Engineer Serko listens with profound attention, a stern look in his
eyes and a frown on his brow; and yet he can have no reason that
authorizes him to doubt my word.
"You claim that three men threw themselves upon you?" he asks.
"Yes. I thought they were some of your people, for I did not see them
coming. Who were they?"
"Strangers, as you must have known from their language."
"They did not utter a word!"
"Have you no idea as to their nationality?"
"Not the remotest."
Do you know what were their intentions in entering the cavern?"
"I do not."
"What is your opinion about it?"
"My opinion, Mr. Serko? I repeat I thought they were two or three of
your pirates who had come to throw me into the lagoon by the Count
d'Artigas' orders, and that they were going to do the same thing to
Thomas Roch. I supposed that having obtained his secrets--as you
informed me was the case--you had no further use for him and were
about to get rid of us both."
"Is it possible, Mr. Hart, that you could have thought such a thing!"
continued Serko in his sarcastic way.
"I did, until having been able to remove the bandage from my eyes, I
perceived that I was in the tug."
"It was not the tug, but a boat of the same kind that had got through
the tunnel."
"A submarine boat?" I ejaculate.
"Yes, and manned by persons whose mission was to kidnap you and Thomas
Roch."
"Kidnap us?" I echo, continuing to feign surprise.
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