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diff --git a/old/10576-h.zip b/old/10576-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..350e2d0 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10576-h.zip diff --git a/old/10576-h/10576-h.htm b/old/10576-h/10576-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6e2507e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10576-h/10576-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6227 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= + "text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of THE AEROPLANE BOYS FLIGHT, by JOHN LUTHER LANGWORTHY. + </title> + +<STYLE type=text/css>BODY { + MARGIN-LEFT: 10%; MARGIN-RIGHT: 10% +} +P { + TEXT-ALIGN: justify +} +BLOCKQUOTE { + TEXT-ALIGN: justify +} +H1 { + TEXT-ALIGN: center +} +H2 { + TEXT-ALIGN: center +} +H3 { + TEXT-ALIGN: center +} +H4 { + TEXT-ALIGN: center +} +H5 { + TEXT-ALIGN: center +} +H6 { + TEXT-ALIGN: center +} +PRE { + FONT-SIZE: 0.7em +} +HR { + WIDTH: 50%; TEXT-ALIGN: center +} +UNKNOWN { + MARGIN-LEFT: 25%; WIDTH: 50%; MARGIN-RIGHT: 25% +} +HR.full { + WIDTH: 100% +} +UNKNOWN { + MARGIN-LEFT: 0%; WIDTH: 100%; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0% +} +.note { + FONT-SIZE: 0.9em; MARGIN-LEFT: 10%; MARGIN-RIGHT: 10% +} +.footnote { + FONT-SIZE: 0.9em; MARGIN-LEFT: 10%; MARGIN-RIGHT: 10% +} +.greek { + CURSOR: help +} +.poem { + MARGIN-LEFT: 10%; MARGIN-RIGHT: 10%; TEXT-ALIGN: left +} +.poem .stanza { + MARGIN: 1em 0em +} +.poem P { + PADDING-LEFT: 3em; MARGIN: 0px; TEXT-INDENT: -3em +} +.poem P.i2 { + MARGIN-LEFT: 2em +} +.poem P.i4 { + MARGIN-LEFT: 4em +} +</STYLE> + + </head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Aeroplane Boys Flight, by John Luther Langworthy + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Aeroplane Boys Flight + A Hydroplane Roundup + +Author: John Luther Langworthy + +Release Date: January 2, 2004 [EBook #10576] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE AEROPLANE BOYS FLIGHT *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Dave Morgan and PG Distributed +Proofreaders + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 65%;"><br><br> +<h1>THE AEROPLANE BOYS FLIGHT</h1> + +<h3>Or A Hydroplane Roundup</h3> + +<h2>By JOHN LUTHER LANGWORTHY</h2> + +<br> + +<h6>1914</h6> + +<br><br><hr style="width: 65%;"><br><br> +<a name="CONTENTS"></a><h2>CONTENTS</h2> +<br> + +<p>Chapter</p> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_I">I</a>—THE BOY FLIERS</p> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_II">II</a>—ON GUARD</p> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_III">III</a>—NOT CAUGHT NAPPING</p> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">IV</a>—THE STARTLING NEWS</p> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_V">V</a>—THE EXCITEMENT GROWS</p> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">VI</a>—FIGURING IT ALL OUT</p> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">VII</a>—THE AIR SCOUTS</p> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">VIII</a>—JUST BELOW THE CLOUDS</p> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">IX</a>—THE PILOT OF THE MERMAID</p> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_X">X</a>—HEARD OVER THE WIRE</p> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">XI</a>—COMPARING NOTES</p> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">XII</a>—AT THE HOSKINS FARM</p> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">XIII</a>—THE BUTTERFLY COLLECTOR</p> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">XIV</a>—A CLUE</p> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">XV</a>—WHEN CASPER CAME BACK</p> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">XVI</a>—THROWING OFF THE MASK</p> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">XVII</a>—SALLIE RIDES BAREBACK</p> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">XVIII</a>—AN AEROPLANE CHASE</p> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">XIX</a>—DROPPING A "BOMB!"</p> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">XX</a>—OVER LAND AND SEA</p> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">XXI</a>—OVER THE BOUNDARY LINE</p> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">XXII</a>—THE HYDROPLANE RESCUE</p> + +<p><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">XXIII</a>—BROUGHT TO BOOK—CONCLUSION</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 65%;"><br><br> +<h2>THE AEROPLANE BOYS FLIGHT</h2> + +<h3>Or A Hydroplane Roundup</h3> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 65%;"><br><br> +<a name="CHAPTER_I"></a><h2>CHAPTER I</h2> +<br> + +<p>THE BOY FLIERS</p> + +<p>"It was my mistake, Frank!"</p> + +<p>"How do you make that out, Andy?"</p> + +<p>"Simply because I was using the little patent Bird monkey-wrench last in +our shop, and should have put it back in the toolbox belonging to the +aeroplane. The fact that it isn't here shows that I mislaid it. Give me +a bad mark, Frank."</p> + +<p>"Well, I must say it's a queer stunt for you to forget anything, Andy +Bird. But with dark coming along, and home some miles away, it's plain +that we'll have to let the mending of that wing go till morning."</p> + +<p>"But do you think, Frank, it's just safe to leave our pet hydroplane +over night in this field on the Quackenboss farm?"</p> + +<p>"Why not, Andy? Sky as clear as a bell; little or no wind promised; and +then we can hire the farm hand, Felix Boggs, to keep an eye on it. Looks +as easy as falling off a log."</p> + +<p>"And all because I didn't put that little wrench where it belonged! +Kick me, won't you, please, cousin; I deserve it."</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess not. Didn't I make just as bad a break last week? I guess +now, no boy's perfect. And I don't mind the walk home a bit. Fact is, it +ought to do us both good, because we don't stretch our legs enough, as +it is."</p> + +<p>"You're the boss chum, Frank!"</p> + +<p>"Then you're another. See what you get for calling me names. But when +you've fastened down that plane so it can't get into trouble, if the +wind should rise in the night, perhaps we'd better be hunting up this +Felix Boggs, and then start for home.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm glad we'll get there in the night-time, Frank, even if the +moon does happen to be nearly full."</p> + +<p>"What makes you say that, Andy?"</p> + +<p>"Because, when an aviator leaves his wounded machine in a field, and +walks home, it makes him feel like a dog with his tail between his legs, +sneaking along back of the fences."</p> + +<p>Frank Bird laughed merrily at the picture drawn by his cousin and then +stooping again, with a few deft turns of a heavy cord, helped Andy +secure the broken plane so it would not get into trouble during the +coming night.</p> + +<p>After which the two boys headed toward the barns belonging to the farm, +which just showed their tops above the adjacent rise.</p> + +<p>While they are walking there it may be a good time for us to introduce +the pair of young aviators to such readers as have not had the good +fortune to meet them in previous volumes of this series of stories.</p> + +<p>The cousins lived in the town of Bloomsbury, a thriving place situated +on the southern shore of Sunrise Lake, which was a magnificent body of +water, said to be nearly seventeen miles long by three wide, in places.</p> + +<p>This lake having hilly shores that were heavily wooded in spots, and +with numerous fine coves, afforded grand sport to the young people of +Bloomsbury, both winter and summer.</p> + +<p>The railroad skirted one shore and then passed through the town. Some +miles off arose a lofty peak known as Old Thundertop, which had a road +running part way up its side. The summit was believed to be utterly +inaccessible to mortal man until one day the Bird boys managed to +accomplish the wonderful feat by the aid of their aeroplane.</p> + +<p>They had been spending all their spare time, when not in school, working +upon the line that seemed to have a strange fascination for them. +Frank's father was one of the best known doctors in town, a man of +considerable means, and with a firm faith in his boys, so that he was +easily convinced whenever Frank wished to do anything.</p> + +<p>Andy had been living with his guardian for some time, until the return +of his own father, Professor Bird, who had been lost while attempting a +difficult balloon trip in Central America, and found in a most +miraculous way by the two boys as told in a previous story.</p> + +<p>Andy had inherited the passion which his father, a noted professor, had +always had for navigating the air. It was a favorite expression of his +"A bird by any other name would fly as high," and his cousin would +retort: "A Bird takes to the air just as naturally as a duck does to +water."</p> + +<p>They had been doing some fine "stunts" during the last year or two; and +it may be supposed that the people of Bloomsbury were more than a little +proud of seeing the name of their town mentioned so favorably in the +papers in connection with the doings of the Bird boys.</p> + +<p>Of course, as is always the case, there was a rival in the field, who +had been the cause of much trouble in the past, and still watched their +work with an envious eye. This was a boy by the name of Percy Shelley +Carberry, rather a bold fellow too, and as smart as they make them, only +unscrupulous as to the means he employed by which to gain his ends.</p> + +<p>Percy was the only son of a rich widow, who could never refuse him +anything he demanded; and with unlimited cash at his disposal he had +been able to do quite a few feats himself that might have gained him +more or less fame, only that they were eclipsed by the accomplishments +of Frank and Andy; and that was where the shoe pinched with Percy.</p> + +<p>His temper was one of his weak spots, also a liking for fast life, +which, of course included tippling; and the aviator who indulges to the +slightest degree in strong drink is next door to a fool; for as he takes +his life in his hands every time he leaves the ground, the necessity for +a clear brain is apparent.</p> + +<p>In most of his tricky work young Carberry had for a boon companion one +"Sandy" Hollingshead, a sinewy chap, whose most prominent trait was his +faculty for disappearing suddenly in a pinch. He was considerable of a +boaster, but could always invent a most remarkable excuse for going +before the storm broke. But Percy, no coward himself, knew how to make +use of his sly crony; and despite their numerous quarrels, that often +ended in actual fights, the pair of precious tricksters still kept +company together.</p> + +<p>Sandy was freckled had pale eyes and very blonde hair, that gave him a +queer look. Those eyes never could look any one straight in the face, +but shifted uneasily; and other boys said that Sandy, the cigarette +smoker, was always on the watch for a quick "getaway."</p> + +<p>The Bird boys, of course, had many friends among the lads of Bloomsbury; +but only two who were close enough to be admitted freely to the workshop +on the grounds of Frank's father's place, where the young inventors +worked out many of their lofty ideas.</p> + +<p>These were Larry Geohegan, and a small runt who had been called +"Elephant" by his companions in a spirit of sport, and could not shake +the name. His full name was Fenimore Cooper Small, and as a rule he had +always been rather timid. But Elephant was always having queer ideas in +which he believed fully himself; but which were nearly always jeered at +by more practical Larry.</p> + +<p>The two Bird boys had been out on this afternoon, trying some new +arrangement in connection with their hydroplane, when they met with an +accident when attempting to land on the Quackenboss farm, to make some +changes they saw were needed, to improve the working of the machine.</p> + +<p>Neither of them had been even scratched, but a certain amount of damage +had befallen one of the planes, which might have been remedied on the +spot in time to allow them to get back home easily, only for the +unfortunate fact that just when they needed a monkey wrench the worst +kind, it was discovered to be missing; perhaps the only occasion when +such a thing had happened with the boys.</p> + +<p>"I just saw somebody go into the barn there," remarked Frank, as they +approached the large outbuildings connected with the successful farm of +Josiah Quackenboss.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and it was the farmer himself," added Andy. "I know him pretty +well; and I guess you do too, because your father brought his little boy +around when everybody thought he didn't have a single chance to get +well. I don't believe we'll have any trouble getting Felix Boggs to look +after our machine tonight, Frank."</p> + +<p>They quickly reached the door of the barn and could hear the steady fall +of the streams of milk passing into the buckets as the farmer and his +hired hand pursued the regular business of the evening.</p> + +<p>As the two boys entered, the half grown boy started up with an +exclamation of alarm, for of course both Andy and Frank looked rather +queer. Each of them had on a white woolen hood that fitted close to head +and shoulders, for the air in the upper currents was very cold these +days, and secured to this were goggles to protect the eyes, so that they +would not water and dim the vision of the aviator at just a critical +instant when they needed clear sight. Then they also wore warm colored +mackinaw jackets, so that altogether Felix had reason to be startled +when two such "sights" suddenly entered the barn. Why, even the gentle +cows showed evidence of nervousness, and came near upsetting the milk +buckets.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Mr. Quackenboss!" called out Andy, cheerfully; "we're the Bird +boys, and we've dropped in on you without an invitation. The fact is, we +had a little trouble with our aeroplane, and landed in your field. How +much rent will you charge us, Mr. Quackenboss; to let our machine lie +there over night? It needs a little fixing which we can't do until +morning."</p> + +<p>Of course Andy was joking when he said this, and the farmer knew it as +well as anything. He laughed as he came around out of the stall and +offered his rough hand to each of the boys.</p> + +<p>"How are you, Andy and Frank Bird?" he said, hearty. "Say, you did give +us a little start when we first saw you. D'ye know what I thought boys? +Why, I was just reading in the county paper about how the bank up at +Jasper was robbed by two men last week. It told how they had their faces +hid back of red handkerchiefs, just like they always do out West, you +know. And first thing I sighted you two, my heart nigh about jumped up +in my mought, because I thought them yeggs had dropped around to see if +I'd collected my monthly milk accounts in town. And about leavin' your +aeroplane in my field, why, there's little that I wouldn't do for the +son of the man who saved my Billie, when everybody said he'd never get +well again."</p> + +<p>"We thought you might let us show Felix here where the aeroplane lies, +and that we could arrange with him to kind of keep an eye on it tonight. +Of course, there isn't one chance in a thousand that anything'd happen +to injure it; but then that machine represents a heap of hard work, and +considerable money besides, so we don't care to take chances with it.</p> + +<p>"Sure he can, just as well as not, eh, Felix? Suppose you go out right +now, and I'll finish the milking. In the morning I want to take a look +at that contraption myself. I've seen you boys sailing around more'n a +little, but never got close up to examine the aeroplane. Well, I guess +all the money going couldn't tempt me to go with one of you. Skip along, +Felix, now."</p> + +<p>And the farm hand, a heavy-set boy, eagerly fell in behind Frank and +Andy, as, after thanking Mr. Quackenboss heartily for his kindness they +passed out of the barn. Felix considered this an event in the tame +routine of farm life; and would be only too glad to stay up all night, +if necessary, in order to guard the precious aeroplane.</p> + +<p>Once in the field, the boys explained to Felix what they wanted him to +do, and he promised not to meddle with anything connected with the +engine or the aeroplane itself.</p> + +<p>They were passing back again toward the barns, having left their prized +possession in good shape, when Andy uttered a sudden exclamation that +told of both surprise and disgust.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter now?" asked Frank, who had been talking with Felix, +and was hence not so wide awake as his chum.</p> + +<p>"Just take a look over there, and see what's stopped on the road," +remarked Andy.</p> + +<p>"Seems to be a car, and I can see two heads raised above the top rail +of the fence, as if the people in it had sighted our aeroplane sprawled +out there in the field, and were wondering what sort of giant insect it +could be," Frank went on.</p> + +<p>"Look closer, Frank," the other boy went on to say, while his disgust +deepened; "and you'll discover that the two fellows in that car happen +to be Percy Carberry and his shadow, Sandy Hollingshead. Did you ever +hear of such tough luck? Of all the boys in Bloomsbury they are the last +we'd want to know that we'd left our new hydroplane out, unguarded, all +night, in an open field. Guess I won't go home tonight, Frank. I'd +rather camp out here with Felix. You let my folks know, and turn up in +the morning with a new piece for that plane. That's settled and you +can't change it."</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 65%;"><br><br> +<a name="CHAPTER_II"></a><h2>CHAPTER II</h2> +<br> + +<p>ON GUARD</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I'd better stay with you, Andy," the other Bird boy remarked.</p> + +<p>"No need of it," replied Andy, resolutely. "Besides, you know one of us +ought to get busy in the shop, making that new piece we really need so +that our job won't have to be done over again. You go, Frank. Perhaps +Mr. Quackenboss would let you have a horse; or if you cared to, you give +Percy a hail, and he'd take you back to town, I reckon. Goodness knows +he owes you a heap, after the way you saved his life the time he was +wrecked up on Old Thundertop."</p> + +<p>What Andy referred to was a very exciting event which had occurred not +so very long before, and which was fully treated in the volume preceding +this.</p> + +<p>Frank shook his head in the negative.</p> + +<p>"I never want to ask any favor of Percy Carberry," he said, resolutely. +"And if Mr. Quackenboss can't let me have a horse to ride, why, the +walking is good, and I can make it in less than an hour. So don't +mention that again please, Andy."</p> + +<p>"It's too late now, anyhow," remarked the other, drily, "because there +they go, spinning down the road like wildfire. Percy never does anything +except in a whirl. He's as bold as they make them, and the only wonder +to me is that he hasn't met with a terrible accident before now. But +somehow he seems to escape, even when he smashes his flier to kindling +wood. His luck beats the Dutch; he believes in it himself, you know."</p> + +<p>"But some day it's going to fail, and then he'll never what happened to +him," declared Frank. "Of all the professions in the world, that of a +flying machine man is the one where a cool head and quick judgment are +the things most needed. And the fellow who takes great chances, +depending on his good luck, is bound to meet up with trouble. But if you +are bound to stay, Andy, I'd better be off."</p> + +<p>Upon entering the barn they found that the farmer had finished his task, +and was pitching some new sweet hay to the cows.</p> + +<p>Frank suggested hiring a horse from him, but Mr. Quackenboss scoffed at +the idea.</p> + +<p>"You're as welcome to the use of my saddle hoss as the sunlight is after +a spell of rain," he said, heartily. "Here, Felix, get Bob out; and +you'll find my new saddle hanging on that peg back of the harness room +door. And as for Andy, who's going to stay over with us, we'll find a +chair for him at the supper table, and only hope hell tell us some of +the many things you two have gone through with, both around this region, +and away down in South America, that time you found the lost Professor."</p> + +<p>Inside of five minutes Frank was in the saddle, and waving his hand to +his chum and cousin, of whom he was more fond than if Andy had been his +own brother.</p> + +<p>"He'd be back tonight with the part we need, and we could make home in +the moonlight," said Andy, as, with the farmer he headed for the house; +"only both of us have promised our folks not to travel at night-time +when it can be helped. Even if the moon is bright there's always a risk +about landing, because it's a tricky light at the best, and even a +little mistake may wreck things. And so Frank will work in the shop +tonight, and be along in the morning."</p> + +<p>Once in the farmhouse Andy was given a chance to wash up, and then met +the housewife, as well as little Billie, the small chap whose life good +Doctor Bird had saved. Mrs. Quackenboss proved to be a very warm-hearted +woman, and any one who answered to the name of Bird could have the very +best that the place afforded. There was never a night that she did not +call down the blessings of heaven upon the physician who had been +instrumental in preventing her darling Billie from being taken away.</p> + +<p>The table was fairly groaning under the weight of good things to eat, +for when company comes the average farmer's wife never knows when to +stop bringing out the most appetizing things to eat ever seen.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I'm the luckiest fellow going to be able to stay over-night +with you, Mrs. Quackenboss," laughed Andy, as he sat down to the +generous spread.</p> + +<p>"Well, you know, we never like anybody to get up from our table hungry," +she explained.</p> + +<p>"The chances are that I won't be able to get up at all, for if I try to +taste half I see here, I'll be foundered, as sure as anything," Andy +went on to say.</p> + +<p>The farmer was not going to allow much time to pass talking about common +every-day topics. Those might do all very well when he had ordinary +guests; but when fortune sent him one of the now famous Bird boys for +company, he wanted to listen to some thrilling accounts of adventures +that had come the way of the young and daring aviators, from the time +they built their first aeroplane, after purchasing most of the parts, +and found that they had an immediate rival in Percy Carberry.</p> + +<p>Andy was willing to oblige, and kept those at the table, including the +farm hand, Felix Boggs, thrilled with his stories. But the farmer could +not help but notice how modest the boy was, giving most of the credit to +his cousin Frank, when everybody about Bloomsbury knew that Andy +deserved just as much credit, if not more, than the other Bird Boy.</p> + +<p>After supper Andy and Felix prepared to go out to where the hydroplane +lay. They meant to take blankets along, and make themselves as +comfortable as possible for a night's vigil.</p> + +<p>Andy would not have dreamed of doing this only for the fact that he knew +Percy and his shadow, Sandy, were aware of the plight of the precious +flier. And while Frank was inclined to partly believe that the Carberry +boy might let up in his mischief-making ways for awhile at least, after +all they had done for him up on Old Thundertop, Andy could not bring +himself to trust the other further than he could see him. He believed +that the nature of Percy was so "rotten" as he called it, that, given a +chance to injure his successful rivals, he would shut his eyes to all +sense of gratitude, and just lie awake nights trying to get the better +of them, by fair means or foul.</p> + +<p>Andy also knew that the other was particularly chagrined, because he did +not know what manner of a new flier the Bird boys had in hand now. He +had resorted to various expedients in order to find out, but all without +success.</p> + +<p>On this account, if no other, then, Andy believed that the others would +be apt to come out here during the night to examine the hydroplane with +the aluminum pontoons under its body for floating on the water; and +perhaps to slily injure it in such a fashion that it would break down +when next Frank and Andy mounted into the air.</p> + +<p>It happened that they had alighted close to one corner of the big field, +though in plain view from the pike. Andy had noted a clump of trees +conveniently near, and already his mind was made up that he and Felix +would camp there, to pass the night in alternately keeping watch and +ward over the precious aeroplane that lay there like a wounded bird.</p> + +<p>Felix was quivering with eagerness. This was like a picnic in the +humdrum life of the farm hand. Except when the circus came to town, or +there was a Harvest Home day, poor Felix knew little beyond the eternal +grind of getting up before dawn, and working until long after sunset.</p> + +<p>First of all, Andy walked around the stranded aeroplane, and took +occasion to explain how it worked, using as simple language as he could +find, because Felix was not at all up in professional terms, and would +not have understood, had the other spoken as he might have done when +talking with a fellow aviator.</p> + +<p>Then they sought the trees, and spreading their heavy blankets so as to +make as comfortable a seat as possible, started to talk in low tones.</p> + +<p>The bright moon hung there in the sky, and it seemed as though every +foot of the big meadow could be scrutinized just as well as in the +daytime; but Andy knew from experience how deceptive moonlight can be, +and how cautious one has to be when trying any difficult feat at such a +time.</p> + +<p>"I've heard people talk about reading by moonlight, and how they could +tell a friend half a mile away," he remarked to Felix; "but let me say +that it's all a humbug. There never was a brighter night than this, I +reckon you'll agree with me, Felix; and yet look at that stump not a +stone's throw away; you couldn't say now whether it was a cow lying +down, a horse, a rock, or a stump, which last I take the thing to be. +Am I right about that."</p> + +<p>"Why, sure's I live, that ere is a fact, Andy," replied the other; "but +I never'd a thought it. Moonlight fools a feller the worst kind. I +throwed a stone at a whippoor-will as was perched on the roof a-keepin' +us all awake nights, and would yuh believe me, she went right through +the winder of the attic, kersmash. Never was more surprised in my life. +And you don't ketch me heavin' stones by moonlight agin."</p> + +<p>From one subject they drifted to another. Andy even told more or less +about how Percy Carberry had hated and envied them in the past, and how +often he had tried to do them a serious injury.