“No; Somers,” corrected the other sailor.

“Well, he saw a row going on, and he had to run down the street and get into it.  Too many fellers in the fight, and Winter—­”

“Somers,” interposed the second sailor.

“Yes; 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.

Instantly there was consternation among all the assailants.