"I am going to treat you as well as I can under the circumstances.You and your other friends, who are also made prisoners, will be allowed to be together, and then you can talk to your hearts' content."The other man, who had remained with the evident ringleader of the stowaways, asked a question, in French, and he used the name La Foy.
"Ah!" thought Tom."This is the leader of the gang that attacked Koku in the shop that night.They have been waiting their chance, and now they have made good.But where did they come from? Could they have boarded us from some other airship?"Yet, as Tom asked himself that question, he knew it could hardly have been possible.The men must have been in hiding on his own craft, they must have been, as Koku had cried out-- stowaways--and have come out at a preconcerted signal to overpower the aviators.
"If you will but have patience a little longer," went on La Foy, for that was evidently the name of the leader, "you will all be together.We are just considering where best to put you so that you will not suffer too much.It is quite a problem to deal with so many prisoners, but we have no choice." The two Frenchmen conversed rapidly in their own language for a few minutes, and then there came into the cabin another of the men who had helped overpower Tom and his friends.What he told La Foy seemed togive that individual satisfaction, for he smiled.
"We are going to put you all together in the largest storeroom, which is partly empty," La Foy said."There you will be given food and drink, and treated as well as possible under the circumstances.You will also be unbound, and may converse among yourselves.I need hardly point out," he went on, "that calling for help will be useless.We are a mile or so in the air, and have no intention of descending," and he smiled mockingly.
"They must know how to navigate my aerial warship," thought Tom."I wonder what their game is, anyhow?"Night had fallen, but the cabin was aglow with electric lights.The foreigners in charge of the Mars seemed to know their way about perfectly, and how to manage the big craft.By the vibration Tom could tell that the motor was running evenly and well.
"But what happened to the others--to Mound, Ventor and Koku?" wondered Tom.
A moment later several of the foreigners entered.Some of them did not look at all like Frenchmen, and Tom was sure one was a German and another a Russian.
"This will be your prison--for a while," said La Foy significantly, and Tom wondered how long this would be the case.A sharp thought came to him--how long would they be prisoners? Did not some other, and more terrible, fate await them?
As La Foy spoke, he opened a storeroom door that led off from the main, or amidship, cabin.This room was intended to contain the supplies and stores that would be taken on a long voyage.It was one of two, being the larger, and now contained only a few odds and ends of little importance.It made a strong prison, as Tom well knew, having planned it.
One by one, beginning with Tom, the prisoners were taken up and placed in a recumbent position on the floor of the storeroom.Then were brought in the engineer and assistant pilot, as well as Koku and a machinist whom Tom had brought along to help him.Now the young inventor and all his friends were together.It took four men to carry Koku in, the giant being covered with a network of ropes.
"On second thought," said La Foy, as he saw Koku being placed with his friends, "I think we will keep the big man with us.We had trouble enough to subdue him.Carry him back to the engine- room."So Koku, trussed up like some roped steer, was taken out again.
"Now then," said La Foy to his prisoners, as he stood in the door of the room, "I will unbind one of you, and he may loose the bonds of the others."As he spoke, he took the rope from Tom's hands, and then, quickly slipping out, locked and barred the door.