</p> + +<p>"Frank seems to think he will give up that mean sort of play, because we +really saved his life that time we had our race to the rock on the +summit of Old Thundertop, and his aeroplane was smashed there; so one of +us had to carry Percy and Sandy home, bruised as they were. But I don't, +because I know it'd take more than that to change the spots of a fellow +of his kind. And chances are, Felix, we'll find those two boys sneaking +up here before the middle of the night."</p> + +<p>"Wish't they would," chuckled the farm hand. "You're ready to give 'em +a warm time of it, I guess, Andy. Be as good as any old circus to me, +just to see how they jump when you open up. Let 'em come, says I. The +sooner the better, too."</p> + +<p>Long they lay there, and talked in low tones. Felix wanted to make the +best of this glorious chance. A new world seemed to open up to the farm +hand, as he heard of the wonderful things the Bird boys had seen, and +taken part in. Perhaps ambition was beginning to awaken in the boy's +soul, and he might not after this be so satisfied to plod along in the +same old rut every day of the year. Perhaps the seed thus sown might +take root, and bring him either great good or harm, as the tide of +fortune chose.</p> + +<p>"We heard as how a feller was up there to watch you boys fly not a great +while ago, Andy," he went on to say; "an' he was so took by the way you +managed things that he wanted to get you to go in with a big concern run +by a boss airman; but you just up and told him you couldn't do that +same. Was that so?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, you must mean Mr. Marsh," returned the other, modestly. "I +believe he did read some account of us that got into the papers, and was +sent up here to look us up. He was kind enough to compliment Frank on +the way he made that corkscrew climb; and also on his volplane drop; +said we had both of them down pretty fine; and he did hint at our having +a chance to go in with his company; but of course we couldn't think of +that. We're too young to dream of being professional fliers yet; and +besides, we've got to go to school again pretty soon. So we turned the +offer down. But Mr. Marsh was mighty kind, and we liked him a heap."</p> + +<p>"Heard how he was watching you fly, when that little chap belonging to +Cragan, the fisherman, got overboard, out in the lake; and this same +gent, he saw Frank dive right off his aeroplane like a bullfrog, and +save little Tommy. That jest took him by storm, he told Mr. Quackenboss, +and he meant to get you boys for his company if money could do it, but +it all ended in smoke, didn't it."</p> + +<p>It was almost half past nine before Andy decided that the time had come +for them to shut up shop, and do no more talking.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to take the first watch myself, Felix, and I promise to wake +you up when I get to gaping, whether it's midnight or two in the +morning," he said, as he settled himself more comfortably on his +blanket, and pulled it up over his shoulders, because the night air was +already quite chilly, and would undoubtedly be much more so ere long.</p> + +<p>"But chances air, Andy, they're a-goin' to come inside an hour or so; +and you must promise to give me a kick, if so be I'm sleepin', then. You +will, won't you?"</p> + +<p>"Sure," replied the Bird boy. "After you being so kind as to keep me +company, I'd never think of making a move, and you asleep. So just +settle down, and don't get excited if you feel me pushing my toe into +your ribs later on."</p> + +<p>Felix was tired from his day's work. He had probably been constantly +busy since four the morning before. It was therefore a fight between +weary muscles and brain, and the desire to stay awake, in order to see +all that went on.</p> + +<p>This lasted for perhaps ten minutes.</p> + +<p>Then Andy knew that Nature had won out, for he could catch the regular +breathing of the stout farmhand, and from this judged that Felix must be +sound asleep.</p> + +<p>From where Andy sat he had a fine view of the field on all sides of the +broken hydroplane, and especially in that quarter toward the fence, +beyond which the road leading to Bloomsbury lay.</p> + +<p>He kept up a constant watch, never relaxing his vigilance for a single +second, for Andy knew that while one might be on guard for fifty-nine +minutes, if he relaxed just for a breath, that was almost sure to be the +time when something would happen. How often he had proved that when +fishing, and taking his eye from his float just to glance up at some +passing bird, when down it would bob, and he had missed a chance to hook +a finny prize.</p> + +<p>The time passed on.</p> + +<p>Three separate times did Andy look at his little dollar nickel watch, +and in the bright moonlight he could see that it was now after eleven. +He was beginning to believe that if there was anything doing that night, +it must come about very soon, when he thought he heard a sound down the +road that made him think a car that had been coming along had stopped +short.</p> + +<p>Thrilled with the expectation that a change was about to occur, he sat +up a little more eagerly, and continued to scan the line of fence, as +well as the field lying between the road and the helpless hydroplane.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 65%;"><br><br> +<a name="CHAPTER_III"></a><h2>CHAPTER III</h2> +<br> + +<p>NOT CAUGHT NAPPING</p> + +<p>Five, ten minutes passed.</p> + +<p>Andy was beginning to fear that after all he had been mistaken, and that +it had been some other sound he had heard when he thought a car had +stopped down the road toward Bloomsbury.</p> + +<p>Then all at once he detected a movement over at the fence, and the +figure of a man or boy was seen to quickly clamber over, dropping in the +field. Even as he looked a second followed suit, then a third and even a +fourth.</p> + +<p>"Whew! what's all this mean?" Andy whispered to himself, as he took +notice of the fact that there was quite a procession of fellows changing +base from the road to the field: "Percy and Sandy thought they might +need help in their little game of smashing our machine, or carrying it +off somewhere, so as to give us a bad scare; and I reckon they've picked +up a couple more of the same kind as themselves. Well we ought to be +able to take care of four just as easy as two 5 and the howl will be +all the louder, I guess."</p> + +<p>He moved over a little, and with the toe of his shoe nudged Felix under +the ribs.</p> + +<p>"Quit shovin' there!" muttered the farm hand, possibly thinking he was +in bed with some other boy.</p> + +<p>Luckily the night breeze was making the windmill turn, not very far +away; and as it needed oiling, there was a constant succession of +squeaks and groans; so that the chances of Felix being heard when he +spoke in this way were very small. Andy would not take any further risk +but creeping over shook the boy roughly.</p> + +<p>"Wake up, Felix; they're coming across the pasture!" he whispered in his +ear.</p> + +<p>That was quite enough for Felix. He seemed to grasp the situation at +once, and only muttering the one significant word, "Gosh!" he +immediately sat up.</p> + +<p>Andy, moving as little as possible, pointed to where moving figures +could just be detected advancing in a bent-over attitude.</p> + +<p>"How many?" whispered the farm hand.</p> + +<p>"I counted four," replied the other.</p> + +<p>"Whee! bully for that!" chuckled Felix, no doubt tickled because the +promised circus would be a double-ring affair, instead of the ordinary +kind, and therefore quite up to date.</p> + +<p>Both of them lay there watching intently.</p> + +<p>They could see how the intruders were crawling along, anxious apparently +only to avoid being seen from the direction of the farmhouse, the roof +of which showed dimly in the moonlight over on the other side of the +little ridge.</p> + +<p>As the creepers drew closer, the watchers saw that they had adopted the +method spoken of by the farmer in connection with the bank thieves, +keeping their identity secret—they all seemed to have handkerchiefs +tied across their faces, and kept their hats pulled well down, so that +they could easily have passed close to an acquaintance without much risk +of discovery.</p> + +<p>Of course Andy could tell that they were boys, and not men; and it was +an easy task for him to guess who two of the party at least must be.</p> + +<p>The preparations he and Felix had made were about as simple as anything +could be. The farm hand possessed an old musket that had been used in +the Civil war, and which, muzzleloader that it was, had probably brought +down many a plump rabbit when held in the hands of the owner, as well as +black ducks in the marshes along the shore of Lake Sunrise.</p> + +<p>Besides this, the farmer had loaned Andy his double-barrel Marlin +shotgun, an old model when compared with the up-to-date hammerless and +the repeaters, but no doubt a good, serviceable weapon.</p> + +<p>Of course they had no idea of trying to pepper the marauders, though it +would seem as though they richly deserved to be punctured with a few +small bird shot, because of the meanness of their contemplated action.</p> + +<p>To give them a good fright would satisfy Andy, and he had made the eager +farm hand promise to fire up in the air also because he was afraid lest +Felix allow his indignation to have full swing, when he saw what the +four boys meant to do.</p> + +<p>They were skulking very close to where the aeroplane lay now, and the +critical moment had undoubtedly arrived when the surprise must be +launched.</p> + +<p>"Ready, Felix!" he whispered, in the softest of tones.</p> + +<p>"Yep!" grunted the farm hand, at his elbow.</p> + +<p>"One, two, three! Blaze away!"</p> + +<p>With the last word Felix let go with his old musket, into which he must +have rammed a tremendous charge, for it made a report like unto the +crash of thunder, and came very near sending the owner flat on his back.</p> + +<p>Immediately on the heels of this boom Andy pulled one of the triggers +of his double-barrel, so that the report seemed almost merged in with +that of the other weapon.</p> + +<p>The four boys had jumped to their feet at the flash and report which +startled them when Felix fired. And as they turned to dash wildly away +and that second shot came, they became madly excited, evidently under +the full belief that they were being made targets for a whole battalion +of sharpshooters.</p> + +<p>Two of them collided, and rolled over on the grass, kicking wildly and +scrambling to their feet again, to resume their flight toward the fence, +which doubtless seemed three times as distant as when they were creeping +toward the stranded aeroplane.</p> + +<p>The whole thing was so ridiculous that Andy burst out laughing, and +could hardly hold his gun; seeing which the farm hand made bold to +snatch it out of his hands, and aiming directly at the place where the +fugitives were just then in the act of mounting the fence in their +panicky flight, he pulled the trigger.</p> + +<p>There was a series of loud yells, which would seem to indicate that a +few of the small shot contained in the shells with which the Marlin had +been loaded must have reached their mark, and pricked the boys like so +many needles would have done.</p> + +<p>That was the last seen of them, though for a short time they could be +heard running along the hard road, and exchanging excited comments, +possibly comparing their injuries.</p> + +<p>Then a car was heard to start off with a great deal of bluster, and came +dashing along past the farmhouse, though those in it bent low enough to +keep any one from discovering who they might be.</p> + +<p>Andy did not know whether to be a little angry or not because of what +the impetuous Felix had done, but apparently nobody had been seriously +hurt; and on the whole, the four "sneaks," as Felix called them, +deserved some punishment; so he let it go at that.</p> + +<p>There was no further alarm that night. Neither of the guardians of the +hydroplane expected any, after the prompt measures that had been taken +to inform meddlers of the warm reception they might expect.</p> + +<p>All the same, Andy kept up his vigil until sleep almost overpowered him, +when he aroused Felix to finish out the night.</p> + +<p>With the coming of early dawn he knew that the safety of the imperiled +aeroplane was assured, and that when the horn blew, he and Felix could +both go in to breakfast. Indeed, he released the farm hand long before +that time, so that he might go about his usual early morning chores; and +Andy himself found plenty to do around the machine until summoned to the +morning meal.</p> + +<p>The farmer was a hard sleeper, and had not heard a single thing that had +taken place; so that he was surprised when told how the enemy had come +after all, and what measures the boys had taken in order to frighten +them away.</p> + +<p>He even told Felix he could have a day off as soon as the last load of +hay was in the barn, just to show how he appreciated the bold way in +which his hired help had tickled the rascals when they were getting over +the fence. Indeed, the farmer said Andy had been too lenient, and that +if it had been his aeroplane that was threatened in that mean way, he +would have felt wholly justified in emptying both barrels of the gun +after the marauders, first giving them time to get a certain distance +off, so that no serious results might follow the discharge.</p> + +<p>But Andy was never a vindictive lad, and he believed the fellows had +received sufficient punishment, especially as no one knew exactly what +they had meant to do in connection with the new hydroplane. Possibly +Percy only wanted to look it over at close quarters, and knowing he +would not be allowed to do so if he asked permission outright, sought to +take this opportunity. But from the way in which they had rigged +themselves out, so as to avoid being recognized, if seen, it looked as +though the four boys had something more than that in view.</p> + +<p>However, all's well that ends well, and Andy was quite satisfied with +the way things had turned out.</p> + +<p>"Here's hopin' a few of 'em may be limpin' 'round this same mornin', and +feelin' rayther stiff in the legs," Felix took occasion to remark, as +they sat at table, and Andy was again in danger of being foundered by +the multitude of good things which the farmer's wife spread thereon, +bacon and eggs, fried potatoes, scrapple, puffy biscuits, apple sauce, +doughnuts, cold pie, jelly, and finally heaping dishes of light +pancakes, which were to be smothered in butter and real maple syrup made +on the farm each early spring when the sap was running.</p> + +<p>"I expect Frank will be along any minute now," Andy remarked, about the +time he had to firmly refuse a fourth helping of cakes, because he could +hardly breathe comfortably. "It wouldn't take him long to do what little +work was necessary, in our shop, which you know my old guardian, +Colonel Whympers, built for us before we found my father, when he was +marooned in that valley in South America, a prisoner for many months, +because the cliffs around prevented him from escaping. And of course +he'll gallop out here on your saddle horse, Mr. Quackenboss."</p> + +<p>"Well, work ain't got any call on either Felix or me until we see all +that goes on, that's flat," remarked the farmer, with a smile, "and it's +lucky he done the milkin' already, or else the cows'd have to wait long +after their usual hour, which is a bad way to treat 'em, you know."</p> + +<p>They all went out to the field, even the housewife and little Billie +wanting to see what a real aeroplane looked like at close quarters. Many +times had all of them seen the Bird boys, and perhaps Percy Carberry as +well, soaring aloft as if the upper air currents might be their natural +heritage; but up to now they had never had the chance to examine one of +the wonderful machines, and touch the various parts gingerly as though +afraid of injuring them.</p> + +<p>"Beats all what people are a-doing nowadays," ventured the farmer, +shaking his head with astonishment, almost awe, as he looked the thing +over. "They ain't even contented to just fly like a red-tailed hawk, or +an eagle that kin look the sun direct in the eye; but now they got to +have a contraption that's at home in the air or on the water; a +hydroplane you called, it didn't you, Andy? And them ere twin pontoons +underneath, that look kinder like gondolas, as you say, are made of +aluminum, and kin hold up the whole affair when you light on water. But +tell me, how in all creation kin you ever mount up agin, once you settle +there?"</p> + +<p>"Why that's the easiest thing of all," replied the young aviator; +"you've watched a wild duck get up many a time, haven't you, Mr. +Quackenboss; well, we do just the same, only instead of flapping our +wings, we start the engine, and skim along the surface for a little +distance, then elevate the planes, and immediately begin to soar upward. +And it does the stunt as gracefully as anything you ever saw. Some time +I hope to give you a chance to see how it works. When we leave here, of +course we'll use the bicycle wheels you see underneath, and run along +the ground until going fast enough to soar. But I think I see Frank +coming, away down the road there."</p> + +<p>"That's right," declared the farmer; "I know my Bob as far as I can see +him, and his gallop in the bargain."</p> + +<p>Frank was evidently coming at full speed, and Andy presently got the +idea in his head that his cousin seemed to be strangely in a hurry for +him. He wondered whether anything could have happened at home, and if +Frank would prove to be the bearer of bad news.</p> + +<p>The other dashed into the narrow road leading from the pike to the barns +of the Quackenboss farm. Hitching the horse to a post, he started toward +the spot in the big field where the two boys and the farmer awaited his +coming, close beside the stranded aeroplane.</p> + +<p>Frank was carrying the little part he had expected to knock together at +the workshop; but as he drew nearer, his chum could readily see that he +was considerably excited.</p> + +<p>"Is everything all right here, Andy?" he called out, even before +reaching them.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied the other Bird boy, promptly, "though we did have a call +from four fellows who had their faces hidden behind handkerchiefs, but +we fired our guns in the air and nearly frightened them to death. Felix +grabbed the double-barrel I had, and gave them a last shot when they +were climbing the fence over there; and we heard some howls too, so I +guess a few of the Number Eight shot pinked them. But what makes you +look so bothered, Frank? Has anything happened at home?"</p> + +<p>"There sure has," came from Frank, as he joined them, and cast a pleased +glance over the flying machine that lay upon the grass like a huge bat, +with wings extended.</p> + +<p>"Tell me what it was?" demanded Andy, breathlessly.</p> + +<p>"Somebody broke into our hangar and workshop, and knocked things around +at a great rate," Frank went on to say. "Acted like they might be just +mad because they didn't find our new machine there, and wanted to show +their spite. And nobody in your house knew a thing about it till I came +along, after an early breakfast, meaning to get the piece I'd been +working on up to eleven last night, when I went home to sleep, and +locked up the place as usual."</p> + +<p>"That's a queer piece of news you're telling me, Frank," said the other, +looking puzzled, as well he might.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 65%;"><br><br> +<a name="CHAPTER_IV"></a><h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> +<br> + +<p>THE STARTLING NEWS</p> + +<p>"Well," said Frank, with a frown on his face. "It's puzzled me a whole +lot, let me tell you, Andy. Because, of course, my first thought was +that it must have been Percy Carberry's work; but now that you tell me +he was here, and knew we hadn't fetched our hydroplane home, I hardly +know what to think."</p> + +<p>"Did you say you worked till about eleven at the shop?" asked Andy, +quickly.</p> + +<p>"Three minutes after when I quit, locked up, and went home," Frank +replied.</p> + +<p>"That was just about the time they showed up here," the other went on to +say. "Unless one of us is wrong about the time, they couldn't well be in +two places at the same minute, now, could they? Seems like it might have +been some other crowd that broke into our hangar, Frank!"</p> + +<p>"But why? Did they want to play fast and loose with our machine, and +force an entrance just for that purpose? Listen to something I'm going +to tell you, Andy. I found several things on our work bench where +somebody had left them, without meaning to do it, I guess. Here's one."</p> + +<p>Frank while saying this held something up which he had taken from the +package he carried under his arm.</p> + +<p>"Why, that's a splendid electric torch, looks like to me?" exclaimed +Andy.</p> + +<p>"Just what it is, now," the other agreed.</p> + +<p>"And it was forgotten in our shop, was it?" demanded Andy.</p> + +<p>"I made out that whoever entered used this first, and then lighted our +lamp to look around with, putting out the torch, and laying it down. +When they skipped out, why, they just forgot all about it, also these."</p> + +<p>Again did Frank make a dive into his pocket, and dangled something +before the astonished eyes of his cousin.</p> + +<p>"Great Caesar! what d'ye call those things?" gasped Andy, staring as +though hardly able to believe his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Well, as near as I can make out, they're a couple of half masks made +out of black muslin, and just like a domino worn at a masquerade ball." +Frank remarked, with positive conviction in his voice and manner.</p> + +<p>"Masks?" echoed the other; "and the fellows who broke open our shop wore +them, did they? Well, the crowd that came out here seemed to be +satisfied to tie handkerchiefs across their faces, and pull their hats +down."</p> + +<p>"I don't know that they wore them," Frank went on, "but they had the +things along and laid them down with the lantern, forgetting the whole +lot when they cleared out. Perhaps your dog got to barking and +frightened them off before they found a chance to do much damage."</p> + +<p>"A regular bullseye electric torch, and black masks like cracksmen +use—say, tell me, Frank, what's coming over our quiet country up here +lately? There was the affair over in a neighboring town, when yeggmen +broke into the bank, and robbed it; and now here you tell me we've had a +little smash-up on our own account, with the burglars leaving cards +behind them. But what d'ye think now anybody would want to go poking +around in our shop for, Frank?"</p> + +<p>His cousin was looking very grave.</p> + +<p>"Well, you forget that we've been working overtime this winter on +several little inventions that, if we ever complete them, will make a +stir in the world of aviation."</p> + +<p>"Jupiter, I had let that slip away from me, for a fact, Frank!" +exclaimed the other, looking rather startled.</p> + +<p>"Of course, it sounds pretty big for us to even imagine that any party +could take enough interest in what the Bird boys are doing to come up +here, intending to break into the shop, and learn our secrets; but what +else can we think, tell me that, Andy?"</p> + +<p>"But they wouldn't find out much, even if they had six hours to poke +around our shop in, would they, Frank?"</p> + +<p>"I guess you're right, because we've made it a rule to be cautious +enough to hide our work and cover our tracks as we go along. But let's +get busy now, and put the plane into shape, so we can slip along home. +And as we work we can keep on talking as much as we want to," Frank went +on to say.</p> + +<p>The farmer and Felix still loitered around, determined to see the +wonderful contrivance make a start, and expecting the greatest treat of +their lives, when that event occurred.</p> + +<p>Such experienced workers as the two Bird boys had now become would find +little or no trouble about carrying out the work they had on hand. Every +steel wire guy was kept as taut as a fiddle string; and by the time they +were done handling the aeroplane it would be in apple-pie shape for +work.</p> + +<p>"Did they smash much in the shop, Frank?" Andy asked after they had +been working some little time, and making fair progress.</p> + +<p>"Why, no, it didn't seem to me that they took the time to do great +damage; and that's why I fancy they were scared off, somehow or other. +They went in a hurry, or else they would never have forgotten those +things. And when I looked around I made up my mind that they were just +mad because they didn't find our machine at home, and so tried to let us +know that fact."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it was a second detachment of the same crowd that came out +here?" suggested Andy, speculatively.</p> + +<p>"Tell me, what would they be doing with electric torches, and black +masks? Now, you can see that these have been pretty well used; they're +not new ones just cut out by pattern at home with mother's scissors. +These have been made by an experienced operator, and were bought either +for a mask ball or some other purpose."</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps we'll never know the truth about it," grumbled Andy, who +never liked anything to puzzle him and would lie awake half the night +trying to find the answer to a conundrum that had been offered to him by +a boy friend.</p> + +<p>"Oh! yes, I've got a hunch that we will," chirped his cousin, with a +sublime confidence that quite won Andy's heart; if he could not see any +good reason for hope himself, the fact that his chum pinned his faith on +it was enough to bolster up his own courage.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile they were both as busy as bees, and the work was approaching +completion.</p> + +<p>"What are you looking up every little while that way for?" Frank asked, +after noticing that Andy cocked his eye upward several times, and +appeared to be scanning the heavens in an expectant manner; "the day is +all right, so far as wind goes, and we ought to get along home without a +bit of trouble."</p> + +<p>"Oh! I wasn't bothering my head about that part of it," the other +replied, with a scornful smile. "We've been out in all sorts of weather; +and now that we have a chance to try this new invention of the Wrights', +that makes it next to impossible to tilt an aeroplane over no matter how +you move around when up in the air, we can feel safer than ever. Even a +fool would be kept from meeting with an accident when protected by that +wonderful balancing bar that responds to the slightest movement of the +human body."</p> + +<p>"Then it was something else you had on your mind, was it, Andy?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I was wondering just what took Percy and Sandy out at daybreak +this morning, that's all," replied the other.</p> + +<p>"What's that? Did you see them pass over in their biplane this morning?" +demanded the other.