any possible treachery.

As he came in sight of the two trees, between which he had been asked to
meet the Italian, he made out a man waiting there.

"Good evening," came the low, soft hail.

Then the speaker stepped forward, proving to be the same who had accosted
the young submarine captain in the afternoon.

"Good evening," was Jack's pleasant reply. "You're on time, I see."

"Oh, sure!" laughed the Italian. "I been here twenty minute, already."

"Where's your friend?"

"Up in the woods. We take this path here, and we find him."

The Italian took Jack Benson lightly by one arm, piloting the boy until
he had turned him into the path. Then the foreigner stepped in advance,
saying:

"We reach my friend, in minute."

Thus they proceeded for perhaps five hundred feet into the woods.
Presently a small light, looking as though it might be the glowing end
of a cigar, appeared ahead.

"Ah, here is my friend," announced the guide. "Giacomo, here is the
young captain."