As if he had touched a spring, Larry Dugan, Pet Carlin, and Foxey Irwin dashed into the room from a doorway hidden from Nick Carter by a screen, and pulled Marcos off his feet before he saw that anybody was behind him. CHAPTER X. CAUGHT ON THE FLY. The three toughs dragged Marcos across the floor and behind the screen so quickly that he was gone before Miguel had time to rise from his chair. Obviously his intention was to help the three gangsters, but they did not need him, a fact that he recognized even as they disappeared. “That’s the end of that, Solado,” remarked Miguel carelessly. “Those fellows will take him to their joint, as they call it, downtown, in New York, and there he will stay till we have completed the treaty in Joyalita----” “With you as the ruler, under the protection of our allies,” added Solado, grinning. “That sounds good. But, if we are going to save trouble immediately, we ought to use the yacht and get him out to sea for a few weeks.” “I don’t see that he would be any safer at sea than shut up in some secret den in New York, with these determined-looking gentry we have hired to look after him.” “He would be safer at sea,” hissed Solado, “because accidents happen at sea. Yachts sometimes get into trouble on the ocean and are never heard of again.” “You’re a cold-blooded rascal, Solado!” “Not any more than yourself,” was the retort. “Only, when I undertake anything, I like to make sure that it is done completely. I have some stake in all this as well as yourself, remember.” “Exactly!” laughed Miguel. “You are still to be at the head of the government--under me, and you want to be sure of your job. Well, I don’t blame you. But, for the present, we’ll let Dugan take care of my dear Cousin Marcos.” He got up and bent over Jason. “He won’t die!” he decided calmly, as he might have expressed judgment on a half-drowned kitten. “That cuff on the side of his head will be a useful warning to him not to be insolent another time. Come on, Solado! Let’s go and see how they get Marcos away.” “Wait a moment!” objected Solado. “They can attend to him, without us. Here are some letters that came for Marcos from Joyalita. We’d better look them over and see what is to be done with them. There is a large part of the population on Marcos’ side, you know, and we can’t take any chances on rebellion, you know.” Nick Carter remained long enough to see the two plotters put their heads together over a bundle of letters on the table. Then he withdrew, closed the door softly, and rejoined Patsy. In two minutes more both were at the bottom of the chute, while Patsy untied the boat. “I’m glad it is dark, Patsy!” whispered Nick Carter. “They are taking Marcos away in that boat, and we have to stop them, if we can. If not, we must trail them till we can get help to take them in.”