Quests (Expeditions) -- Juvenile fiction; Rangoon (Burma) -- Juvenile fiction; Young men -- Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction
"Well, I'll nip upstairs an' get what I want," said Buck to the
porter, and he and Jack rang for the lift, and were shot up to the
fifth floor. Upon this landing there was one projecting window, which
commanded the front of the great building, and the two comrades went
cautiously to it and peeped out.
"There he is, there he is," whispered Jack.
"Sure thing," chuckled Buck.
Far below them they saw their cabman sitting idly on his perch and
waiting for his quarter of an hour to pass. The Mansions looked on to
a square, a long narrow strip of gardens, filled with lofty bushes
rather than trees. The spy's cab had taken a sweep round these gardens
and was now drawing up on the other side, exactly opposite their cab.
As they looked they saw the stout man leave his cab and move to and
fro till he found a space through which he could look across the
gardens and watch the entrance to the great building. From their lofty
standpoint Jack and his companion had a splendid bird's-eye view of
everything.
"Off we go now," said Jack. "For if our cabman makes a move he'll
become suspicious."
"We've got ten minutes yet," murmured Buck; "but as you say, Jack, off
we go."
They turned and crossed the landing swiftly, and ran down the stairs,
flight after flight. They did not wish to call attention to their
movements by ringing for the lift; besides, they were making for the
back of the place, where a smaller entrance opened on a quiet side
street. They gained this and were once more free to strike where they
wished, leaving the baffled spy to watch the main entrance in vain.
CHAPTER VI.
IN RANGOON.
"Now for a start in earnest," said Buck, as the two comrades hurried
swiftly through the quiet streets, moving westwards in order to put as
much ground as possible between themselves and the baffled spy. "I
propose, Jack, that we make for Harwich and cross over to the
Continent, avoiding the usual English routes and English steamers. We
want to get there as quietly as we can. It wouldn't be healthy to
arrive in Upper Burmah thumping a drum to let 'em know we were on
their track. They've got ways of their own of gettin' rid o' people
they want to see the last of."
Jack nodded. "Then we must head for Liverpool Street," he remarked.
"Yes," said Buck. "We're not far from Queen's Road Station. We'll hit
the Twopenny Tube and dodge back east, now."
They went into the station and were just in time to jump into an
east-bound train, as the conductor was about to shut the gates of the
carriage.
"Nobody followed us there anyway," remarked Buck. "We were the last to
board the train."
They went right away to the Bank, plunged into the City, and threaded
the narrow streets and busy crowds in every direction, gradually
working their way towards Liverpool Street. They timed their arrival
there five minutes before a fast express pulled out, and were soon on
their way. As they rushed through the Essex flats Buck detailed his
plans, and Jack listened and agreed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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