</p> + +<p>"Felix woke me up at dawn to tell me there was a queer chugging +overhead, that sort of scared him. I jumped up, because of course I knew +what that must mean. And sure enough I was just in time to see a biplane +pass over at a good height, and head up the lake. I lost it back of the +barn, because a flock of crows came flying along, stretching out for a +mile or two; and among the lot I couldn't make out just what was biplane +and which was crow. It was pretty high up, too, I thought."</p> + +<p>"But you made sure it was Percy's biplane?" asked Frank, interested +somewhat, for somehow the other rival flier was always doing such bold +stunts that he could not help feeling as though it might pay to keep +track of what he was doing, lest their interests clash unexpectedly, in +midair perhaps.</p> + +<p>"I ought to know the way it glides, and the whole general look; and I'd +be willing to take my affidavy that was the Canvas-back, as he calls +his biplane."</p> + +<p>"And he was in it, of course, with Sandy too?" Frank went on.</p> + +<p>"I could just make out that there were two aboard," said Andy, "but +somehow it seemed to me that Percy had altered his whole way of piloting +his airship, or else he was drunk, and hardly knew what he was doing."</p> + +<p>Frank whistled to indicate his surprise and consternation:</p> + +<p>"When it gets as rough as that you can take it from me that Percy's +mother will hear something simply awful about him before long. He's +bound to go from bad to worse; and everybody knows what the end of such +an aviator is going to be."</p> + +<p>"But what under the sun could he be off at daylight this morning for?" +Andy went on to remark, as though that thing had been bothering him ever +since the moment he lost track of the biplane among the teetering, +cawing crows.</p> + +<p>Frank shrugged his shoulders as he replied:</p> + +<p>"Did you ever know any reason for half the things Percy does? He just +acts from a sudden impulse. Remember all that happened when he followed +us down there to Columbia in South America, and tried to give us all the +trouble he could make up. And there have been lots of other times too, +we can look back at, all of which prove what I am saying that he is +often like a ship without a rudder. Now, perhaps, he's got the crazy +notion in his head that we might prosecute him either for what he tried +to do up here to our hydroplane, or on account of breaking into our +hangar, and doing a certain amount of damage, if the vandal was Percy +Carberry."</p> + +<p>"That sounds a little reasonable, anyhow, Frank. Queer that I never seem +to get hold of these things, and they just float along as easy as +anything to you. But it looks as if we had her all primed up now as +steady as a church. How about it, Frank?"</p> + +<p>For answer the other touched several taut wire guys with a peculiar +little movement of finger and thumb, and each one responded with a +musical note that was the sweetest possible sound in the responsive ear +of the young aviators.</p> + +<p>"All done, and let's be off," he said, presently, after the last test +had been applied.</p> + +<p>Accordingly they shook hands with Farmer Quackenboss, his good wife, and +Felix, in the palm of which latter Andy made sure to leave a greenback +that made the boy grin broadly.</p> + +<p>Three minutes later Frank sang out the word, and both the farmer and +Felix ran along with the machine for a dozen paces or so, when it left +them behind, taking on speed, and finally rushing over the ground at a +tremendous pace.</p> + +<p>Uptilting the planes caused it to leave the ground and start to curve +gracefully upward, as the whizzing propeller did its noisy duty.</p> + +<p>They could hear the farmer and his hired hand shouting themselves hoarse +with delight at having actually witnessed the start of a modern +aeroplane; but naturally the sound grew fainter and fainter in their +ears as they left the field and the squatty farmhouse far behind.</p> + +<p>Having arisen to the height of several hundred feet, Frank headed toward +Bloomsbury. Like a true and alert pilot he was watching and listening to +ascertain how their recent work held; and presently a satisfied +expression crossing his face announced that he found his faith well +justified.</p> + +<p>They had skimmed along for perhaps a mile or more when Andy made a +certain discovery that caused him to call out.</p> + +<p>"Look along the road below and ahead, Frank," he said, "and you'll see +something that makes you think of old times, when we hunted, in company +with Chief Waller, for those men who looted Leffingwell's jewelry +establishment."</p> + +<p>"Why, as sure as you're born, Andy, it does look like the Chief; and +he's sitting in a vehicle, waving his hat. He seems to be looking up at +us, and now that I've turned off the motor to glide a little I can hear +him shouting."</p> + +<p>"Frank, do you think he's just saluting us, or does he want us to come +down?" demanded Andy, in some apprehension.</p> + +<p>"Now he's making all sorts of gestures, and honestly I think he means +that he wants to see us. Had we better drop in that open field just +alongside the road? Looks good to me for a rise when we want to start +again."</p> + +<p>"Whatever you think best, Frank; I'm always willing to be guided by you. +Mighty seldom you make a bad mess of it, while I often do. Yes, let's +drop down, and if the field turns out to be pretty smooth, we'll land."</p> + +<p>Accordingly, the hydroplane which was of course now in a condition for +making a landing with the wheels below the aluminum pontoons, circled +around, dropping lower and lower, until presently it came to a stop in +the field close to the fence.</p> + +<p>When it landed it was done so beautifully that, as Andy enthusiastically +said, an egg would hardly have broken had it come between. And there, +not more than twenty feet away, the man, dressed in a blue uniform and +wearing a silver shield with the words "Chief of Police" engraved upon +it, was soothing his horse, which had apparently been badly frightened +by the swooping down of what seemed to be a great roc, or some other +species of now extinct gigantic kings of the air.</p> + +<p>"What's up, Chief?" asked Frank, as soon as they had reached the road +together.</p> + +<p>"Then you haven't heard the terrible news; they told me you left home to +come up here about daybreak; and we didn't find it out until an hour +ago. The bank in Bloomsbury was broken open last night, the safe rifled, +and the thieves have disappeared in the queerest way ever heard of, for +they left no trace behind. And when I saw you boys aloft, I was in hopes +you might have seen something of the bank looters."</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 65%;"><br><br> +<a name="CHAPTER_V"></a><h2>CHAPTER V</h2> +<br> + +<p>THE EXCITEMENT GROWS</p> + +<p>"Well, what d'ye think of that for news, eh, Frank?" burst out Andy, in +his usual impetuous way, after the Bloomsbury Chief of Police had made +this startling announcement.</p> + +<p>Frank was as a rule much cooler than his cousin. He had undoubtedly been +equally astounded to hear of the terrible calamity that had befallen the +banking institution, in which most of the leading citizens of the town +were financially interested; but he certainly did not show it the same +way.</p> + +<p>His eyebrows went up to indicate astonishment; and a slight frown +settled on his grave face, as he replied to Andy's question.</p> + +<p>"It's a stunner, just as you say, Andy; but I wish the Chief would tell +us a few more details. I think it's a little queer nobody seemed to have +any suspicion of this awful business at the time I left home on +horseback, to ride up to the Quackenboss farm, where you had been +watching our injured aeroplane all night."</p> + +<p>"Well," continued the head of the Bloomsbury police force; "that's +because the yeggs worked so neatly they never left a bit of mess around +to arouse suspicion; and the first thing that was known of the looting +of the bank was when Seth Jarvie, the day watchman, went into the place +at seven this morning to relieve Cadger, the night man, and found him +lying there, tied up like a bundle of goods, and nearly dead with fright +and humiliation."</p> + +<p>"Whew!" was the way Andy relieved his pent-up feelings at this point; +while his cousin went on asking questions.</p> + +<p>"Then Cadger must have seen the robbers, if they captured him; how about +that, Chief?" he demanded, eagerly; for the excitement was beginning to +take hold of him.</p> + +<p>"That's right, he did, and was able to give us more or less +information," the police officer continued. "Of course as soon as Jarvie +saw what had happened he knew it was a case for me to handle, and so he +ran across to Headquarters; and in a jiffy we had thrown a cordon of +police around the building to keep out the curious citizens who would +have no business inside, and spoil any trace of the rascals."</p> + +<p>"And would you mind telling us what Cadger had to tell, Chief?" asked +Frank.</p> + +<p>"Not at all, because I'm depending on you boys to help run the thieves +down, if you feel like giving the authorities any assistance," the other +replied, craftily.</p> + +<p>Frank's answer was immediate and to the point.</p> + +<p>"Of course we'll do anything that's in our power, Chief. Both our +fathers are interested in that bank; and besides, the good name of the +town must suffer if it is wrecked by a wandering band of yeggmen. And we +can understand why you should want to capture the thieves, Chief; +because that's a part of your business. Please tell us what the bank +watchman had to say."</p> + +<p>"Then I will, and without any frills, if I can make it that way," +returned the other earnestly. "Cadger says he was caught napping, not +that he was asleep; but never dreaming of any danger, he stepped over to +the door when he heard a knock and a voice said: 'It's me, Cadger, Mr. +Hedden, the cashier; I forgot some important papers, and have gotten out +of bed to come back for them. Let me in without attracting any +attention, if you can.'"</p> + +<p>"What do you think of the smartness of that?" exclaimed Andy. "And so of +course poor old Cadger, who is as honest as the day is long, never +suspected any trick, but went and opened the door a crack?"</p> + +<p>"Just what he did," returned the Chief, "and as that side of the bank +was in the shadow he could only see the figure of a man, who slipped in +alongside him. Before he knew what was happening he was being chocked by +a pair of strong hands. Cadger started to struggle but another man must +have joined the first, for he was knocked unconscious by a cruel blow, +that's left his face all bloody and after that he didn't know a thing +for an hour or two."</p> + +<p>"Whee! you've got me all worked up with your story, Chief," said Andy +again. "I can just seem to see the whole thing happening. And chances +are, that when Cadger did come to, he found himself tied up, and unable +to even whisper?"</p> + +<p>"He had hard work to get enough breath, they had fastened the bandage +across his mouth so tight; but he could see out of one eye. And lying +there, Cadger watched the two yeggs go through the whole operation of +getting nitroglycerine planted, and using all sorts of clothes and even +the rugs off the floor of the president's room to deaden the sound of +the explosion."</p> + +<p>"They were old hands at the business, that's sure," remarked Frank, when +the officer paused to catch his breath; for he was talking unusually +fast in his desire to give them all the particulars in as brief a space +of time as possible.</p> + +<p>"Yes, there can be no doubt of that," the Chief went on to say, wagging +his head wisely; "and they had been able in some way to get on to a lot +of things that make us wonder like the name of the cashier and the +night-watchman. Looks mighty much like they must have had a friend +around Bloomsbury, who put them wise to those facts. Then they seemed to +have the running of the trains down pat also; for long after they had +their arrangements made they just sat down and waited until the freight +going north and passing Bloomsbury at two-eighteen was pounding up-grade +from Deering's Crossing, and making all manner of noise."</p> + +<p>"Oh! to think of the smartness of that, would you?" burst out Andy. "I +was wondering how they could blow open the safe, and the sound of the +explosion never even be heard over at Headquarters, only half a block +away; but now I see how it could be done. Just like a fellow says he can +pull a hair out of your head, and you not feel it; and he makes out to +give you a thump on the head with his other hand at the same time, so of +course you never notice him pulling the hair."</p> + +<p>"Just about on the same principle," said the officer, nodding; "for +when that heavy freight goes pounding past the station, it makes enough +noise to drown almost any sort of sound. The windows rattle, and we +always have to stop talking until the caboose gets past. And that was +the time they chose to explode their juice, with an absolute certainty +that no policeman's ear would hear a single thing."</p> + +<p>"And Cadger saw it all, did he?" asked practical Frank.</p> + +<p>"A good lot of it, by twisting his head from time to time," replied +Chief Waller. "And after the thing had been successfully done, he could +watch the two thieves gathering the swag together, and putting it in a +satchel they found in the cashier's room. Then, just at a quarter to +three they doused the glim, which was only an electric torch one of them +carried, and skipped out, locking the door on poor Cadger. It was hours +afterwards when the day watchman came on duty and the discovery +followed."</p> + +<p>Frank and Andy had somehow turned, and exchanged a significant look +about this time; and the expression of astonishment on the face of the +latter deepened.</p> + +<p>"Did you say an electric torch, Chief?" demanded Frank, immediately.</p> + +<p>"Yes, one of the handy kind that are used so commonly now," the other +replied.</p> + +<p>"Tell us, did Cadger say anything about the thieves wearing masks over +their faces; or did they use handkerchiefs to hide them from him?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't mention that matter, but it was just as you say, Frank; both +men had on masks all the time," answered the police officer.</p> + +<p>"Black ones too, I expect?" ventured Andy.</p> + +<p>"That's what they were; but see here, are you two just guessing this, or +do you happen to know something about those men?" asked the other, +quickly; for he could not help seeing from the manner of the Bird boys +that they were on some sort of a scent; and he knew from past +experiences that their sagacity could always be trusted to do the right +thing.</p> + +<p>"Well," Frank went on to say, drily, "while Andy was watching our new +hydroplane out in the Quackenboss pasture, I worked until eleven o'clock +in our shop, and then went home. This morning, early, after a bite to +eat, I hurried over there to do some finishing touches and carry the +thing out to apply to our broken plane, when to my astonishment I found +that the shop had been broken into later in the night, as well as our +hangar, where the aeroplane is usually kept. And here's what I +discovered lying on the work-bench, where the men had forgotten them."</p> + +<p>With these words he held up the flashlight torch, and the twin black +masks; and they produced an immediate shock upon the Chief of Police.</p> + +<p>"And you found those things in your workshop this morning, you say?" +he cried, reaching out to take hold of the torch, and the bits of black +muslin.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and whoever was there, they must have been mad because they didn't +find the aeroplane, for they smashed a few things, just for spite, it +looked like," was what Frank added.</p> + +<p>"Then, if it was the same men who robbed the bank they must have known +about you boys having a brand new machine. And say, that must mean one +of the robbers was something of a birdman himself; because no greenhorn +would ever think of making his getaway in an aeroplane. Don't you see +that's a pretty good clue, Frank? I'll remember that when I'm getting in +touch with other points, and find out if there's any aviator who's gone +crooked of late. Yes, that's worth knowing, now; and I'm glad you +mentioned it to me."</p> + +<p>"What description did Cadger give of the men, Chief?" queried Frank.</p> + +<p>"Oh! he said one was tall and thin; and the other short and wiry like, +pretty much like a cat. I rather reckon he'd be the fellow who's been in +the flying business. Seemed to have a stiff left arm too, like he'd met +up with some sort of an accident. That might turn out to be a pointer; +I'll just remember it. It surely was a lucky thing for me I saw you boys +come sailing along and managed to attract your attention. I begin to +feel better already. You gave me so much help on that other occasion, it +just seems as if I had to fall back on you again."</p> + +<p>"Better move your horse out of the way, Chief, because there comes a car +at a licketty-split racing speed. Wonder what the fellows in it are +thinking about, to take such chances. Why, hello! look there, Frank, +perhaps you know the one who's at the wheel? Seems to me I've seen him +before, and that his name is Percy Carberry."</p> + +<p>"It is Percy," said Frank, "and alongside him who'd you expect to see +but his shadow, Sandy Hollingshead? And they look some excited too, as +though they'd heard about the robbery, and the Carberry family was +threatened with bankruptcy if the missing funds were not recovered right +away. There, he sees us, and is pulling up. I reckon he's looking for +you, Chief."</p> + +<p>The car that had been tearing along the pike came to a stop close to +where the head of the Bloomsbury police force sat in his buggy.</p> + +<p>Percy Carberry got out, and Andy could not but notice that he was not +displaying his accustomed agility on this fine morning; indeed, he made +a face as though it gave him a stab of pain every time he took a step.</p> + +<p>"Hello! Chief Waller!" remarked Percy in his customary patronizing way, +ignoring the presence of the Bird boys completely and purposely, of +course; "I've come out after you, to get your assistance in trying to +find the rascals who broke into my hangar some time last night, and ran +away with my biplane!"</p> + +<p>Upon hearing these astonishing words it was little wonder that Andy and +Frank once more looked at each other, with the light of understanding +dawning on their faces.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 65%;"><br><br> +<a name="CHAPTER_VI"></a><h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> +<br> + +<p>FIGURING IT ALL OUT</p> + +<p>"That's a strange story you're telling us, Percy," said the Head of the +local police force, at which the boy bridled up immediately.</p> + +<p>"I don't see what there is so funny about it, Chief!" he exclaimed, +frowning. "I tell you my hangar was broken open last night, and I'm out +a biplane that cost me a good round sum. It's up to you to get on the +track of the same, and recover it. I hereby offer a reward of three +hundred dollars for the recovery of my machine uninjured, and make it +five hundred if the thief is captured in the bargain."</p> + +<p>When he said this Percy assumed all the airs of a millionaire; but then +it was well known about Bloomsbury that the Widow Carberry was very +wealthy; also that her only hopeful could wheedle her in to settling any +sort of a bill he chose to contract, so that the mention of the sum of +five hundred dollars was not anything extravagant for Percy.</p> + +<p>"Oh! it wasn't that I doubted your word at all, Percy; don't think +that," Chief Waller hastened to say; for like most men he was ready to +bow down in front of the golden calf; and more than once Mrs. Carberry +had been very generous to the force—when her house took fire and came +near burning, but was saved, thanks to the energetic work of police and +fire departments; and again, when a hired man tried to carry off some of +her jewelry, but had been easily caught, and the plunder restored.</p> + +<p>"Then what makes you act like that, I'd like to know?" demanded Percy, +looking very much put out, as though he did not like to be treated with +suspicion, especially when his old-time rivals, the Bird boys, were +around.</p> + +<p>"Why," the officer went on to say, "when you said that about your +aeroplane being taken, it struck me all in a heap; because Frank here +was just telling me that two men broke into his shop last night after +eleven, and knocked things around, just because they failed to find his +hydroplane in its bunk as usual. They wanted that machine, and wanted it +so bad, that, as a last resort, they went over to your place, and +confiscated your biplane."</p> + +<p>It was Percy's turn now to look astonished. He even condescended to +notice the presence of the two Bird boys, and surveyed them with +interest.</p> + +<p>"Is that a fact, Frank? Did somebody break into your place last night? +I remember now that I did see you pottering about your craft up there +somewhere about the Quackenboss place, but I'd forgotten it till the +Chief mentioned that you didn't have it in the hangar. That's the time +you were lucky. See what I got for having mine at home all snug and +nice. It's been hooked clear as anything, and not a trace to tell who +did the business."</p> + +<p>"Hold on there, Percy," said the Chief, with a broad smile, "perhaps it +isn't such a deep mystery after all."</p> + +<p>"Tell me what you mean when you say that," demanded the boy, loftily, as +though he resented the fact that anything should be kept from him a +single second.</p> + +<p>"Why, Frank and Andy found these things in their shop, left by the two +men who tried to get their hydroplane; and the chances are ten to one +the same parties went right straight over to your place and got yours as +a second choice."</p> + +<p>"I don't like the way you speak of my biplane, Chief, which cost ever so +much more money than the contraption the Bird boys own," Percy remarked, +sneeringly; "but never mind, tell me what these things stand for. An +electric torch and—why those things look like black masks. Great +Caesar! and the Bloomsbury bank was robbed last night, they told me when +I was rushing around looking for you. See here, do you think the yeggs +who did that neat job got away with my biplane?"</p> + +<p>Percy was getting more excited than ever now. When he did, he seemed to +just foam a little at the corners of his mouth, his eyes glittered, and +his face turned red.</p> + +<p>"There seems to be no doubt of it," replied the Chief, calmly, and yet +with a stiffening of his figure, as though conscious of having already +discovered a most promising clue, that could not but reflect credit on +his astuteness as an officer of the law.</p> + +<p>"They knew all about Frank's machine and mine too, then?" continued +Percy, still grappling with the tremendous problem.</p> + +<p>"Looks that way," the official went on to remark, "and makes me think +more than ever that they must have a friend right here in Bloomsbury who +put them wise to lots of things. Time'll tell that. But I don't suppose +you found anything around your place like Frank did, to tell that some +strangers had been there while you slept?"</p> + +<p>"Not a blessed thing; though, to tell the honest truth, I didn't hang +around long when I found my biplane was gone. It was the best machine I +ever owned, and as you know I've had several, all told. And inside of +three days I expected that the latest model of aluminum pontoons would +be along, to turn it into a water as well as an air craft. Now chances +are, I'll never see it again, because, like as not, nobody knows which +way in creation they went."</p> + +<p>"We happen to have a pointer about that same thing," Andy could not help +saying, though he hardly liked the superior air of the other, not being +able to overlook such things as easily as his cousin did.</p> + +<p>"I hope, then, you'll give it to the Chief, Andy," the Carberry boy +remarked, for the first time directly speaking to one of the cousins.</p> + +<p>"Sure thing. We want to see the rascals copped just as much as anybody +does. You see, Felix, he's the farm hand up at Mr. Quackenboss' place, +and me, we thought it good policy to stay around, and keep an eye on our +machine while it was lying overnight in that meadow. I had had a long +watch of it, and was taking my turn at sleeping when just at daybreak +Felix shook me, and said there was a queer noise up aloft that kind of +scared him, and which he rather believed must come from some sort of +air craft.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" exclaimed Percy, looking intensely interested, of course; "go on, +please."</p> + +<p>"I jumped up, and sure enough I glimpsed a biplane passing over, and +headed up the lake at a pretty good height, I thought it looked like +your machine, but as I remarked to Frank later on, whoever steered it +had a different way about him from your method. While I was wondering +what took you out so early, and I could see there were two in the +machine, a big flock of crows passed over, and I lost track of it.</p> + +<p>"So, you see, Percy," broke in the eager Chief just at that point, +"we've got a pretty good clue already about the direction the rascals +took, who broke into the safe of the bank, and carried off a bagful of +money, and valuable papers; and then followed that up by cribbing your +biplane. It was north they went, up the lake, in fact; and that's the +quarter we'll have to look for them. But let me tell you it's putting it +pretty hard over on a police officer to make him try to track a stolen +flying machine."</p> + +<p>"But you can get in touch with every town to the north, and pick up +pointers here and there!" Percy declared, excitedly. "Get back to town +as fast as you can, Chief, and with a couple of your men I'll carry you +wherever you want to go. In the meanwhile, you can leave orders for your +men to do the wiring business; and whenever we strike a town we can ring +up Headquarters over the 'phone, and learn what news they've managed to +pick up."</p> + +<p>Percy seemed to think that all he had to do was to tell the Chief what +he wanted; but then his plan of campaign was really a good one, and the +police officer was wise enough not to quarrel with his bread and butter; +for the Widow Carberry was a large property owner in Bloomsbury.</p> + +<p>"You just take the words out of my mouth seems like it," he remarked; +"and that is the best plan we could carry out. I was just going to +suggest to Frank and Andy here, that if they felt like taking a little +spin off to the northward this fine morning, and discovered anything +suspicious, they could get word to us, perhaps through the Bloomsbury +Central, for we'll be apt to keep in touch with home."</p> + +<p>Percy did not know whether to look pleased at this suggestion or not. It +would be just like the everlasting luck of the Bird boys to make another +remarkable success out of this thing, for they seemed to have a failing +that way, while all the hard fortune came in his direction. That would +give him a pain to be sure, for he was horribly envious of their local +fame as successful aviators; but at the same time he hated to lose that +beautiful biplane, which he had not owned very long, and which had taken +his heart by storm.