CHAPTER XX

AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RIVER


The Russian had told the truth when he said the friends of Mazie and
Cio-Cio-San were on the bridge. Johnny and Hanada had rushed from the
room and had been standing there straining their eyes for a trace of
that strange light beneath the water, when the first shot rang out. But
the Russian had not counted on the extraordinary speed with which Johnny
could drop to earth.

Before the second shot could be fired, Johnny was flat on the surface of
the bridge, quite out of range. Hanada had not fared so well. The first
shot had been aimed at him and had found its mark. He lay all crumpled
up, groaning in mortal agony.

"Get you?" Johnny whispered.

"Yes," the boy groaned, "but you--you get that man."

There came the tramp of feet on the bridge. The police had heard the
shots. The long finger of light from the police boat again felt its way
back and forth through the darkness.

"D' you shoot?" demanded the first policeman to arrive.

"No! No! They didn't do it," a second man interrupted before Johnny
could reply. "It came from the river. I saw the flash. Devils of the