, then pressed upon the spring.
A sharp, though not loud report followed, and a bullet plowed into the
ground. There was a flash at the end of the ferrule, though but a
barely perceptible amount of smoke.
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