</p> + +<p>So Percy finally compromised, as he frequently did. He even forced a +grim smile to appear upon his face, though it did not deceive Frank in +the least; and as for Andy, he never took the least stock in Percy +Carberry's honesty. In his mind there was always a deep meaning +underneath every action of the other.</p> + +<p>"Why, sure I hope Frank will discover the thieves, and recover the stuff +they've grabbed from the bank; also that he'll have the good luck to get +back my biplane without its being badly wrecked. That reward is worth +trying for, and I don't go back on my word."</p> + +<p>All the same he knew very well that neither of the Bird boys could be +forced to ever accept one penny from his hand, no matter what good Dame +Fortune allowed them to do for him.</p> + +<p>Andy was watching keenly when the Carberry boy walked back to his +machine, and climbed into the steering seat. Frank, happening to look +that way, saw his cousin's face lighted up as if in glee: and he even +heard him chuckle. Perhaps Percy may have caught the same sound, for he +turned his head after dropping down into his seat, and scowled darkly at +Andy. There is nothing like a guilty conscience to bring about a +self-betrayal; and somehow Percy seemed to know what the Bird boy was +thinking about just then.</p> + +<p>At any rate, he was an adept at the pilot wheel of a car, though +inclined to be a reckless driver; just as he was also a daring air +voyager, taking desperate chances that promised to bring him to grief +one of these days.</p> + +<p>Backing the car swiftly around, he sped away. Sandy Hollingshead, who +had not once moved from his seat, or uttered a single word all the time, +turned his head to look back; and Andy thought he too scowled darkly, as +though stirred by unpleasant thoughts; but in another minute they had +vanished around the bend far along the pike, and the Chief alone was +seen, whipping up his nag, in the endeavor to get back as speedily as +possible to Headquarters.</p> + +<p>"Well, of all things, don't this just take the cake?" remarked Andy, +when he and his cousin once more found themselves alone beside the +motionless aeroplane, that nestled like a great bird on the grass close +to the road.</p> + +<p>"It certainly looks as though we might be in for a little more +excitement," replied Frank; "but what seemed to make you chuckle so +much, Andy? You must have noticed something that escaped my attention, +because I was busy thinking of other things. Suppose you open up, and +tell me?"</p> + +<p>"I was tickled half to death to see how Percy tried to walk, as if +nothing was the matter with him, when all the time he couldn't keep from +limping; because, don't you see, one or several of those bird-shot Felix +scattered around last night, must have stung him about the legs. That's +why he scowled so at me, Frank!"</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 65%;"><br><br> +<a name="CHAPTER_VII"></a><h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> +<br> + +<p>THE AIR SCOUTS</p> + +<p>Frank laughed a little, himself, when he heard his cousin say this.</p> + +<p>"I give you credit for getting one on me there, Andy," he declared.</p> + +<p>"Then you believe I hit the right nail on the head, do you, Frank?"</p> + +<p>"Well," remarked the other, "come to think of it, Percy did have a +little limp; and I guess he tried to hide it the best he could, for I +remember seeing him wince several times. But how about Sandy, who never +tried to get out of the car once, and didn't even open his lips to say a +single word?"</p> + +<p>"I bet you he got a double dose, and is pretty sore this morning." Andy +went on. "You seemed to think it was kind of hard lines for Felix to +give 'em a load when they were pretty far off, and just climbing over +that fence; but it tickles me every time I think of it. Seemed like the +whole bunch just fell over after he shot; and like as not each fellow +got his share of the Number Eights somewhere in his legs. But how about +this job the Chief asked us to engineer, Frank? Are we going to start +off on that little spin up the lake; and d'ye guess we could get a +pointer about where the two thieves have gone?"</p> + +<p>"We might try, anyhow; no harm in that," was his cousin's reply, as he +turned once more toward the hydroplane that lay near by.</p> + +<p>"I remember we had great luck that other time, when we discovered that +the men who broke into Leffingwell's place were hiding in that old cabin +up in the woods. Perhaps the same story might be repeated, who knows? +They call it the Bird boys' luck, Frank; but then, we work for all we +get, and ought to have a little credit when we win out. If we made a bad +job of things, the same people would be quick to say we didn't know our +business. Shall we go back to the shop first?"</p> + +<p>"That would be the only way," replied Frank. "If we're going to take on +this dangerous job of looking up yeggmen who have broken into a bank, +and looted it, why, it seems to me we ought to make a little +preparation. Of course, about all we expect to do is to scout around, +and see if we can pick up any information with the aid of our marine +glasses. It's hardly to be expected that two boys would take the chance +of trying to nab a couple of reckless thieves, who must be armed and +desperate."</p> + +<p>"But if the opening came, Frank, we wouldn't let it slip by, would we?" +asked Andy, always willing to go to the limit, when temptation beckoned.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not," answered the other, smilingly; "but there's no use +crossing a bridge till we come to it, so we won't bother any more about +that. Get aboard, Andy, and we'll head for home again."</p> + +<p>"Just think of all that's happened since we had that little accident +yesterday afternoon, up near the Quackenboss place?" Andy went on to +say, as he complied with his cousin's request, and settled himself in +his seat, leaving the piloting of the machine to Frank.</p> + +<p>"There has been quite a little run of excitement, that's a fact," mused +the other; "first the accident, and our great good luck in making a +landing without breaking a thing, including our precious necks."</p> + +<p>"Then the discovery of Percy and Sandy looking at the hydroplane lying +there, and hurrying away as if they had already laid a plan to come back +and pay a night visit, if they failed to see us get home by daylight," +Andy went on to add.</p> + +<p>"Events followed thick and fast after that, Andy—the coming of the +four fellows, with their faces hidden; their repulse at the hands of +yourself and the friendly Felix; then the robbery of the bank; the +breaking into our shop by men who left their cards behind in the shape +of these burglar tools; the meeting of the Chief on the road, and the +news he gave us; and last of all the coming of Percy with the startling +news that his biplane had been stolen!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but don't forget my seeing it sailing over just at early dawn," +remarked the other, as Frank stooped forward for a last look around, +before starting up the powerful little Kinkaid engine. "Because that +promises to play quite a figure in the pursuit of the smart thieves; +though they may be fifty miles away from here by now, if they know how +to handle that fine biplane right."</p> + +<p>"Hold tight; we're off!" warned Frank, as he applied the power; for the +new engine was of course a self-starter, and could be operated from his +seat with almost as much ease as might be shown in using electricity, +and pressing the button.</p> + +<p>The hydroplane ran easily along the ground, for the bicycle wheels were +always kept in first class condition; and as the speed kept on +increasing Frank soon uptilted the plane, and like a great bird rising +from the ground, with a graceful sweep the flying machine took to the +air.</p> + +<p>Long practice had made the Bird boys familiar with every movement +connected with the actions of an aeroplane, but at the same time they +tried to be always on their guard against being incautious. That is the +trouble with most aviators; they grow so familiar with danger that they +forget the terrible risk that always hangs over the head of every one +who soars aloft in his frail airship; and then, when finally something +happens after they have become too reckless, they never get another +chance.</p> + +<p>Sweeping along not more than three hundred feet above the ground, the +boys were home in almost no time. They could see the car containing +Percy Carberry, and his crony, Sandy, just vanishing among the houses of +Bloomsbury; and the Chief, about half-way there, waved his hat at them +as they sped past him.</p> + +<p>Then the aeroplane dropped lightly down close to the hangar back of the +Bird home, where Andy and his father, the professor, lived, together +with old Colonel Whympers, the veteran who used crutches or a cane on +account of his rheumatism, brought on, he always declared, not by age, +oh! no, but the wounds he received many years ago, when he was fighting +for his country in the great civil war.</p> + +<p>He was sitting there on a pile of lumber waiting for them, a quaint old +fellow, who was greatly beloved by both cousins; and who believed firmly +that some fine day Andy Bird was bound to even eclipse the fame which +his father had gained in the field of science and aviation.</p> + +<p>It happened that the professor was away at the time delivering a series +of lectures before some body of scientists in a distant city. And +whenever the boys were in their shop the old veteran was in the habit of +coming around, to see what new and wonderful things engaged their +attention, as well as chatting with them. And he was as welcome as the +sun in May.</p> + +<p>Of course, just then he was bristling with questions as a hedgehog would +be with sharp-pointed quills. And knowing the Colonel of old, Frank and +Andy lost no time in telling him all that had happened to them, from the +time of their little accident, down to when they heard the latest news +from Percy Carberry.</p> + +<p>"And I warrant now," remarked Colonel Whimpers, as soon as the tale was +finished, "that you two boys get the first clew to where the robbers +are hiding. Didn't you beat the wonderful Chief out before, and doesn't +history have a habit of repeating itself? Oh; if only I was ten years +younger, how I'd love to be along, when all these glorious things are +happening. I hate to think I'm put by on the shelf and never can be any +good again."</p> + +<p>That was the old man's only fault; he was forever complaining because +his day for indulging in exciting scenes had passed; but any one who +knew the half that he had passed through, would think the colonel had no +reason to say anything; and that it was only right that someone else had +a show.</p> + +<p>They soon soothed him, however, and long practice had made Andy +particularly apt at this sort of thing.</p> + +<p>"Here come Elephant and Larry, on the run," remarked Frank, a little +while later; "I wonder if they saw us come home, and whether they can +have picked up any additional news connected with the bank robbery, that +we ought know."</p> + +<p>"Well, it might pay us to hold up a little, and see," added Andy.</p> + +<p>"Yes, since we're in no great hurry, and the day is long," Frank +remarked.</p> + +<p>The two boys came up panting for breath. Larry had evidently set the +pace, and it was a matter of the smaller lad keeping with him, or else +being left behind, something Elephant never liked to have happen; so +that he was unable to say even a single word for a full minute after +arriving alongside the hangar.</p> + +<p>"Tell us, have they learned anything new since the Chief started off?" +asked Frank, as usual right to the point; and in this way cutting off +the myriad of questions which he knew both the newcomers were primed to +ask.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," gasped Larry, while Elephant nodded his head as if to say he +agreed to all that was said, "after Percy came bustling around, asking +for the Chief, and telling how somebody had busted into his place, and +run off with his biplane in the night, they got to talking it over, and +wondering if it could have been the robbers, and if one of 'em knew how +to handle such things. So they called up the city, and asked questions. +In that way they learned that there was a yegg who had been suspected of +having been connected with several other jobs, though they never could +just put the kibosh on him, and his name is Casper Blue, and one time he +used to be an actor, and then became a pretty well-known flier, but in +an accident he broke his arm, and had to give up his business. He was +always a crooked sort of feller, and after that just boozed around, +joined in with hobo gangs, and they believe touched up a few jobs +himself. There, that's all we know; and now, what you been doing?"</p> + +<p>"Too long a story to tell just now," declared Frank. "The colonel knows, +and perhaps he'll amuse you after we've gone."</p> + +<p>"Oh! say, are you meanin' to take after them fellers that busted the +bank safe, and then got away with Percy's biplane?" asked Elephant +eagerly; "don't I wish though I could just hang on behind, and be in the +swim for once. You two seem to have about all the fun there is going, +hang the luck, say I?"</p> + +<p>"Well, you'd better not try it, that's what!" said Andy, shaking his +head threateningly at the bare suggestion of having Elephant aboard when +they made a start.</p> + +<p>"I think we've got everything now, Andy," remarked Frank, anxious to be +off.</p> + +<p>"Hope you're taking guns along, because if you do run across them hobo +fellers you'll be apt to need them right bad," Larry went on to say, +also looking downcast at having to miss all the sport simply because +Nature had never intended him for an aviator, as he was inclined to get +dizzy when looking down from any height.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Frank's provided for that, and besides, we don't really expect to +round the thieves up, just find out if they've dropped down anywhere +inside of thirty miles to the north of Bloomsbury. Shall I get aboard, +Frank?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; and after we're off, Larry, will you and Elephant do me the favor +to step around to my house, and tell my folks that the Bird boys have +hired out as scouts to Chief Waller? Tell dad that we'll be mighty +careful, and for mother not to worry about us. You know I always call +Aunt Laura mother, because she's been that ever since my own died years +ago. Will you do that, boys?" and Frank sitting there ready to start, +turned a smiling face upon his two friends. Even as they promised, the +aeroplane started off, and a minute later soared up in the air, like a +bird rejoicing at its freedom for leaving the earth behind.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 65%;"><br><br> +<a name="CHAPTER_VIII"></a><h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> +<br> + +<p>JUST BELOW THE CLOUDS</p> + +<p>"Good luck to you, boys!" came floating up from the ground, above the +buzzing of the busy little Kinkaid motor; and looking down, they could +see Larry, Elephant, yes, and the old veteran also, carrying on +excitedly, as they swung their hats around.</p> + +<p>"Who're you waving your handkerchief to, Frank; does your best girl keep +her eyes on the skies all the day long, looking to see you come around?" +demanded Andy, humorously.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's my best girl, as sure as you live; and she's standing there +on the porch of our house right now, waving to me—Aunt Laura, who +thinks just as much of me as any mother could. But Andy, neither of us +said anything when Larry told about that hobo aviator named Casper Blue; +yet he answered the description the bank watchman gave of the smaller +man who had a stiff arm."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I noticed that, all right, even if I didn't look your way," +returned Andy, promptly. "It sort of clinched the nail we drove through +didn't it, Frank?"</p> + +<p>"Seems like it," the other went on to remark. "And the chances are ten +to one, we've got the story down fine right now, know who one of the +robbers was, why they wanted to steal an aeroplane to make their +get-away in, and all that. But there are a few things we don't know, +that'd throw a little more light on the affair."</p> + +<p>"As what?" queried his cousin.</p> + +<p>"Well, for one thing, the Chief seemed to think the thieves might have +had inside information, they seemed to know so much about things +connected with the bank, our having an aeroplane, where we lived, what +our habits were, and then about Percy's biplane in the bargain. Now, +that's something serious; if there's a man in Bloomsbury who's in league +with such rascals he'll be apt to help them out again later on if they +get away with this job; and he ought to be found out."</p> + +<p>"Whew! looks like we've got a big job on our hands if we hope to do all +that sort of thing," commented Andy, with a whistle to indicate his +feelings.</p> + +<p>"Nobody said we even think of trying," laughed Frank, as he stopped +mounting upward in spirals, and headed away toward the north.</p> + +<p>It was a glorious view that they had now spread out beneath and around +them. Neither of the Bird boys ever tired of such wonderful sights; and +although by now it had become an old story, they enjoyed it as much as +ever, even if their former sensation of awe had given way to one of +familiarity.</p> + +<p>They could see the entire outlines of beautiful Lake Sunrise, with its +many coves, and points jutting out, the water glistening in the +sunlight, as the morning breeze fanned it gently.</p> + +<p>Why, yes, there was the little lake steamboat called the Mermaid, +passing along the northern border of the lake, on the way between the +town of Cranford, on the shore opposite Bloomsbury, and headed toward a +small lumbering camp far up the left bank, possibly to deliver supplies, +after which she would point her nose down toward the home town, which +was of more importance than any other station on Lake Sunrise.</p> + +<p>The boys did look back, dear though the scenes around home must ever be +for them. It was characteristic of these lads that once they put their +shoulder to the wheel, or in other words, their hand to the plow, they +would not allow themselves to be discouraged by thoughts of the home +ties. That accounted for much of the success that had been their portion +in the past. They could for the time being forget that there was any +such place as home; and in this way they avoided the weakness that such +thoughts are apt to bring along in their train.</p> + +<p>Forward their way lay, toward those forbidding wilds far to the north, +where few towns could be found, and pretty much all the country was a +vast wilderness, filled with picturesque forests, wild swamps, and +rugged hills.</p> + +<p>It was just the country where desperate law breakers would choose as a +hiding-place, after they had committed some crime, and expected a warm +pursuit. Ordinary methods would never find them, save through a mere +chance; but when one can copy the eagle, and mount to dizzy heights, +with a pair of powerful glasses he can see almost everything that is +going on for miles and miles around, provided he has a skilled companion +along to manage the aeroplane or balloon.</p> + +<p>And that is destined to be the greatest value of these winged messengers +in future years, since it has been proven that they are not so very +dangerous after all in the line of dropping explosives upon battleships +or fortified places.</p> + +<p>"Somewhere up yonder, Frank, they are probably hiding, and feeling +perfectly safe from pursuit," ventured Andy, who was sweeping the marine +glasses around and examining the country ahead with more than common +interest.</p> + +<p>"Look how Old Thunder-top stands out today!" remarked Frank, turning for +just an instant to glance upward toward the left, where the high +mountain towered, its heavily wooded sides looking as gloomy as ever, +and the white cliffs that made the summit inaccessible to human feet, +appearing almost dazzling in the glittering light of the undimmed +morning sun.</p> + +<p>"And say, there's our old friends, the eagles that had a nest up there, +and gave me such a warm time when we first reached the top." Andy cried, +as he focused his glasses on a sweeping pair of huge birds that were +heading their way, as if meaning to investigate, and find out what +manner of rival this could be, invading their native element.</p> + +<p>"They know too much to bother with an aeroplane by now!" declared Frank, +laughing again. "Why I'm thinking those birds have hardly grown new +feathers in place of the lot they lost that time they fought us so +savagely."</p> + +<p>The memory appeared to amuse his cousin also, for he could be heard +laughing heartily, even above the purr of the now steadily going motor +that sent the propellers whizzing around so rapidly; for there was one +fore and aft, as is the case with all biplanes, the engine being behind +the pilot and his companion.</p> + +<p>"Tell me if you can remember, was that other aeroplane headed straight +up the lake the last you saw it in the early morning light?" Frank +asked.</p> + +<p>"That's right, Frank; but then I couldn't say just how long they kept +along that same course. When those hundreds of old crows came sailing +along on the wind, cawing to beat the band, and going every-which-way, I +lost sight of the biplane. After that it would have to be just guess +work."</p> + +<p>"But we've got a good pointer to start with," insisted Frank. "They +wouldn't be so apt to head toward the south, east or west, because in +those directions there are plenty of towns and villages, and these could +report seeing a strange biplane passing over, so giving the police a +clue. No, chances are ten to one they kept right on toward the north. +And there's where we've got to do all our searching today. We can just +comb the whole district over, and anything that looks like the stolen +aeroplane is sure to catch our attention from this height, don't you +think so, Andy?"</p> + +<p>"I reckon it will, Frank; but the only thing bothers me is that things +may have worked all right with the rascals, and by now they're away off, +so far distant that we'll never in the wide world get in touch with +them, the more the pity."</p> + +<p>"Well, it's never been a habit of ours to own up beaten till we've done +everything under the sun to win out. And Andy, we've only started as +yet. The field is before us, you know, with a whole day's supply of gas +to push us on, if we want to keep going. So I'm not asking any favors, +and expect to do just my level best to find out where the bank robbers +have gone."</p> + +<p>"And if we hunt around a whole lot without getting tabs on the pair, +why, we can drop down somewhere in a town, and get in touch with +Bloomsbury Headquarters. The Chief as much as promised that he'd leave +word there to put us wise to anything that had been learned by way of +the telephone, from other places. And given a clue in that way, we might +take a fresh spurt, you know."</p> + +<p>"Just so, Andy," agreed the other, bending his head to watch how some +part of the machinery was doing its duty; for that is always the weak +link in modern aviation, nearly everything depending on the engine +fulfilling its part perfectly.</p> + +<p>Andy continued to make use of the pair of glasses that magnified objects +in the far distance so wonderfully that a man could have been recognized +easily a mile away, and perhaps much further, if the air were real +clear.</p> + +<p>Now and then he turned them to the right. The beautiful lake always +attracted him very much like a magnet would, whenever he had a chance to +look out over its glistening bosom.</p> + +<p>And there was the little steamer, just as Frank had said; why, he could +even distinguish Todd Pemberton up in the pilothouse, grasping his wheel +and guiding his charge among the shoals that were charted in the +northern end of the lake as dangerous, that is, for green hands at the +tiller or wheel of a boat propelled by sails, steam or gasolene.</p> + +<p>They were moving in a line that would carry them up along the shore, and +consequently every minute they drew nearer the small lake steamer that +was heading toward them.</p> + +<p>Passengers could be seen on its deck, and possibly every eye was glued +just at that particular moment on the aeroplane that was buzzing go +steadily northward; perhaps it might have been the first time some of +these people had ever seen such an interesting object; but in the region +around Bloomsbury it was by now a common sight, with such enterprising +young air pilots as the Bird boys and Percy Carberry in the field almost +every decent day.</p> + +<p>All at once Frank was heard to utter an exclamation.</p> + +<p>"Turn your glasses straight ahead, and see what that can be fluttering +among the bushes at Norton's Point, Andy!" he called out hastily.</p> + +<p>When the other had swung around, and covered the region spoken of, he +quickly gave the desired information.</p> + +<p>"Somebody seems to be shaking a handkerchief or something else white," +he observed. "And it don't look like just waving at the steamer either, +for they do it after a system, as we would signal with wigwag flags. +There, I counted seven times he did it; then comes a halt, and one, two, +three times, another halt; and once more he starts in, this time three, +four, five, and then stops. Now, what do you suppose the fellow means by +that, and who can he be waving to, Frank?"</p> + +<p>"You'd expect it might be some one out on the lake; can you see any +small boat in sight, Andy; or any one waving back from another point?"</p> + +<p>"Not a thing, as far as I can see," replied the boy with the marine +glasses.</p> + +<p>"Suppose you try the steamer, then," suggested Frank, meaningly.</p> + +<p>Immediately Andy gave an exclamation of astonishment.</p> + +<p>"I see a signal moving, Frank, and it seems to be copying the one on +shore," he hastened to remark, excitedly.</p> + +<p>"Where does it come from, the passengers that I saw pushing up against +the rail, and staring at us; are any of them interested, do you think?" +continued Frank, who just then could not turn his head to look, but must +depend on his chum.</p> + +<p>"Well, no," answered Andy, "it seems to come from the pilothouse, and +must be Todd Pemberton, himself."</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 65%;"><br><br> +<a name="CHAPTER_IX"></a><h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> +<br> + +<p>THE PILOT OF THE MERMAID</p> + +<p>"So, it's Todd Pemberton, is it?" remarked Frank, "I think it'll pay us +to slow down a little, and look into this white rag-waving business."