They could hear the many noises that rose from the street below.  Now a patrol wagon came jangling by.  Now a squad of policemen emerged from one alley to plunge down another.  A riot call had been sent in and the streets were alive with patrolmen and detectives all on the trail of Johnny and his Japanese companion.  By this time, too, they must be on the trail of the Radicals.  So far as Johnny knew, the Radicals had not actually interfered with the enforcement of the law.  Now driven to desperation at the thought of the loss of that treasure which was still in Johnny’s possession, they had stepped over the line.  From now on the police would be after them.  Johnny was awakened from these reflections by the voice of Hanada.

“That man,” the Japanese youth was saying, “that Russian, the one we have followed so far, he is the big one, the head of the Radical movement, and he is at this moment in conference with all his chosen leaders.  To-morrow, next day, next week, he may strike.  And what will the result be?  Who can tell?  In the whole world he has millions of followers who will rise at his call.  We must get him, get that man before it is too late.  I am a member of the Japanese Secret Police.  And you?”

“A plain American citizen,” answered Johnny, “which, by the laws of our land, makes me a policeman, a marshal, a member of the secret service—­anything and everything, when the safety of my people, the stability of my government, is at stake.”  Johnny’s chest swelled proudly.

“Oh!  I understand,” breathed Hanada.

“But,” said Johnny quickly, “you say we must get that man.  I have had opportunities to kill him, to let him be killed and always you have hindered me.  Why?”

“Don’t you see even now?” Hanada asked.  “Don’t you see that now is the time to strike?  Now he is meeting with his leaders.  We must take him not alone, but the whole band.  We must scatter them to the ends of the earth, put them in prison, banish them.  Then the whole affair will be ended forever.”

Hanada leaned forward.  His eyes glowed; his words were sharp with excitement.  Johnny listened, breathless.

“We must get them all,” he continued.  “That is why our secret service people allowed him to break through the lines at Vladivostok, and make his way north to cross the Strait.  That is why I followed him, as an Eskimo, to dog his tracks and yet to protect him.  That is why he could not be killed.  He was to be a decoy; a decoy for the whole band.  Your Secret Service, of which I thought you were a member, would not have allowed him to cross to America.  That is why I deserted you at East Cape.  I thought you were of the Secret Service, and would have the Russian arrested as soon as his foot touched American soil.  That is why I said the offer of a reward for his arrest was a blunder.  Don’t you see?  We were to get them all.”

“But the girl, Cio-Cio-San?” Johnny questioned.