</p> + +<p>"Goodness gracious! you can't be thinking that Todd is in touch with the +bank robbers, can you, Frank?" Andy exclaimed, astounded, apparently, at +the very thought of such a thing.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I'm not up to that point of saying anything—yet. But all the same +it's what I call interesting, you know," the other replied; and from +this Andy could easily guess that while Frank might have notions about +the matter, he did not care to commit himself so early in the game.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's so," Andy replied, still having his eyes glued to the +binoculars.</p> + +<p>"What's doing now?" continued Frank.</p> + +<p>"Nothing that I c'n see," replied the other.</p> + +<p>"No more white handkerchiefs waving around the point, eh, Andy?"</p> + +<p>"Not a blessed thing; and Todd's quit too. Guess they've come to some +sort of an understanding. Wish I knew what seven, three, five meant; +something pretty interesting, I'll be bound." Andy went on to mutter, +half to himself.</p> + +<p>"Well, we can only guess, and that's the extent of it," Frank was +saying, in a rather serious tone, as though he believed there might be +more in connection with the little affair than a mere exchange of +civilities.</p> + +<p>"How about Todd Pemberton, Frank?" asked the boy with the glasses.</p> + +<p>"Well, you know him as well as I do, perhaps better," returned his +cousin.</p> + +<p>"I mean, wasn't there once something against him? I know, Frank, that my +guardian signed a paper about getting Todd his position with the +steamboat company this last spring; they always get him to sign +everything going, he's so good-natured and what you call an Easy Mark."</p> + +<p>"Yes, they came to my father too, and he put his name down, I remember. +As near as I can say, it was a petition to ask the company to give Todd +the position of pilot; and stated the belief of all those who signed +that he would make good. He used to be a pilot on Lake Sunrise, and +before that on one of the Great Lakes."</p> + +<p>"But, Frank, why the petition, if he was able to fill the place you'd +think all he had to do was to make application, and then jump in?"</p> + +<p>"Well, it seemed to be pretty generally known about Bloomsbury that Todd +had not always been as straight as he is today; and lots of people +believed he would never hold his place a week; but he's had it all +summer now, and seems to be giving satisfaction, all right," Frank went +on to say.</p> + +<p>"But there was a past, you mean; Todd had gone the pace, and used to +drink and gamble, I suppose. Perhaps, now, he even used to herd with a +tough set. How about that, Frank?"</p> + +<p>"It's so all right. Todd got down pretty low, and was even a hobo, I +heard, before he took a brace, and came back to Bloomsbury to make a man +of himself again."</p> + +<p>"Gee! I'm real sorry to hear that," Andy muttered.</p> + +<p>"What? That he reformed?" demanded the cousin, in pretended surprise.</p> + +<p>"Shucks! no; but about his having been a tramp; because, don't you see, +Frank, it makes things look black for Todd. Remember, don't you, about +what the Chief said when he spoke of the yeggs knowing so much about +things, that he thought they must have had inside information; and that +somebody familiar with Bloomsbury ways helped them figure it all out. +Looks bad for Todd, that's what, Frank."</p> + +<p>To hear Andy talk you would think that the party in question must have +been a personal friend, at least, when, in truth, he only knew Todd +Pemberton to speak to, as he did a thousand other people in and around +the home town.</p> + +<p>"By that you mean you're afraid he's fallen in with some old companions +in crime and been tempted, or forced to join them in this raid on the +bank?" was the way Frank put the matter direct.</p> + +<p>"You've covered what I do believe, as sure as my name's Andy Bird."</p> + +<p>"Well, let me say that I think the same way you do," Frank went on to +remark.</p> + +<p>"Good!" cried Andy, in a delighted tone. "Sometimes we agree, and again +we have different minds; but in this case it looks like we might be on +the same raft."</p> + +<p>"Take another good squint at the point, Andy, and see if you can pick up +that man again, the fellow who was doing all that tall Wigwagging."</p> + +<p>"I'm looking, Frank."</p> + +<p>"What d'ye see there now?" the other continued.</p> + +<p>"Nothing—that is, there are stones, and moss, and trees, and perhaps +birds flying around this way and that; but never the first sign of a +human being can I discover anywhere, Frank."</p> + +<p>"Still, we know there's one man there at least, perhaps a pair of them +hiding somewhere around that desolate place. Why, Norton's Point is, I +guess, about the meanest and loneliest place of all the Disston Swamp +lumber company. Nobody hardly ever goes there except to shoot snipe and +woodcock in the fall, and yet we happen to know there's one person +hiding out there, and that he knows Todd Pemberton, for they've been +exchanging signals through the wigwag code."</p> + +<p>"Looks suspicious, Frank, don't you think?"</p> + +<p>"Looks like it might pay to investigate a little closer, Andy."</p> + +<p>They were by this time passing over the identical strip of country where +Andy had watched the signal waving. By looking almost directly down, he +could see between the tall trees as only an aviator ever has a chance of +doing.</p> + +<p>"You know what I'm hoping to discover, Frank?" he remarked as he +continued to scan every part that was at all exposed by openings among +the trees.</p> + +<p>"Percy's lost biplane, I take it," came the prompt reply.</p> + +<p>"Yes, because they couldn't very well have landed without a certain +amount of open space. We know how hard it is to drop into a hole, and +worse still to climb up out of one. Didn't we have the toughest of times +down there in that South American forest finding open spots where we +could land with some chance of ever getting out again, without cutting +trees down that were as big around as a young house?"</p> + +<p>"But I don't hear you shouting out that you've made any sort of +discovery, up to now, Andy?"</p> + +<p>"Well, no, for a fact I haven't. But Frank, I wish you could take the +glass and let me hold the wheel for a minute."</p> + +<p>"You can tell me just as well, I think," replied the other.</p> + +<p>"It's about the sandy beach in front of the point," remarked Andy.</p> + +<p>"What ails it then?" Frank inquired, seeing his cousin hesitate.</p> + +<p>"Why," Andy went on to say, "you know how powerful this glass is, and +how it shows up the smallest of things when the sun is just right? It's +doing that now. I can look down on the sand spit at the point; and for a +lonely spot where hardly a man ever comes from November to June, it +looks pretty well trampled up to me."</p> + +<p>"Trampled by men or animals?" the pilot inquired.</p> + +<p>"I think by two-legged animals," answered the one who held the powerful +lenses to his young eyes. "And it struck me that perhaps the biplane +came down right there early this morning. It was headed this way when I +saw it, and not so very high up; though that flock of crazy crows +knocked me out of watching it for some times."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean it fell there; that they had an accident of some kind, +Andy?"</p> + +<p>"Might be that; and then, again, perhaps they dropped down on purpose; +p'raps they mean to have another warm session around Bloomsbury before +skipping out of this section for good. With the aeroplane to make a +quick get-away, they might think of some rich haul they want to gather +in. Am I away off in my guess, Frank, or do you kind of lean the same +way?"</p> + +<p>"I think you are getting pretty close to the truth, Andy, and that's a +fact," replied the other. "But it would clinch it if you could only +glimpse the biplane hidden away somewhere down there under the brush or +the trees."</p> + +<p>"That's what I've been hoping for," returned Andy, a little fretfully, +"but so far without meeting any success that you could notice. But what +ought we to do about it, Frank?"</p> + +<p>"Go on, and take a wide sweep around," came the steady reply. "Perhaps +we might run across another leading clue, and then this one would look +foolish. We'd be sorry then, that we thought so bad of Todd. Perhaps, +after all, he was only making signals to one of the men connected with +the logging camp, up on the Point for something or other."</p> + +<p>He allowed the motor to work at the reduced speed that it had been +carrying on ever since quitting the home field, where the workshop and +the hangar stood. Andy still continued to use the glasses, as though he +had not quite given up all hope of making some sort of discovery.</p> + +<p>Once, however, they had left the northern end of the lovely lake behind +them for good, and only the forest lay below, Frank quickened matters +somewhat. Truth to tell, he hardly knew what to think, and whether what +they had witnessed could really have any bearing on the solution of the +puzzle or not.</p> + +<p>Certainly if the hunt was only kept up in automobiles, that required +fairly decent roads to allow of their getting along, there was not much +chance of the authorities ever discovering the concealed hobo thieves; +for they could not get within a mile of the shore up there at Norton's +Point by such methods. The only way it could be reached was by boat; or +possibly through the means of an aeroplane, such as the Bird boys were +now using. Few places but could be spied upon, when one had the means +for passing over the most inaccessible thickets and rocky hills.</p> + +<p>After a time they had gone many miles. Occasionally a small hamlet was +seen below; and then would come once more the woods that extended over +such a large space of territory in this part of the country. This was +generally because of the swampy nature of the ground, which prevented +farming operations being carried on, while the difficulty of getting the +logs out of the bogs had deterred lumbering thus far.</p> + +<p>Andy had done his part of the work faithfully. He had scoured the +territory over which they passed, and never did a break occur, however +small, but he clapped his eyes upon it, and examined the open space +thoroughly.</p> + +<p>"There's Rockford ahead, and we've passed over the whole stretch of +swamp and forest. Suppose, now, we dropped down on the commons, and get +Bloomsbury on the long distance phone; perhaps they might have some news +they could give us," and as Andy at once agreed to the proposal, for he +was thirsty anyhow, and wanted a drink of soda water the worst kind, +Frank began to descend gracefully.</p> + +<p>They had about half the population of the place gaping at them as they +finally landed on the big green. Frank asked his cousin to stay by the +machine while he sought police headquarters, and asked to get in touch +with the home town.</p> + +<p>He had no sooner made the connection, and heard some one answer him +after he told who he was, when there was sent along the wire some +information that rather gave Frank a shock, because of its nature, and +the fact that it seemed to fully dispose of the theory he and his cousin +had already formed.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 65%;"><br><br> +<a name="CHAPTER_X"></a><h2>CHAPTER X</h2> +<br> + +<p>HEARD OVER THE WIRE</p> + +<p>Luckily the center of interest remained around the odd looking aeroplane +with the metal pontoons underneath its body, so that Frank was allowed +to walk away almost unnoticed, when he had secured the important +information he inquired for, and which was leading him to the drug store +nearest the town green.</p> + +<p>True, an aviator had landed in Rockford on one or two occasions, for +some reason or other, in times past. Since the Bird boys could not +remember having done so, possibly it may have been Percy Carberry, +anxious to enjoy the stares of the good people, and pose as a great +fellow.</p> + +<p>But this was a type of air machine with which none of them were +familiar; and as so much space was being taken up even in the local +papers with the accounts of the wonderful doings of daring navigators of +the upper currents, it was only natural that some bright boy should +speedily guess what manner of craft the chance visitor to Rockford must +be.</p> + +<p>"Hey! that's a hyderplane, mister, ain't it?" demanded one sharp-eyed +chap, after he had glimpsed the construction of the aluminum pontoons +that were just kept from contact with the ground by the bicycle wheels.</p> + +<p>"Have you ever seen one before?" asked Andy, desirous of keeping up +friendly relations with the crowd, for he knew how important that might +prove, since, as yet, no man wearing a blue uniform had put in an +appearance; and should any hoodlum choose to play "rough house," or try +to be too familiar with the apparatus, there was always a chance that +some damage might be done.</p> + +<p>"No, I ain't, but I seen a picture of that 'ere Coffyn feller, a-flyin' +down on the Hudson river nigh New York; and she looked a heap like this +here shebang," came the quick response.</p> + +<p>"Well, you guessed right that time, for that is what it is called, a +hydroplane; because it can be navigated on the water as well as in the +air. And if you'll please stand back, so as not to bother with anything, +because the least handling may put the whole machine out of tune, I'll +be glad to tell you something about how we manage to use it as a boat."</p> + +<p>Andy knew how to manage, and he exerted himself to entertain the crowd +while Frank was absent, keeping their interest aroused by little +stories of things that had happened to birdmen in recent times, and +which were of course well known to him, from the fact that both the +cousins kept in close touch with all that went on in the world of +aviation.</p> + +<p>All the while Andy was keeping one anxious eye out for the sign of a +blue uniform and brass buttons, while new additions kept arriving +constantly to swell the eager crowd gathered on the park green.</p> + +<p>In the end he was vastly relieved to discover a policeman hurrying up, +looking as serious as though he expected to discover a fight, or two +youngsters matching pet roosters, to the delight of the gathered host; +for since the flying machine lay on the ground it was mostly concealed +from his view; and he would never have known what it was anyway.</p> + +<p>Of course, when he arrived on the scene and took command Andy quickly +gained his favor by a little subtle flattery; and after that felt that +he was, as he himself expressed it, "on Easy Street."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Frank had proceeded direct to the drugstore on the corner, +about two blocks away from the end of the green, where they had told +him he could talk over the long distance phone with Bloomsbury.</p> + +<p>He was pleased to find that they had a regular booth in the store; for +he knew of numerous cases where the phone simply stood on a little +stand, and everybody could hear what the subject of the talk might be, +especially one side of it.</p> + +<p>Once closeted in the booth he hastened to ask for connection with Police +Headquarters at Bloomsbury. There was some little delay, as though these +long distance calls might be of rare occurrence in the local Central; +but finally he received notice that connection had been made, and he was +at liberty to start his message.</p> + +<p>"Hello! this Bloomsbury?" Frank asked first of all in a cautious way.</p> + +<p>"Yes," came the reply, distinctly enough.</p> + +<p>"And is this Police Headquarters?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"This is Frank Bird speaking and we are over in Rockford; get that?" +Frank continued.</p> + +<p>"Yes," again came the reply from the party at the other end.</p> + +<p>"Chief Waller asked us before we left Bloomsbury to keep in touch with +Headquarters, and that you would supply us with any new information +that might come to hand while we scoured the country overhead, looking +for signs of the men who robbed the Bloomsbury bank last night, and +escaped in Percy Carberry's biplane. Who is this I am talking to, +please?"</p> + +<p>"Officer Green, Frank."</p> + +<p>"Oh! is that you, Joe; I didn't recognize your voice over the wire," +Frank went on to say. "You heard what the Chief said about giving us the +latest news, didn't you, Joe?"</p> + +<p>"I certain did, Frank," answered the man at the other end of the wire.</p> + +<p>"We've covered quite a large territory up to now, and think we've run +across a clue; but we want to make sure before putting the bloodhounds +of the law on the scent. Get that?"</p> + +<p>Frank was wise to the fact that Officer Green took himself and his +position on the local police force very seriously. True, he had never +done anything very great, to distinguish himself, beyond once stopping a +runaway horse that some people said was too decrepit to have gone twenty +paces further; and rescuing a little pet dog that had fallen into the +lake from a wharf; but then he believed in himself; and read up all the +thrilling stories of police achievements that were published in the New +York papers, satisfied that sooner or later the day was bound to come +when he would be able to prove himself a grand hero.</p> + +<p>And that was just why artful Frank used that phrase "bloodhounds of the +law," for he knew that it would cause Joe Green to puff up with pride, +and feel more kindly disposed than ever toward the speaker.</p> + +<p>He gauged matters exactly right, too, it seemed; for when the police +officer spoke again it was with additional eagerness.</p> + +<p>"Good for you, Frank; all Bloomsbury expects the Bird boys to do the old +town proud again. Many the time have you done it in the past, we all +know. And when you feel dead sure that you've got track of the desprit +villains who looted our town bank, all you have to do is to give the +police the signal, and they'll throw a drag-net around the hang-out of +the yeggs. That's what we're here for; that's what we draw our salaries +for; to protect the citizens of Bloomsbury against danger by fire, +flood, robbers and the like."</p> + +<p>Frank knew only too well how Officer Green liked to talk, especially +when once started on the subject of his exalted office; and accordingly +he thought it time to cut him short, before he could get launched on the +sea of police duties.</p> + +<p>"Tell me, have you learned anything new since we left?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, we've just had a man in here, who had heard about the +robbery, and that it was suspected the thieves had escaped by means of +the biplane belonging to the Carberry boy. He thought as how we might be +glad to know that he'd sighted a flying machine just after daybreak."</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, that ought to be an important piece of news," remarked Frank, +wondering whether it would corroborate that which the farm hand, +Felix Boggs, had already contributed to the fund of knowledge concerning +the movements of the fleeing yeggmen.</p> + +<p>"I thought it was; and I'm only waiting right now to forward it to the +Chief, as soon as he calls me on the wire from Hazenhurst, or some other +place where he's apt to turn Up," came over the wire from the home town.</p> + +<p>"Don't cut me off, yet, Central!" called out Frank, hastily, as he +thought he detected an uneasy movement, which was doubtless a sigh given +by the girl, who possibly had her ear to the wire, drinking in what was +being said: "I'm not near done talking yet. Hello! Joe!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'm here, Frank; what more do you want to ask me?" came from miles +away; and in imagination he could see Officer Green crouched at the +telephone stand, as he remembered it at Police Headquarters in +Bloomsbury, feeling the importance of his relations with the public as a +genuine guardian of the peace.</p> + +<p>"Why, it's of considerable importance to us to know in which direction +the aeroplane was going at the time this party sighted it," Frank went +on to say, "and I hope he told you that."</p> + +<p>"Which he did without my asking," replied Officer Green, quickly, +"though you may be sure I would have done the same before letting him +leave, because I was on to the fact that it would be a pretty good +pointer."</p> + +<p>"Oh! he thought of it himself, did he?" the young aviator shot back, +"well, that was pretty bright of him, and shows that he was a fellow to +take notice. And now, please tell me what he said about the direction in +which the biplane was headed, at the last instant he could see it far +away in the distance."</p> + +<p>"Exactly southwest, Frank!"</p> + +<p>This gave Frank a sudden jar, because it upset the theories he and Andy +had been forming concerning the escaping bank robbers. They had believed +the two men had gone almost directly north!</p> + +<p>"Southwest, you say, Joe?" he asked, wishing to make assurance doubly +sure.</p> + +<p>"He said exactly southwest; and as he kept repeating that word a number +of times there isn't a bit of chance that I'd get it mixed. You can +depend on it, Frank, and if you're away up at Rockford, seems to me +you'll have to make a big change of base right soon, if you want to get +in touch with them raskils."</p> + +<p>Frank's mind was in somewhat of a whirl. He wondered whether the farm +hand, Felix Boggs, could have been mistaken in what he had said; though +Andy, too, had seen the biplane, and noted the direction of its flight. +But perhaps this farmer, or whoever he might turn out to be, had +discovered the fugitive flying machine at a much later time, after the +two men had changed the course of their flight.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you might as well tell me who the party was from whom you got +your news, Joe," he remarked; though without any particular object in +view, since he could hardly expect to hunt the other up, and ask more +questions.</p> + +<p>And then came the answer, that gave Frank quite a thrill, as he grasped +the peculiar significance of it all.</p> + +<p>"Why, you know him all right, Frank," said Officer Green, glibly, "he's +the pilot of the little lake steamer, and his name's Todd Pemberton!"</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 65%;"><br><br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XI"></a><h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> +<br> + +<p>COMPARING NOTES</p> + +<p>"He must have hurried up to Headquarters, then, as soon as he landed, +because we saw the Mermaid crossing the northern end of the lake, bound +for the lumber camp, before heading for Bloomsbury. How about it, Joe?" +Frank went on to ask, as soon as he had recovered from his surprise +after hearing that particular name mentioned.</p> + +<p>"Said he heard about the robbery," came over the wire in Officer Green's +ponderous tones; "and the fact of the raskils skipping out with the +Carberry boy's biplane, as soon as he put foot ashore; and thinking that +the police might like to know what he had seen, he just ran all the way +here."</p> + +<p>"Which I take it was mighty thoughtful of Todd," declared Frank, drily; +but if he spoke sarcastically the fact was not known to the man at the +other end.</p> + +<p>"I told him so, and complimented him on his zeal in assisting the course +of justice," the other continued, "which was all the more remarkable, +you know, Frank, because, to tell the truth, Todd himself was once a bad +egg, until he reformed, and got his present job. It does him great +credit, sure it does."</p> + +<p>"He went away after letting you know that if you hoped to capture the +thieves you'd have to chase southwest, and not north, didn't he, Joe?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! yes, about ten minutes ago, I reckon. But I assured him that if we +did succeed in capturing the rogues he would not be forgotten in the +division of the reward that was sure to be offered by the bank for +the recovery of the money and securities that were taken, not to speak +of the five hundred young Carberry has said he would pay for the +recovery of his biplane and the arrest of the thieves."</p> + +<p>"That was nice of you, Joe; but only what might be expected because your +heart is as big as a bushel basket," Frank went on to say, "and when you +told Todd that, how did he take it?"</p> + +<p>"Why, he just chuckled, and looked at me kind of funny, and said he +never hoped to take any of the hard-earned reward money that the police +were justly entitled to because of their activities," replied the other.</p> + +<p>"It's plain to be seen that Todd is a generous fellow. But I'm obliged +to you, Joe, for giving me this information, because, you see, we've now +got some foundation to build on. Goodbye, Joe!"</p> + +<p>With that Frank rang off. He knew that he might chat with the gossipy +police officer in Bloomsbury for at least fifteen minutes, but what was +the use, when he already knew all the other had to tell?</p> + +<p>And the news that had come over the wire was of considerable importance, +too. He smiled as he hurried out of the drugstore, not even waiting to +quench his thirst at the soda fountain, though a short time before he, +as well as Andy, had complained of feeling so exceedingly dry; but then, +all that was now forgotten in this excitement connected with the latest +development in the robbery case.</p> + +<p>It was back to the village green, now, with Frank.</p> + +<p>The crowd was greater than ever, and he quickly saw there would be no +opportunity for any communication between himself and his cousin until +they had left for the upper realms, where, surrounded only by silence, +they could converse while the busy motor hummed and the aeroplane headed +as they willed, either high above the hills, or skirting the tops of +the forest trees.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, Frank addressed himself to the arduous task of getting away +without any mishap. He, as well as Andy, had long since learned that it +is the part of wisdom to gain the good will of a curious crowd. In that +manner many friends are raised up, who are only too willing to lend a +helping hand.</p> + +<p>He quickly selected half a dozen fellows who looked as though they might +be of more than ordinary importance among the boys of Rock-ford. These +he particularly picked out, and asked them to assist the police officer +to keep the crowd back until they could get a good start, at the same +time explaining that a clear passage would have to be made ahead, and +that anyone getting in the way might not only be seriously injured, but +wreck the machine as well.</p> + +<p>Proud to have been thus honored, the six boys proceeded to push back the +gaping crowd and when Frank gave the word, also assisted in starting the +hydroplane on its way.</p> + +<p>A salvo of loud cheers rang out when they started, and this burst into a +furious chorus as the well balanced aeroplane presently left the ground +to start upward into the air.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad that's over with," said Andy, when they were safely off the +ground, and the shouts of Rockford's enthusiastic population began to +grow fainter in the distance.</p> + +<p>"Same here," echoed Frank, "you never know what will happen when a crowd +is pushing all around you, every fellow eager to just say he had hold of +a flying machine. There's always one or two of the lot ready to hang on +and risk their lives just to see how it feels to be carried up on an +aeroplane. They're the kind I'm most afraid of."</p> + +<p>"Well, did you get Police Headquarters in Bloomsbury, Frank?"</p> + +<p>"No trouble about that; and our old friend, Officer Green, was in charge +during the absence of the Chief," the other Bird boy answered.</p> + +<p>"Anything new developed since we left?" asked Andy.</p> + +<p>"Just one thing, and Joe thought it meant a whole lot," Frank went on to +say.</p> + +<p>"Which was what?" inquired the other.</p> + +<p>"A man came hurrying in and told how he had seen a flying machine +containing two parties just after daybreak, and making directly toward +the southwest, Andy. What do you think of that now for news?"</p> + +<p>His cousin gave a whistle.</p> + +<p>"Whew! important, if true!" he vouchsafed, tersely.</p> + +<p>"That sounds as if you had some trouble believing it?" chuckled Frank.</p> + +<p>"Well, considering what I saw myself, I'd have to know the name of this +party first, before I'd believe anything he said," Andy went on.</p> + +<p>"Oh! You know him, alright; fact is, we were speaking of the same not a +great while back," Frank observed, quietly.</p> + +<p>"Don't make me start in guessing, Frank, because we've been talking of a +dozen people; but tell me right out who it is," Andy pleaded.</p> + +<p>"The pilot of the Mermaid, Andy!"</p> + +<p>"Gee! Do you mean Todd Pemberton?" exclaimed the other.</p> + +<p>"Just him and no one else. Why, he was that anxious to let the police +know he had seen an aeroplane steering away straight into the southwest +early this morning, that as soon as he warped his boat to the wharf, +Todd, like a public-spirited citizen, hiked away for Headquarters as +fast as he could run, hardly waiting long enough to understand about the +bank being robbed, and Percy's biplane being used by the thieves as a +means of making a quick get-away."</p> + +<p>Andy turned his head and looked in his cousin's face.</p> + +<p>"Public-spirited citizen go hang!" he said, contemptuously. "After what +we saw, Frank, it's easy for us to understand just what it was made Todd +want the police to do all their hunting away off in the southwest."</p> + +<p>"Yes, what do you think was his object?" asked Frank, as he held the +aeroplane just about five hundred feet above the level ground, covered +by forests, as in most places around to the north of Bloomsbury, though +occasionally they ran across farms that looked like oases in the +dessert.</p> + +<p>"Why, that's as plain as the nose on my face," replied Andy, "and nobody +ever had any trouble about seeing that, I guess. Todd wanted to get in a +little bit of assistance for his friends, the hoboes who looted the bank; +and he could do them the best thing ever by turning suspicion in nearly +the opposite quarter. If Chief Waller could be assured that the last +seen of the biplane before it vanished in the distance it was heading +into the southwest, of course he'd take all his men off in that +direction; and the bank robbers, hiding perhaps around the northern end +of Lake Sunrise, would be free to do whatever they wanted. Do I hit +about the same guess that you do, Frank?"</p> + +<p>"You've just echoed what I had in mind," returned his cousin, "only +I've had more time to think it over, and perhaps gone a little further +than you could."</p> + +<p>"As how?" demanded the other, promptly, just as Frank knew he would.</p> + +<p>"Why, you know, it struck us as queer that these fellows should want to +hang out within twenty miles of the town where they'd just made a +successful raid on the bank. It would stand to reason that they'd be +only too glad to cut for it, after getting possession of Percy's fine +new aeroplane, and by keeping on north, reach Lake Ontario, and perhaps +fly across to Canada, where they'd be safe."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sure; we talked that over before, Frank, and came to the +conclusion that either they'd met with some sort of accident to the +biplane, and had to hold over till the fellow who used to be an aviator +repaired the same; or else that they had some other robbery in mind, and +wanted to make a double killing of it before skipping out."</p> + +<p>"All right. You can see, then, that if Chief Waller and about all his +men got on a warm clue that led them off to the southwest for a day or +so, it would leave things open for the carrying out of this second +scheme!"</p> + +<p>When Andy heard his cousin say this so gravely he seemed more startled +than ever.</p> + +<p>"Say, I believe you've gone and struck the truth just as you nearly +always do, old fellow, not by luck, but by figuring it out. To get the +coast clear, then, this sly Todd Pemberton means to go on bringing in +important news, and keeping poor old Chief Waller worked up to top-notch +speed, chasing around down there after shadows! Yes, that must be the +game they've got in hand; and perhaps that's what all those waves of +handkerchiefs meant between the pilot of the little Mermaid, and the +fellow we couldn't see, who was hidden in the bushes on Norton's Point."</p> + +<p>"He was undoubtedly there just to give Todd the high sign when the boat +passed. Both of us spoke of the fact that we'd never known the steamboat +to keep so far north when making the run from Cranford, across the lake, +up to the lumber camp on our northwest side. But now we can understand +why; he wanted to make sure his partners in crime were ready for him to +do his little share in the game; which is to send the police on a wild +goose chase and leave Bloomsbury next to unprotected tonight."</p> + +<p>"But whatever in the wide world, Frank, do you think they mean to try +next?"</p> + +<p>"I couldn't guess in a year," was the reply of the boy who manipulated +the levers of the hydroplane so dextrously. "It might be any one of a +dozen or two games. The bank isn't the only institution in Bloomsbury +carrying a lot of money in the safe. And then there are several rich men +we happen to know, who keep a little fortune about the house, in the way +of money, jewelry, or curios. For all we know, these yeggs may even have +an eye on your house or mine, because they could make a pretty good haul +there."</p> + +<p>"Whew!" was all Andy said just then; but his mind was undoubtedly filled +with startling ideas.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 65%;"><br><br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XII"></a><h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> +<br> + +<p>AT THE HOSKINS FARM</p> + +<p>"Well," Andy went on to remark, presently, "I see you are turning back +again in the direction of the head of the lake. I hope, Frank, you don't +mean to go all the way to Bloomsbury, and put the police in possession +of the few facts we've succeeded in picking up."</p> + +<p>"That was not my calculation at all," replied the other, "in the first +place, we suspect a good deal, but up to now we haven't got very much +positive evidence on which to found a case. I'd like to know a little +more before I get the Chief on the wire, and put him wise."</p> + +<p>"Then when we get near the northern end of the lake perhaps you'll think +it best to make a landing somewhere, and prowl around on foot, finding +out what we can," Andy, continued eagerly; for he had become much worked +up by this time, and was hoping that fortune would be as kind to them as +on a previous occasion, which all Bloomsbury remembered very well.</p> + +<p>"If we can only find a decent opening where we could make a get-away +again, that is the only thing that bothers me," Frank replied.</p> + +<p>"Now, I remember noticing a field near what seemed to be a lonely +farmhouse; in fact there were a number of open places there, and they +seemed to have Canada thistles growing in clumps, all a-bloom, as if the +farmer had given up cultivating, and let things just go to rack and +ruin. I was never up there myself, but from what I've heard my father +say, I rather think that must be the Hoskins place. They say he +consulted some fortune teller a couple of years ago, who told him he +would some day discover a gold mine on his property that would make him +a millionaire; and ever since the farmer has spent about all his time +digging here and there, but up to now without any success at all."</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, I remember hearing a lot about the queer old farmer myself," +Frank went on to say. "He's got a wife, and a half-grown daughter named +Sallie. I met her at a country dance last winter, and she's a pretty +nice sort of a girl. Now, we've been on the move a good while, Andy, and +perhaps we might manage to make the Hoskins farm around the dinner +hour."</p> + +<p>"A bully good idea, too, Frank, and don't you forget it!" cried the +other, with considerable show of enthusiasm. "Now, I just bolted what +little breakfast I got this morning, and already I feel hungry enough to +eat nearly anything. And speaking generally, these country people do set +a great table; though I don't know how it will be with the Hoskins, +because, if they've been neglecting their farm to chase around after +rainbows, they probably won't be any too flush with supplies. But any +port in a storm, and I guess we'll be able to get filled up; if only we +can make a landing, and find the farm."</p> + +<p>"As I figure it out, Hoskins' place wouldn't be over a mile or so +directly above Norton's Point, Andy," the pilot of the expedition +continued, thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"Yes," Andy said, encouragingly.</p> + +<p>"And perhaps, now, we might happen to run on some sort of a little clue +there. For instance, one of those yeggmen may have wandered around, and +bought some eggs or milk from the farmer's folks; because, if they've +been camping out in the woods, they've had to eat all the while, you +know."</p> + +<p>"A good idea, Frank; and we'll ask, if we're lucky enough to happen +around the lonely farm about meal time."</p> + +<p>"I'm going to make it a point to be there, and as we've got some time +to kill meanwhile, let's hop over to that nice landingplace at the foot +of old Thunder top, and overhaul the machine again. There are a few +things I'd like to tinker with, because I'm not quite pleased with the +way they work; and you know, Andy, I'm a regular crank about having a +motor run like a watch."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm getting that way mighty fast, thanks to your hints, and the +knowledge of how it pays, when you're taking your life in your hands +every time you go up in one of these heavier-than-air outfits," was what +the other Bird boy observed, with what was a thoughtful look, for him; +because, as a rule, Andy appeared to be a merry chap, and laughing much +of the time.</p> + +<p>Within half an hour they had successfully landed at the place indicated, +and which had witnessed the coming and going of the young aeronauts on +numerous occasions.</p> + +<p>Here at least they could remain and take things easy while waiting for +the morning to slip along, so that eleven would roll around. Little +danger of their being bothered by curious persons here; indeed, the boys +had never yet known a solitary man or boy to come around the place.</p> + +<p>They could look up while lying there on their backs, and watch the +fleecy clouds sailing swiftly past the lofty crown of the rocky +mountain. And how vividly there came into their minds memories of lively +times which they themselves had experienced up there on the summit of +old Thunder top.</p> + +<p>They spoke of them now, as they lay stretched out on the soft turf, and +watched the two white headed eagles soaring far up in the blue heavens, +around and around in circles, without ever seeming to flap their great +wings.</p> + +<p>Once the young aviators had engaged in a terrible conflict with those +two mighty birds, on the crown of the mountain, where they had landed +with their aeroplane, and been looked upon as intruders by the eagles, +possibly under the belief that they entertained hostile intentions +toward the fledglings in their nest that was built amidst the crags, +close to the tip of the lofty peak.</p> + +<p>Frank and Andy often spoke of that thrilling episode, but never without +some sort of little shiver, because it had been a serious time with them +since one blow from those powerful wings might have toppled them over +the edge of the dizzy height, and sent them to their deaths.</p> + +<p>But they had succeeded in beating their feather antagonists off by the +aid of clubs which they wielded with vigor; and after the eagles learned +that no harm was intended to their young by these bold navigators of the +upper air currents, they came to have more respect for the strange +winged thing that came humming up from the earth on more than one +occasion.</p> + +<p>When eleven o'clock came around, the boys were off again, and headed +toward the northern end of the lake.</p> + +<p>Of course they kept close down to the treetops, because, once they +discovered the opening, they would wish to drop into it as easily as +possible.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Andy, who was on the lookout, while Frank paid more attention +to the easy working of the motor, and the steering of the hydroplane, +uttered an exclamation of satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"I see it, dead ahead!" he remarked, in a satisfied tone. "We made a bee +line to the place from the foot of the mountain, Frank. And unless I'm +away off in my guess, the farmhouse lies over yonder beyond the trees; +so nobody's apt to see us come down; and we can make any sort of yarn we +want, to explain just why we're here right now."</p> + +<p>"We can do that all right, without telling anything that isn't so," +replied the other aviator. "The farmer doesn't know us, though Sallie +will, and on that account we must be careful what we say. But the +dinner's the main thing just now. And at the same time we'll try and +pick up a little information, if Farmer Hoskins happens to know anything +that would interest two fellows of our stamp."</p> + +<p>He passed over the opening once, to make sure that it contained all the +necessary requisites for a successful landing, and also a launching of +the airship. Then, making a graceful sweep back again, Frank allowed the +aeroplane to drop lightly to the ground. It landed in almost the center +of the field, and both boys saw that they might get away again without a +great amount of trouble.</p> + +<p>"Fine!" was the comment of the pilot, as he jumped to the ground, and +bent over to detach some part of the machinery without which the motor, +as Andy always said, "would not move worth a cent." This he often took +with him, just as a chauffeur might the spark plug of an automobile, +rendering it helpless unless the would-be thief were prepared to supply +the deficiency off-hand, which was a remote possibility that never +worried Frank.</p> + +<p>"Now for grub!" announced the hungry Andy, leading off in the direction +where he had reason to believe the farmhouse lay; Frank always declared +that Andy had a most wonderful nose for a meal that was preparing, and +could spot a camp a mile away just by the smell of frying onions, or +coffee cooking.</p> + +<p>At any rate he proved to be a successful pilot on the present occasion, +for in a short time they were passing through an abandoned grain field +where the bees and butterflies were swarming about the many lavender +colored flowers of the great clumps of thistles; and the smoke from the +farmhouse kitchen arose just over a little knoll.</p> + +<p>"Told you so," said Andy, as they drew near the house, and caught +fragrant odors of cooking in the air.</p> + +<p>Upon their knocking a girl came to the open door, and recognized Frank +immediately as a boy she had met at the country dance the preceding +winter. But nothing she said would indicate that the Hoskins, living +here away from the world as they did, with the head of the house +spending all his time hunting for that treasure-trove he still believed +in, had heard anything to speak of about the wonderful things the Bird +boys had been doing lately.</p> + +<p>Frank was glad of this, and he just casually mentioned that they +chanced to find themselves near the farm, and wondered if they could get +dinner there.</p> + +<p>So the good housewife was brought out, and with true country hospitality +she immediately invited both boys to sit down with them, although saying +that they were not as well supplied with the good things that used to be +seen on their table before father took to boring those horrid holes all +over the place, thinking to strike a coal vein, or perhaps a silver +mine.</p> + +<p>He was off now, and would not show up until night, for the farm was one +of vast dimensions, and covered miles of territory.</p> + +<p>"But we have a boarder," said Sallie, as they sat down at the table. +"Sometimes he's here to meals, and again he gets so far away chasing his +butterflies that he just carries what he calls a snack in his pocket. +Such a queer little man he is too, with his brown glasses on, and always +running this way and that with his little net in which he captures the +butterflies that come to the thistles on our old barren fields. Perhaps +he'll turn up while you're here. I'd like you to meet Professor +Whitesides, who is from a big college, he tells us, and spending his +vacation in the way he likes. Sometimes I think he's a little off up +here," and she touched her head as she said this, "and that perhaps he +got hurt worse than he thinks, the time he met with the accident that +crippled his arm."</p> + +<p>Somehow Andy looked up when he heard about that broken arm to find his +cousin giving him the wink, while his eyebrows were elevated in a +suggestive way, just as much as to say:</p> + +<p>"Now, here's something mighty interesting already that would pay us to +look into; because we know of another fellow who is troubled with a +crippled arm and his name happens to be Casper Blue!"</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 65%;"><br><br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XIII"></a><h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> +<br> + +<p>THE BUTTERFLY COLLECTOR</p> + +<p>The dinner passed off without the odd little professor showing up, +although Sallie said it was nothing unusual for him, and that he was +liable to appear at any time, carrying his little white hand-net, and a +small handbag in which he claimed to keep the trophies of the chase that +had been run down during his last campaign.</p> + +<p>Frank wanted to get a chance to confer with his chum, and as soon as he +could conveniently withdraw from the table, giving Andy a nod, he went +out on the porch where he could look down the lane that led to the poor +road, which in turn, after many trials and tribulations merged into the +main pike.</p> + +<p>Andy joined him there a minute later, with a question in his eye.</p> + +<p>"Professor Whitesides!" was what Frank remarked.</p> + +<p>"And a butterfly collector at that!" Andy went on to say, with cutting +sarcasm.</p> + +<p>"That sounds pretty rich, to me," his cousin continued. "I wonder, now, +could it be possible that the other man we've heard of lately, Casper +Blue, is playing a smart trick on these honest people, who would never +dream that he could be anything else than he claimed."</p> + +<p>"It would give him a splendid chance to wander around just whenever and +wherever he wanted to go, and nobody to ask questions. Then, when he got +hungry, why, he could drop in at the farm. Perhaps he don't like camping +out as well as the other fellow; perhaps his health is too delicate to +stand roughing it. Or he might have any one of a dozen other reasons for +carrying on this way; always providing that this is Casper Blue."</p> + +<p>Andy was brimful of excitement. His manner would forcibly remind one of +the nervous tension that seizes upon the hounds when the scent grows +strong, and they anticipate coming in sight of their quarry at any +moment.</p> + +<p>"We're taking a good deal for granted, seems to me," remarked Frank.</p> + +<p>"Of course, but then see how queer it is that this man who calls himself +a college professor, and collector of bugs and butterflies, should just +happen to drop in here at the Hoskins farm, where the thistles grow so +wild, and the moths and other things are to be found by thousands. We +never heard of him in town, that I can remember. And then he's small in +size; together with a stiff arm, that was injured in an accident; well, +wasn't Casper Blue knocked out of his job as an air pilot by his arm +failing him when he had to handle the levers like a flash, or have his +aeroplane turn upside-down, Frank? I tell you I just feel dead sure it's +our man, and that we've found the clue we want the first thing."</p> + +<p>"Well, if we could manage to get a peep into his room perhaps we would +run across something worth while?" Frank suggested.</p> + +<p>"We might pretend to be deeply interested in butterflies ourselves," +remarked Andy, "even if we don't really know one kind from another; and +perhaps, if you gave Sallie a sly hint that you'd be tickled to see what +sort of a collection her professor has with him, she'd let us look in +his room."</p> + +<p>"We'll make the try, anyhow," said Frank, firmly.</p> + +<p>"But think of this Casper Blue being able to carry out the part of a +learned professor, would you? That is something most yeggmen would find +a pretty hard proposition, don't you say, Frank?"</p> + +<p>"Well, stop and think a little, Andy," was the other's reply to this. +"From all accounts this man isn't just a common, everyday hobo. He used +to be known as something of an aviator before he met with that accident +that disabled his arm, and made it impossible for him to go up again. +And the fact is, I seem to remember having seen that name mentioned +among a list of airmen who had been either killed, or knocked out by +accidents happening to them."</p> + +<p>"That's all right, Frank, but it takes a pretty smart man to carry out a +part like he's doing."</p> + +<p>"Didn't Larry tell us that this same Casper Blue had once been an actor +before he took to the air for a living?" asked Frank.</p> + +<p>"You're right, he did that same thing, but somehow it seemed to have +slipped my mind. But you never forget a single thing, do you, Frank? And +if he used to be an actor, why, of course Casper would find it easy to +play this part. Perhaps he's just enjoying it the best you ever heard +of. Some people are never happy unless they're hoodwinking others."</p> + +<p>"Let's go back and find Sallie, and get to talking about butterflies and +gypsy moths, and all sorts of things in that line we can think of," +suggested Frank. "Then she'll believe we're head over ears interested in +what her boarder is doing, and if I give her a little hint she may ask +us to step in and take a peek at his room. Of course we mightn't pick up +anything worth while there; and then again there's always a little +chance we could."</p> + +<p>"It's worth while, I think," declared Andy, who seldom disagreed with +any proposition his cousin advanced, simply because Frank was usually so +wise that he succeeded in covering the whole ground the very first +thing.</p> + +<p>So they once more left the porch, though both boys looked down the lane +before going in, to make sure that the queer little butterfly collector +was not coming in time to interfere with their immediate plans.</p> + +<p>Sallie was just tidying up the diningroom when they found her. The good +woman of the house seemed to have gone into the kitchen, where she was +preserving some sort of fruit, or making catsup, to judge from the +fragrant odors that came floating out from that part of the farmhouse.</p> + +<p>Naturally Sallie was only too willing to enter into conversation again +with two such attractive looking and bright boys as Frank and Andy Bird. +She must have been aware of the fact that they were favorites among the +girls of Bloomsbury; and of course also knew something about their being +aviators, although both or 'them had shunned that subject carefully +while at the dinner table.</p> + +<p>And so Frank managed to gradually steer the conversation around to the +subject of bug collection. He told of a friend he once had who was +"daffy" along that line, and would rather capture some queer looking old +night-flying hairy moth, with a death's-head sign on his front, than +enjoy the finest supper, or listen to the best play.</p> + +<p>That allowed Andy to venture the suggestion that he had taken +considerable interest in butterflies himself, and always wanted to see a +collection that was worth while. Of course he did not have to explain +that the only interest he ever did have in the matter was when, as a +very small boy, he used to chase after the fluttering insects as they +went from flower to flower, until shown by his mother how cruel it was +to destroy the life of such wonderfully beautiful things, that he could +not restore again.</p> + +<p>Sallie took the bait, Andy knew from the eager light that flashed upon +her face. And when he saw her step over to a window, and look quickly +down the lane, he turned to his cousin, and made a grimace as much as to +say, "See how she fell to my little game, will you, old fellow?"</p> + +<p>"Well," said Sallie, flitting back again, "Professor Whitesides hasn't +got a very large collection; and the new specimens he gathers day after +day he kept in some place, because he has no time just now to do +anything with them, he says; but come up with me, and I'll show you the +little case he brought with him."</p> + +<p>"Sure we will, and I'm glad of the chance to see what valuable +butterflies look like," Andy went on to remark.</p> + +<p>"He says this little collection is a very rare one, and worth an awfully +large sum of money," Sallie went on to remark, in something of a +confidential tone, as if getting the boys ready to be surprised when +they looked upon the possessions of the industrious professor. "And oh! +if you could only hear all the queer things he's been telling us that +happened to him in foreign lands, when he was spending ever so much +money, and long weary months, finding these very rare specimens. Why, I +just stand there, and look at them, and wonder how people can be so +foolish, when it seems to me I've seen much prettier butterflies right +out there in our fields where the thistles are blooming."</p> + +<p>It seemed that the room they had given the wonderful man of science was +on the ground floor, and opened off the parlor.</p> + +<p>The two boys followed Sallie in, and noted her rather awed manner 5 +evidently the professor, whether he turned out to be a fraud or the +genuine article, had succeeded in arousing both her admiration and +wonder.</p> + +<p>The room was plainly yet comfortably furnished, but evidently the +professor, like so many other learned savants, did not know such a thing +as "order" existed, for things were simply topsy-turvy.</p> + +<p>"He just won't let us sweep in here, or do the least thing," explained +Sallie, as if she feared the boys would blame her for the looks of the +room, "you know, he's so queer, and he says we might lose something that +he valued very highly, thinking it was not worth keeping. But here's the +little case containing those almost priceless specimens he collected +abroad."</p> + +<p>She led them to a table on which a small case rested, leaning against +the wall. Frank took one look. Apparently the sight affected him +strangely, for immediately he bent over closer as though to feast his +eyes on those costly trophies which the college professor had collected +in foreign lands.</p> + +<p>Andy saw that his cousin was evidently having some sort of a silent +laughing fit, for he shook all over though not uttering a single sound.</p> + +<p>"What ails you, Frank?" he whispered, taking advantage of Sallie having +to hurry out of the room, as her mother's voice was heard calling her in +the kitchen.</p> + +<p>"I'm tickled to death to meet an old friend again, that's all," replied +Frank.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to tell me you've seen this wonderful collection before?" +demanded the other, like a flash, as it were.</p> + +<p>"I most certainly do; and if you stop to think, Andy, I guess you'll say +the same; or perhaps, now, you didn't happen to examine the case as +closely as I did, that day last spring when we crossed over to Cranford, +to pick up a few rare stamps for our collection at Snyder's old curio +store."</p> + +<p>"Why, bless me, I really believe you're right; I seem to remember seeing +it in the show window, now, when we were looking at the little baskets +of coins," Andy hastened to remark.</p> + +<p>"There isn't the least shadow of a doubt about it," added Frank. "Some +time or other, when the notion came to this man to play the part of a +butterfly collector, which perhaps the sight of the things brought to +his mind, he just stepped into Snyder's store, and bought the old +collection. Why, it hasn't got a single specimen that you can't find a +thousand of, any day you look, through August and September."</p> + +<p>"Right around here, you mean, Frank?"</p> + +<p>"Right on this farm, in fact," replied the other, with a wide grin. +"Think of the nerve of this learned scientist bringing this here, and +telling that it represented the results of years of difficult research? +You don't wonder, now, that I just had to snicker, do you, Andy?"</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 65%;"><br><br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XIV"></a><h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> +<br> + +<p>A CLUE</p> + +<p>"That looks bad, don't it Frank?" Andy went on to remark, as he first +glanced at the bogus collection of rare specimens, and then eyed his +cousin humorously.</p> + +<p>"One thing is sure, no man would go to the trouble and expense of buying +even a dollar case of common butterflies unless he had some deep object +in view, and you know that, Andy. This so-called professor must be a +fraud, even if he doesn't turn out to be the man we think he is. +Perhaps, he wanting to find out whether Hoskins had discovered that +wonderful gold mine. Well, you needn't grin about it because stranger +things have happened, I guess, now."</p> + +<p>Andy ceased laughing and turned to look around the room.</p> + +<p>"I wonder—" he began, and then stopped short.</p> + +<p>"Now I can finish your sentence for you," said Frank. "You wonder if we +could make any important discovery if we looked around here a bit, +while Sallie is helping her ma do up some fruit jars or something like +that?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it wouldn't be just the right thing," suggested Andy, in +confusion.</p> + +<p>"Under ordinary conditions it certainly wouldn't," his cousin went on to +say; "but when you've got a pretty good idea that you're dealing with a +slippery hobo, actor, past-aviator, and now a bank burglar and cracksman +in general, why that puts a different face on the matter, don't you see, +my boy?"</p> + +<p>"All right; let's take a look," said Andy, easily convinced that since +they were really working hand in glove with the police authorities, they +had a perfect right to prowl around in anybody's room, and pick up such +valuable information as could be found afloat.</p> + +<p>But after all they found nothing that looked like incriminating +evidence. The fact of the matter was that the professor did not seem to +own any sort of wardrobe whatever, and had nothing belonging to him save +the clothes on his back, the little case of butterflies which Frank +believed he had bought for a dollar over in Cranford at the curio +dealer's shop, and a few bottles holding some strong smelling acids, +which possibly were used to either kill the captured butterflies so they +would not beat their wings out; or else to preserve certain specimens +of bugs he expected to run across in his hunts.</p> + +<p>"Nothing doing," said Andy, with considerable of disgust and +disappointment in his voice.</p> + +<p>"Come here!" remarked his cousin, softly.</p> + +<p>"Hello! don't tell me you've found something?" and Andy crossed the +floor in more or less haste.</p> + +<p>He found Frank bending over a table at which there were writing +materials—pen, envelopes, paper and a blotter.</p> + +<p>"What's doing? Have you found the gentleman's notebook lying carelessly +around, and which we can peep into, eh, Frank?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all," came the reply. "I was only looking at this blotter."</p> + +<p>"Whatever is there funny about that?" demanded the other, in puzzled +tones, as he glanced first at the object in question, and then up at the +face of his chum.</p> + +<p>"It was a new one, or nearly so, you see! and somebody has been writing +heavily, and then pressing the blotter over it," Frank went on.</p> + +<p>"And if you could read backwards now, you might make out what they said; +is that it, Frank?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! that part is as easy as falling off a log. I held it up to the +looking glass here. See if you can make it out, Andy."</p> + +<p>Hardly had the other looked than he started to read, interjecting +remarks of his own as he proceeded.</p> + +<p>"Some words missing, looks like, Frank; let's see; 'Car on +siding----'rive at 11 P.M. Wed. He says keep low, and trust to +him—throw—track. Mum.' That's all I can make out, because he didn't +sign any name, it seems. Whatever do you make of all that stuff, Frank?"</p> + +<p>First of all Frank pulled out a pencil and copied the marks upon a piece +of paper, which he thrust into his pocket.</p> + +<p>"He might miss the blotter if I cribbed it, and take the alarm," he +explained, as he hastened to put the article in question back on the +table, lest Sallie come in at any minute and discover what they were +doing, taking liberties in the room of the boarder; and then she would +have to be told everything, which might work out badly, Frank feared.</p> + +<p>"But I reckon you've got some sort of idea what that writing means, +Frank?" pursued the other Bird boy, who, once he started on a subject +could no more be shaken off than a bulldog.</p> + +<p>"Of course I have, and it's given me something of a shock, too, let me +tell you, Andy. First of all, you may know that this very day is +Wednesday."</p> + +<p>"The day he mentions there; to be sure it is. But Frank, can all this +have some reference to another crime they mean to commit?"</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid it does," came the reluctant reply.</p> + +<p>"Tell me what he means by 'car, siding, track, mum,' and all that. Of +course I can understand that he warns the fellow he's sending the +message to to keep quiet. What car can he mean? Do you think they aim to +steal some one's expensive car now—that they've gone and wrecked +Percy's biplane, and must have another means for getting away?"</p> + +<p>But Frank simply shook his head at that.</p> + +<p>"Oh! you're away off your base there, Andy. He speaks of a car on a +siding, and that can only refer to a railroad car. Now, I happen to know +that they expect the pay-car to be along some time today or tonight, and +it always lies there on that Jeffreys Siding, until they've passed out +thousands of dollars to the men who call Bloomsbury their headquarters. +Do you see now what it must mean, Andy?"</p> + +<p>Andy gasped, and then exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Once more you've gone and seen through the riddle that knocked me +silly, Frank. That's just what it must mean—the pay-car would offer fat +pickings, all in cash; and they've held up their flight to Canada just +to try and gobble it. Oh! what a slick game, with Todd giving false +information, and perhaps just leading the police further and further +away from Bloomsbury tonight, so as to leave the pay-car next to +unprotected. Yes, and doesn't he go on like this, 'he says keep low, and +trust to him'? That must mean Todd, don't you think?"</p> + +<p>"I read it that way," replied his cousin tersely, as he rubbed his chin +in a reflective fashion; for they were now grappling with a dangerous +problem, and Frank was only too well aware of the fact that a slip might +upset all calculations, as well as possibly endanger their lives; since +they were dealing with reckless men, and no boyish rivals like Percy +Carberry and Sandy Hollingshead.</p> + +<p>"Do you think this was meant for the other one of the bank thieves?" +Andy went on to ask.</p> + +<p>"It could hardly have been for any one else, Andy. There must have been +more to the letter, but the rest dried before he blotted it."</p> + +<p>"And that fellow is in hiding somewhere, perhaps watching the biplane, +and ready to fight before letting it be retaken, because they depend on +it for their get-away to the great lakes and Canada;" Andy further +observed.</p> + +<p>"Yes, just as you say," the other remarked.</p> + +<p>"And now since we've learned this much, Frank, what are we going to do +about it—try and find where the stolen biplane is, and do something so +as to make it no good for their purpose; or just slip away, go round a +little like we were just out for a spin, and getting back to Bloomsbury, +put them wise?"</p> + +<p>"Neither, just yet anyhow," the older Bird boy remarked. "Not the first, +because it would be taking big chances, if, as we believe, one of the +robbers is concealed near where the stolen biplane may happen to be +lying, partly hidden with dead leaves, so it couldn't be noticed from +above; and he would be apt to do something we'd find unpleasant. And as +for going back and telling, we'll have to be mighty careful there."</p> + +<p>"And why, Frank?"</p> + +<p>"Well, to begin with, even the walls have ears, they say; and if the +police were suddenly called back from their hunt to the southwest, the +fact might get to the robbers; and you know what would happen then."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Andy, shrugging his shoulders, "I suppose they'd just throw +this second job up, and cut stick for Canada, as fast as they could +make the aeroplane spin, which would be too bad for Chief Waller, and +Joe Green, and the rest of that bunch at Headquarters, who are already +figuring on how they'll spend their reward money they hope to get when +the bank pays for rounding-up the two thieves."</p> + +<p>"But, perhaps, if we just told our fathers, Andy, they might get a few +bold men together and lay a beautiful trap for the fellows so that when +they broke into the pay-car, they would be made prisoners."</p> + +<p>"Bully idea, that, Frank, and I hope you decide to carry it out. Just to +think what a pleasant surprise it would be for our butterfly collector, +expecting that he was going in to gather in another lot of plunder, and +then to hear a voice say to him: 'Hands up! you're our prisoners!' Oh! +wouldn't I like to be Johnny-on-the-spot when that happens. Wonder if +they wouldn't let us have a part in the proceedings, after we brought +the news that upset the plans of the yeggmen?"</p> + +<p>"That will do for just now, Andy, because here comes Sally again. Let's +be gaping at the wonderful collection that almost cost the professor his +very life in all sorts of hot countries, as well as a whole pocket full +of money—if you don't care what you say."</p> + +<p>And when the farmer's daughter did enter the room a minute later, she +saw the two boys standing there, a rapt look of admiration and envy on +their faces, as they stared at the little case of common local +butterflies which possibly some boy had gathered together, and then +disposed of for a song.</p> + +<p>While the young aviators had in this fashion about decided on their plan +of action, they saw no reason for any hurry. The day was still long, and +when they felt like starting toward home it would take them but a very +short time to get there.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, there seemed to be some sort of fascination holding them to +the neighborhood of the Hoskins' farm. And when they went away a little +later it would be with the idea of hanging about, and seeing if the odd +little professor might not come along. Both of them thought they would +like to look at him. The man who was capable of playing such a clever +game as this must surely be worth seeing.</p> + +<p>Then again, the fact that Casper Blue once upon a time had been a daring +birdman had something to do with this interest on the part of Frank and +his cousin, because there is always a certain fellow feeling between +those who are engaged in the same dangerous pursuits. But possibly Andy +on his part was hoping secretly that by spying around they might be able +in some way to learn where the yeggmen had hidden the plunder they had +taken from the looted Bloomsbury bank.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 65%;"><br><br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XV"></a><h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> +<br> + +<p>WHEN CASPER CAME BACK</p> + +<p>Although the Bird boys had more than once before proved that they +possessed all the courage and daring a successful aviator must have in +order to accomplish the difficult tasks hourly presented to him for +solution, it must not be thought that they were reckless to any degree.</p> + +<p>Andy might be slightly inclined that way, but Frank was an exceedingly +careful navigator of the air, and by degrees his influence was even +affecting his younger cousin, as example always will.</p> + +<p>When, however, a situation suddenly arose that absolutely required a +display of daring, these young air pilots were "there with the punch," +as Andy termed it. They had learned how to volplane earthward from a +dizzy height with absolute safety, when conditions were just right, and +necessity required a quick descent. On a few occasions Frank had even +been known to hazard what is known as the "death dip;" but it was only +when there happened to be a good reason for taking such chances, and not +merely in a spirit of dare-deviltry, such as many show aviators employ, +just to send a shiver of dread through the spectators, and then laugh +recklessly at the fears their boldness had aroused.</p> + +<p>Of course they might have decided to immediately return to Bloomsbury, +and give information concerning the extent of their discoveries since +coming to the Hoskins' farm.</p> + +<p>Perhaps that would have been the wisest move they could make but both +boys were rather opposed to carrying it out just then.</p> + +<p>The afternoon was wholly before them, and who could tell what change of +plans the two yeggmen might make before the coming of the night? Should +they get wind of the presence of the Bird boys in the vicinity possibly +they would take alarm, and hurrying to their concealed biplane make for +the far North with all haste; and in this way, if no one knew of their +departure the intended ambuscade that night in the vicinity of the +railroad pay-car would be laid in vain.</p> + +<p>That was really what the boys feared the most—that their quarry slip +off in secret, when they were far away.</p> + +<p>Frank was indeed trying to figure out whether it would not be best after +all for him to stay by the hydroplane, on guard as it were, while Andy, +by using a horse, if the Hoskins happened to still possess such an +animal, managed to get to another farm, where they were up-to-date +enough to have a telephone in the house, by means of which he could get +in touch with Dr. Bird or Judge Lawson in Bloomsbury.</p> + +<p>Then again, there was always a slight chance that this pretended +professor might have seen them descend, while he was wandering around. +Once an airman, and just by instinct as it were, the eyes are almost +constantly searching the heavens, perhaps for a glimpse of other +adventurous craft, or it may be, signs that give warning of treacherous +winds, gathering storms, or similar things that must always be of +intense interest to an aviator.</p> + +<p>And so while Casper Blue had long since given up taking hazards in a +flying machine to indulge in even more dangerous business as a bank +robber, still habits would cling tightly, and thus he might have seen +more than the ordinary man could have done.</p> + +<p>Of course, even though he sought the hydroplane, and found it lying +there in the field, he could not very well make any use of it so long as +Frank held the missing part in his possession.</p> + +<p>But he could in a spirit of maliciousness so utterly destroy the planes, +and even injure the powerful little Kinkaid engine that it would be +practically fit only for the scrap-heap afterwards. And that was giving +Frank more or less concern, even while he continued to linger at the +farmhouse because Andy wished to prowl around a little while longer in +hopes of getting some clue to the location of the cache where the +thieves had hidden their plunder.</p> + +<p>Sallie saw nothing strange in this apparent desire of Andy to hang +around. She was rather a pretty little thing, and of course knew it; so +that she may have believed the witchery of her attractions had more or +less to do with the matter.</p> + +<p>Even when Frank asked so many queer questions about the absent boarder, +Sallie was not wise enough to understand that the boys Were much more +concerned about how Professor Whitesides amused himself, where his +favorite lounging places seemed to be, and all that, rather than in her +pretty face and merry laugh.</p> + +<p>Her mother must have counted on having her assistance in carrying on her +task of putting up preserves in the kitchen, for once more she called to +Sallie to come and lend a hand for a few moments.</p> + +<p>This left the two boys alone again, and gave them a chance for +exchanging views, which they were not slow to do.</p> + +<p>"I guess he doesn't keep it around here, in this room, or anywhere close +by," was Andy's first remark.</p> + +<p>Frank chuckled on hearing this.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I see that you've got your mind set on recovering what was taken +from the bank. You're a mercenary fellow, Andy. But, then, since our +fathers have more or less interest in the same bank, which is going to +be mighty badly crippled if the cash and securities are not recovered +sooner or later, why, I can't blame you much. I'd like to run across the +loot myself, more than I can tell you."</p> + +<p>"I'm only afraid that if the men are taken prisoners to night, when they +come to clean out the pay-car after it arrives in Bloomsbury, they'll +not have this other stuff with them, and will refuse to tell where it's +hidden. That will be just as bad for the bank as if they'd got away to +Canada with the swag, as the Chief calls it. I wish I knew how we could +track this Casper Blue to where the other yegg is hiding near the +biplane, and watch them until we saw where they had the cache. After +that we could just hang around, and when they started in a power-boat +perhaps for Bloomsbury, with Todd Pemberton at the wheel, we could do +something to make the biplane useless to them, and then toward evening +put for home ourselves."</p> + +<p>Frank listened while the other ran all of this off, and evidently he was +more or less amused at what he heard.</p> + +<p>"It's plain to be seen that you've been doing some tall thinking and +planning all this while, Andy," he remarked.</p> + +<p>"But you'll admit, I guess, that if there was any way to carry out my +scheme, it would be a jim dandy idea," the other persisted.</p> + +<p>"Of course; but that's where the trouble lies. Even if Casper did come +back, we never could track him through the woods and around the swamps +without his sooner or later discovering that he was being followed, +because we're not clever at that sort of thing. And once he got wind of +our being after him, chances are he'd lay some trap with his mate, into +which both of us would tumble headlong."</p> + +<p>Andy scratched his head, and a look of doubt came upon his face.</p> + +<p>"H'm! I wouldn't like that one little bit, and that's a fact, Frank," he +admitted, candidly. "If we fell into their hands and were kicked around +and then left tied up like a pair of mummies from the pyramids of Egypt, +while they went and cleaned out that pay-car, and sailed away for +Canda—oh! excuse me, if you please. Anything but that. The laugh would +sure be on the Bird boys. I don't mind posing once in a while as a hero; +but it would jar me a whole lot to know that people were pointing me +out, and telling how nicely these wonderful Bird boys had been taken in +and done for by a couple of traveling yeggs. Have it your own way, +Frank, and don't pay any attention to my silly schemes.</p> + +<p>"Your ideas are all right, Andy, but the only trouble is they are too +strong for a couple of boys to carry out. I think we'd be wise to play +safe. More games are won in the long run that way, than by being dashing +and venturesome."</p> + +<p>"Of course you're right, and as I've had my little fling, and got it out +of my system, let's work along the sensible lines you laid out, Frank."</p> + +<p>That was just like Andy. He might occasionally seem to yearn to break +loose, and take a wild flight, but on second sober thought he nearly +always came back to his cousin's way of thinking.</p> + +<p>Sallie still remained in the kitchen, so that they were able to keep on +talking without any fear of being interrupted or overheard.</p> + +<p>"I'm wondering if Percy will ever have the chance to handle his Farman +biplane again," Andy went on to remark. "He seemed to set a great store +by it to offer such a nice fat reward for its return. And it's so brand +new that he hasn't had much of a chance to try it out. Wasn't he mad, +though, when he came racing along in that car looking for Chief Waller. +He looked as red as a turkey gobbler. Just to think that while he was up +there with three of his cronies trying to injure our machine, those +yeggs were fixing it all up so that they could get his biplane, if they +missed ours. It's a rich joke on Perc."</p> + +<p>"Oh! I hope he gets it back again safe and sound," said Frank. "Life +would be rather tame for us around home here, if we didn't have Percy to +think about. For a long time, now, he's kept us guessing, and we'd feel +a little lonely if he gave up flying."</p> + +<p>"Guess you're right there, Frank, it would seem humdrum like if we +didn't have to think of him every little while, and what new schemes he +was planning to get the better of the Bird boys. And say, some of his +games kind of dazzle a fellow, if only there wasn't so much meanness +about 'em. When Perc gets to hating a fellow he doesn't stop half way, +but goes the whole hog. Why, more than a few times he's given us a big +scare, trying to do some stunt that would make us look small; and at the +risk of sending us all down a thousand or two feet. After all, I'm +beginning to believe I'd sleep sounder if Percy Carberry took to some +other play, and let aeroplanes alone."</p> + +<p>"Well, he seems just as wild about them as ever, and so I reckon he'll +just keep on bothering us to the end of the chapter. But what are you +looking at, Andy?" and Frank also turned his eyes down toward the fringe +of quince trees that marked the old lane leading to the barnyard from +the road.</p> + +<p>"I thought I saw some one coming over there, and if it turned out to be +our good friend, the profess, p'raps we'd be wise to skip out before he +sighted us, Frank."</p> + +<p>"Here, let's step back out of sight, anyhow, so as to be ready to slip +away if it is our man," and Frank drew his companion around the corner +of the house, from which point they could still keep watch over the +lane.</p> + +<p>Half a minute later Andy whispered:</p> + +<p>"There, I saw him again, Frank, and as sure as anything it must be +Casper. He's a little man, wearing brown glasses to keep the bright sun +from his eyes, and yes, he's carrying a butterfly catcher's net over his +shoulder. Shall we disappear?"</p> + +<p>"I think that would be our best move, Andy; and lucky enough we've got +the chance to slip around here, and get back of the barn before he comes +along," with which the two boys hastened to follow out the plan +suggested.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 65%;"><br><br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XVI"></a><h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> +<br> + +<p>THROWING OFF THE MASK</p> + +<p>"Do you think he saw us, Frank?" asked Andy, after they had found a +place where they could peep around a corner, without being discovered.</p> + +<p>"Well, that's more than I can say," the other replied. "We took every +precaution, and unless he has mighty sharp eyes he couldn't have +glimpsed us."</p> + +<p>"And you think it's safe for us to stay here, eh, Frank?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly," replied the other. "We're in a position to make a move any +old way from here. There isn't one chance in ten of his coming around +the corner; and if he does make a show of doing that, why we can be +sitting here, playing mumble-de-peg, or something like that, just as if +we didn't care whether school kept or not."</p> + +<p>"Bully for that; who cares for expenses? Look, Frank, I was right, you +see, for it was the little profess after all."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sure enough. Careful now, Andy, and don't let him see you +peeping. That'd give the whole thing away quicker than anything else."</p> + +<p>They had both selected positions where they could see without attracting +attention. And it was with considerable eagerness that they fastened +their eyes on the figure of the small, wiry man who was sauntering along +toward the farmhouse, carrying a butterfly-net across one shoulder, +while with his other hand he held a queer-shaped black case, which, as +Sallie said, contained his more recent captures in the way of beautiful +and rare moths and insects.</p> + +<p>"That's his stiff arm, Frank; see how he moves it—the one hanging down, +I mean, with black box—good gracious! now, I wonder—"</p> + +<p>"H'sh!" whispered Frank, "not so loud; he might hear you."</p> + +<p>"Not with the roosters crowing like they are," said Andy confidently. +"But just glimpse the black box would you, Frank?"</p> + +<p>"I am looking," returned the other.</p> + +<p>"He calls it the receiver for his new butterflies, but looks more like a +kodak to me," Andy went on. "But d'ye know what I thought, Frank?"</p> + +<p>"Tell me," whispered the other, still watching the professor, who had +come to a stop at some little distance away, and seemed to be busily +engaged looking back of him, as though laying out plans for an afternoon +campaign among the bright winged butterflies.</p> + +<p>"Why, how easy for him to tear out the inside works of a camera box like +that, and make use of it for a better purpose, see?" Andy went on to +say.</p> + +<p>"Oh! now you've got a bright thought for a fact," Frank sent back, +careful not to raise his voice above that cautious pitch.</p> + +<p>"Well, it could be done; and I guess that little black box'd hold about +all the money and securities that the bank lost. They say the thieves +only picked out the papers they could dispose of, and left all the rest, +which would indicate that the second yegg must have been in the banking +line, some time or other, and knew what was what."</p> + +<p>"H'sh! he's coming on again! Lie low, now; Andy!"</p> + +<p>Accordingly both of them remained perfectly motionless as the professor +advanced toward the house. Had he shown any disposition to head toward +that particular corner Frank was ready to assume an attitude of +indifference and appear to be engaged in some boyish game with his jack +knife, tossing it up in the air, and causing the point of the long +blade to stick upright in the ground.</p> + +<p>But the small man with the brown glasses and the butterfly net made +straight for the front porch of the house, and passed in at the door, +just as though he felt perfectly at home there.</p> + +<p>"Well, what next?" remarked Andy.</p> + +<p>For reply the other beckoned, and started hurriedly to gain the shelter +of the woodshed near by.</p> + +<p>"What's this for?" questioned Andy, when they were once more crouched +down, in a position where they could not be easily seen.</p> + +<p>"Stop and think," answered the other; "if he just happened to look out +of a window on this side of the house he'd see us easily and our +suspicious actions would tell him we were on to his game. Now even if he +looks he won't see anything."</p> + +<p>"Huh! and do we stay here all afternoon just doing nothing; while p'raps +he's taking a nap indoors?" grumbled the other, who wanted to be moving, +and was never satisfied when not in action.</p> + +<p>"Wait!" was all Frank would say.</p> + +<p>Perhaps he could see further ahead than his cousin, and guessed +something of what was likely to occur. They had not taken pains to warn +Sallie or her mother to keep from mentioning the fact of their happening +around; and chances were, that as soon as Casper Blue heard that the +Bird boys had dropped in, he would become immediately suspicious.</p> + +<p>On questioning the girl he would be apt to learn how curious Frank and +Andy had seemed about him; and Sallie might even admit that they had +asked to see his wonderful collection of rare and costly butterflies.</p> + +<p>Well, if such a thing did occur, of course the keen-witted man would +immediately know that the cat was out of the bag. Realizing that there +must be a great hue and cry throughout the entire county just then, with +reference to the yeggs who had looted the bank, he could easily imagine +what had brought these boys here.</p> + +<p>Through association with Todd Pemberton, Casper must have learned a +whole lot with regard to Frank and his cousin. Being an aviator himself +he would naturally take an immediate interest in boys who had given such +a good account of themselves in the field of aeronautics. The attempt to +steal the hydroplane in the first place before they turned to Percy +Carberry's biplane proved that they knew all about the Bird boys. And +so, learning of their presence would immediately give Casper warning +that his hideout was no longer a secret, but that the net of the law +must be closing around him.</p> + +<p>What then?</p> + +<p>Would he, like a desperate man, attempt to capture these venturesome +lads, so as to keep them from informing the authorities at Bloomsbury? +Either that, or else he would think that, since the game was up, and +they could no longer loiter in the neighborhood of the aroused district +in order to carry out the second part of the great scheme, they had +better take to the aeroplane and vanish from view, leaving no trail +behind by means of which they could be followed.</p> + +<p>Frank had said all this in his mind when he lay there and waited to see +what would turn up. He felt that they could surely afford to linger for +some time, if there was any chance of learning whether the yeggmen meant +to change their plans, or proceed to carry out their original scheme.</p> + +<p>All seemed quiet at the farmhouse.</p> + +<p>Sallie had come out on the porch, and looked rather disappointed to find +that the two boys had strangely vanished. She stood there glancing +around in a puzzled manner for several minutes, and then with a pretty +shrug of her shoulders, and a pout of her lips whirled about and went +back into the house again.</p> + +<p>"Wow!" said Andy in a low tone, "she's got it in for you, Frank, because +you dropped out of sight without even so much as saying goodbye."</p> + +<p>But the other was thinking of weightier matters than the humor of a +little coquette. He wondered whether Sallie would run across the +professor and ask him if he had met two boys down the lane; which remark +would excite his suspicions, and lead to other questions, now on his +part.</p> + +<p>If nothing happened inside of half an hour. Frank was of a mind to try +the plan that had come to him—sending Andy off to try and reach some +other farm where they would have a telephone; while he himself remained +to keep watch.</p> + +<p>That might necessitate taking Sallie into their confidence, for they +would need to ask questions, and perhaps borrow a horse. On second +thought Frank was now a little sorry he had not seen fit to tell the +girl all. She seemed to be fairly clever, and could possibly keep a +secret. At any rate, the chances of discovery would not be nearly so +serious as now, when in her ignorance she was likely to blurt out all +about the boys having been there, without knowing that in so doing she +might be assisting clever yeggmen to avoid arrest.</p> + +<p>The seconds moved along and changed into minutes.</p> + +<p>If the professor had come to a window on that side of the house to look +anxiously around, he must have been careful not to expose himself, for +though Frank had kept a keen lookout he had failed to see anything of +him.</p> + +<p>It was getting very much of a bore to Andy. He changed his position +restlessly several times, as though he wished Frank would make some sort +of a move, he hardly cared what its nature so long as it meant action.</p> + +<p>But although Andy could not see it at that moment, there were lively +enough times ahead of them to please even his impetuous nature. And the +passage of every minute brought the crisis closer and closer.</p> + +<p>Once Frank believed he heard loud voices inside the farmhouse; and at +the same time some one was certainly hurrying back and forth. But then +possibly that might be only Sallie, obeying another call from the +kitchen, where the good woman was so busily engaged with her canning +operations.</p> + +<p>Something like twenty minutes must have passed since the boys made +their change of base. To Andy it was much longer, for he felt the time +pass as though it had leaden wings.</p> + +<p>Then Frank, watching, saw some one come hastily out of the front door, +pass quickly down to the path, and move away in the direction of the +lane.</p> + +<p>"He's going off, Frank!" exclaimed Andy, all excitement, just as though +he half expected that his companion would give the word that meant an +immediate pursuit.</p> + +<p>"Yes; keep quiet, Andy!"</p> + +<p>"But he'll give us the slip, don't you see?" persisted the other.</p> + +<p>"Let him, then; we can't help it. You can see that he's made quite a +change in his looks, as though he's thrown the mask off, and doesn't +expect to play the part of a collegeman and a bug collector any more," +Frank whispered.</p> + +<p>"That's so, he hasn't got the brown glasses on, and that old butterfly +net is missing; but Frank, just notice, won't you, how he hangs to that +little camera-like black box. Say, perhaps I was right after all; +perhaps Casper Blue is carrying all that stuff cribbed from the +Bloomsbury bank, inside the same."</p> + +<p>The two boys crouched there behind the woodshed and by cautiously +peeping around the corner could watch the late boarder of the Hoskins +hurrying down the lane, as though he had received a hasty summons from +the president of his college demanding an immediate return.</p> + +<p>He seemed uneasy and suspicious, for several times he turned his head +and looked this way and that, as though half expecting to discover some +person ready to dispute his departure. And Frank also noted the way one +of his hands had of keeping in the pocket of his short coat; just for +all the world as though he might be grasping some sort of pistol that +was concealed there.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 65%;"><br><br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XVII"></a><h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> +<br> + +<p>SALLIE RIDES BAREBACK</p> + +<p>"And now what's our next move?" demanded Andy, who generally found it +very nice to let Frank do all the planning, though capable of taking +hold himself when forced to do it.</p> + +<p>Fortunately Frank had a great way of figuring out what he would do under +certain conditions. This gave some sort of assurance when difficulties +arose; for there was little time lost in fixing things up so as to have +a programme.</p> + +<p>"No use trying to follow after him, to begin with," he declared.</p> + +<p>"Why do you say that?" his cousin wanted to know.</p> + +<p>"First of all, it would be a bad business, because he's on his guard, +and a desperate man," Frank went on to explain. "You can see that he's +ready to pull out a weapon of some sort at the first warning. And we +settled that we didn't want to fall into the hands of these two bad men. +So we'll have to arrange things along a different line. And anyhow +there's no terrible hurry, because I rather guess they've got the +biplane hidden some distance away from here. It would take half an hour, +perhaps much more, before they could get out. And we can reach our craft +in a few minutes, if pushed."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's all so, Frank; but go on, and tell me the rest."</p> + +<p>"I was thinking that we ought to try and let our folks know how things +are going with us, so that if we have to cut out after these yegg +aviators they'll know where we've gone. Suppose, now, you hunt Sallie +up, and try to explain it all to her just as fast as you can."</p> + +<p>"Who, me? Oh! well, I guess I can do it, if I have to. But what will you +be doing all that time, Frank?"</p> + +<p>"I want to write a message to either your father, or else Judge Lawson, +whichever she can get on the phone," replied the other, immediately +hunting in his pockets for pencil and paper, which he made it a habit to +carry around with him always.</p> + +<p>"She—say, do you mean Sallie, Frank?"</p> + +<p>"No other. You must coax her to saddle up a horse, and make for the +nearest neighbor where they've got a phone; get that, Andy?"</p> + +<p>"But do you think she will?" asked the other, dubiously.</p> + +<p>"I'm dead sure of it," came the confident reply. "Sallie has a touch of +romance in her make-up; and besides, shell be so mad to think of that +man deceiving her mother that she'll want to have him caught. Get along +with you, now, Andy, and fix it all up inside of ten minutes. I'll have +the message written out by that time, so she can start, if there's such +a thing as any kind of a horse around this wreck of a farm."</p> + +<p>And so Andy, glad at least to have something to do, hurried toward the +house to look for the country girl.</p> + +<p>Left alone, Frank continued to write as plainly as he could what he +wanted those in Bloomsbury to know about matters in general. He used as +few words to cover the case as possible, but gave the leading points, +even to stating his fear that the scoundrels who had robbed the bank, +and were plotting to also make a descent on the pay-car of the railroad +that night, had now taken the alarm, and would be off in the stolen +biplane.</p> + +<p>In that event Frank wanted the police in Bloomsbury to know that he and +Andy had started in pursuit; though what they could do to apprehend the +rogues of course he was in no position to declare.</p> + +<p>By the time he had this finished to his satisfaction he heard voices +near by, and was glad to see his cousin coming, accompanied by Sallie.</p> + +<p>The girl looked duly excited, just as Frank had expected. There were a +thousand questions in her eyes, but he cut all this short.</p> + +<p>"We can't stop to tell you any more now, Sallie, but we promise to drop +in again after it's over, and explain all that seems queer to you now. +Here's the message that we want to get to Bloomsbury the worst kind, and +as quick as you could get on a horse and ride to the nearest neighbor +who has a phone in the house. You'll do this for us, won't you, Sallie?"</p> + +<p>Few people could say no to Frank once he wore that winning smile, and +Sallie immediately declared that she was ready to do anything he +suggested.</p> + +<p>"To think of that little scoundrel fooling us all, and pretending to be +a college professor!" she remarked, indignation flashing from her black +eyes.</p> + +<p>"I hope you've got a horse," said Frank, sticking to the business in +hand.</p> + +<p>"Oh! yes; we have one left that might do," Sallie answered.</p> + +<p>"Then let's get him saddled right away," Frank went on.</p> + +<p>"Can't," she snapped back, "ain't such a thing as a saddle around here +any more. But I'm a country girl, you know, and I can ride bareback all +right. A halter's the only bridle I want, Frank. Give me the message, +and I'll see that it gets to somebody in Bloomsbury."</p> + +<p>"And here's some money, Sallie," the other went on.</p> + +<p>"What! do you think—"</p> + +<p>"There might be something to pay, you know, and we can't afford to take +chances when there's so much at stake. Thank you a thousand times for +helping us out, Sallie. Now, please get the horse. I'd like to see you +started before we pull out, because we may have to chase after these +fellows in our aeroplane, if they take a notion to fly away."</p> + +<p>The girl hastened to lead the way into the stable where they did find +an apology for a horse, which she immediately unhitched, and led +outside.</p> + +<p>"Hope she doesn't happen to run across that man on the way, because he +might wonder what was taking her off like that, and do something to turn +her back. What if he found your message on her, Frank?" and Andy, as he +said this, turned an anxious gaze upon his cousin.</p> + +<p>But Frank shook his head.</p> + +<p>"I saw him dodge out of the lane and take to the woods," he remarked, +"as though he knew of a short-cut across lots to the place where his +friend and the biplane were hidden. No danger of his seeing Sallie, so +don't mention it to her. Wait, I'll give you my hand to help you up, +Sallie!"</p> + +<p>But the country girl had led the horse alongside the drinking trough, +and was on his back in a jiffy, long before Frank could come across.</p> + +<p>"Goodbye, and good luck, boys!" she called back, as she gave the horse a +switch with the end of the halter, and was off at a lumbering pace.</p> + +<p>They stood there a minute or so watching the girl flying down the lane. +She turned around once, and waved her hand at them, while her long hair +blew behind in a cloud. Frank would not soon forget the sight of Sallie +Hoskins going to carry the news to a point where it could be telephoned +in to town—news that would cause a tremendous wave of excitement to +pass over the whole of Bloomsbury.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah! that's done, and well done too, Frank, I say!" exclaimed Andy, +turning on his cousin with a face that plainly said, "What's next on our +programme?"</p> + +<p>"Before we pull out I guess we owe it to the good woman to tell her +something of the truth, for I don't believe she knows a single thing +about it from Sallie or the professor. So come along to the kitchen with +me, Andy. Then we'll chase off to where we left our aeroplane, and stand +ready for anything that may happen."</p> + +<p>The two of them quickly reached the kitchen door. Inside they found Mrs. +Hoskins, tired looking and red of face, still busily engaged with her +canning operations; for peaches were ripe, and tomatoes needing +immediate attention if she hoped to lay away her customary stock for the +coming winter.</p> + +<p>She came to the door where it was cooler, a look of rising curiosity on +her patient face. And Frank started in to tell what he thought +necessary. She was at first much worried to learn that she had been +innocently harboring a criminal under her humble roof; but Frank soon +allayed her fears on that account.</p> + +<p>He also told her how Sallie had consented to ride over to a neighbor to +send a telephone message for him, so that the good woman might not be +worried over her absence.</p> + +<p>And now, having done what he considered his duty, Frank began to think +it might be the part of wisdom for himself and his cousin to consider +their own affairs, and make for the spot where their hydro-aeroplane +lay in the field.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I do hope they are caught," said the farmer's wife. "Just to think +of that easy talking little man being a desperate criminal! I shall be +afraid to stay all alone in the house after this."</p> + +<p>"Listen, Frank; somebody's shouting out there. What if both of those +yeggs are coming back to get us?"</p> + +<p>Andy had clutched the sleeve of his cousin's coat when saying this; but +Frank did not need to be told that something like excitement was bearing +down upon them.</p> + +<p>"Oh! it's Jerry, my husband!" exclaimed Mrs. Hoskins just then, "and he +seems to be dreadfully excited, too. Listen to him calling to me! I +wonder what could have happened. What if he's gone and cut himself +badly, always digging and making holes in the ground, since that silly +old fortune teller said he would find a mine on the farm. And here he +comes too!"</p> + +<p>Just then a figure came staggering around the corner of the house. It +was the old farmer, plainly tremendously excited, and although weak and +almost out of breath from running, trying to tell her something.</p> + +<p>"It's there, Jennie—found it, wife—ain't had all my work for nothin' +I tell you! A vein of hard coal, think, enough to make us all rich! D'ye +hear that, Jennie, girl, rich! Gimme a drink of water, for I'm nigh dead +from runnin' to tell you the great news. Who's these boys, wife? Where's +Sallie at?"</p> + +<p>Frank would have liked very much to remain and hear the particulars of +the farmer's good luck in locating a vein of coal on his property; but +time would not permit. He only hoped Hoskins was not mistaken, for +traces of coal had been known to exist around that neighborhood for some +time, though up to now none had been found in paying quantities for +mining purposes.</p> + +<p>"Come on, Andy, we'll have to be skipping out. Please tell your husband +all you know about what's happened, Mrs. Hoskins. Hope you have struck +it rich, sir."</p> + +<p>With that Frank hurried off, Andy trailing behind. The farmer stared +after them as though hardly knowing what to make of it all; but they +could hear the good woman begin to explain, and had no doubt she would +be able to satisfy his reasonable curiosity.</p> + +<p>For the time being the Bird boys must forget all about what lay in the +past, because it was the future that should interest them wholly. They +had reached a point in the hunt where perhaps a sudden change of plans +would be necessary; particularly if those they followed had taken the +alarm, and were ready to shake the dust of this section of the country +from their shoes.</p> + +<p>Away from the farmhouse hurried the two young aviators, making as near a +bee line for the field where they had left their aeroplane as they could +possibly manage, and all the while searching the sky for signs of the +other flying machine.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 65%;"><br><br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a><h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> +<br> + +<p>AN AEROPLANE CHASE</p> + +<p>"Here it is, and everything seems all right!" remarked Andy as they +reached the field, and found the hydro-aeroplane just where they had +left it.</p> + +<p>"Yes, no one has disturbed a thing, which I think is lucky for us," +Frank went on to say, as he proceeded to put back the small part he had +taken away with him, and thus place the machine in perfect condition for +business.</p> + +<p>Andy moved about, looking to see that all obstacles threatening to +interfere with a successful launching were removed from in front of the +waiting aeroplane.</p> + +<p>So minutes passed, until at least ten had crept by since their coming. +Frank had everything tuned up, and knew of not the least chance where he +could improve the conditions of planes or motor, for all seemed to be as +nearly perfect as they could be made.</p> + +<p>Both boys cast frequent glances aloft, and as a rule toward that +particular quarter where they presently expected to see something +moving. They were keyed up to a pretty lively pitch of excitement, +though Frank did not show it half as much as his younger cousin, who was +always affected this way.</p> + +<p>Then suddenly Andy called out:</p> + +<p>"There she rises, Frank! Oh! look at them boring up, will you, in that +corkscrew spiral way! Tell me that Casper Blue doesn't know his +business; Perc will never get as much out of his biplane as that old and +experienced aviator means to. Are we going to follow suit, Frank?"</p> + +<p>"Get aboard!" came the prompt answer; and it was almost laughable to see +how nimbly Andy obeyed this order.</p> + +<p>Frank lost no time in starting, and they went away with a rush, passing +over the abandoned field that was now given up pretty much to thistles +and burdocks, with a sprinkling of iron-weeds.</p> + +<p>It was rather rough sledding, to be sure, and as the bicycle wheels +pounded over the turf the boys had to hold on to keep their seats.</p> + +<p>But when sufficient momentum had been acquired, Frank elevated the fore +plane, and immediately there was the greatest relief felt; for they +began to rise in the air, and all that terrible bumping stopped for +good. The change was wonderful, and it felt as though they were gliding +on velvet.</p> + +<p>"We're off!" exclaimed Andy, exultantly.</p> + +<p>Frank said nothing. He did not possess quite the same sanguine nature +that his cousin had. Andy seldom allowed thoughts of possible disaster +to annoy him, but on the other hand Frank was always trying to head off +trouble.</p> + +<p>He realized that with this launching of their new hydro-aeroplane they +would be entering upon an extra hazardous game, the outcome of which no +one could foresee. The two men whom they expected to follow must be +desperate fellows, who would resort to almost any hazard rather than +allow themselves to be caught.</p> + +<p>And it was not an amateur aviator like Percy Carberry who was opposed +to them now, but one who had had long experience in the art of +harnessing a flying machine to do his bidding.</p> + +<p>Once they left the ground behind them, Frank started to spiral upward +much in the same way the others had done. One thing he was glad of, and +this was the presence of Andy alongside. Casper Blue might be a daring +air pilot, but with his companion a perfect greenhorn in all that +pertained to the art, he would be more or less handicapped. A sudden +incautious movement on the part of the novice might prove the undoing of +the precious pair.</p> + +<p>Once they had risen to a certain height, and the aeroplane was turned so +as to follow the other air craft, which was speeding away, headed +directly into the north. Of course, those aboard must know that they +were being chased. They could not have failed to see the hydroplane, (as +it is generally called, though the true word to cover it would be +hydro-aeroplane) even before it left the field, once they started to +ascend.</p> + +<p>"Well, we're off at last!" commented Andy, in a satisfied tone, when the +course had been taken, and they were following directly after the +fugitive air craft.</p> + +<p>"And let's hope we'll come out of this adventure as luckily as we have +on other occasions," remarked sober Frank.</p> + +<p>"Wonder if Perc happens to be looking this way right now," Andy went on +to say. "Chances are, that he's got his old field glass leveled, and is +searching the heavens right along, in hopes of locating his lost +machine. And say, if he does glimpse this fine parade right now, can't +you see him turning green with envy to think of another glorious chance +coming to the hated Bird boys. Oh! my, oh! me! but it would be gall and +wormwood to Perc. Just as like as not he'd take a fit!"</p> + +<p>But Frank was not giving any time to such thoughts as these. More +serious affairs engaged his attention. When once he left the firm +footing of the solid earth, and invaded the upper currents where up to +lately man had never traveled, save in a drifting balloon, he always put +levity aside, and paid strict attention to business.</p> + +<p>The panorama below them was constantly changing, and the boys could not +but admire the pictures thus presented to their gaze. No matter how +often one may go up a thousand feet or more above the earth, it is next +to impossible to weary of the wonderful scenes that keep passing +constantly in review as the buzzing motor keeps carrying the aeroplane +along over plain, valley, hills, forests, rivers, and villages or towns +that chance to lie in the route.</p> + +<p>To Andy it was all somewhat in the nature of a grand picnic, for his +nature was not one to contemplate peril at a distance. Had he and Frank +just come out for an hour's spin he could not have shown more delight, +as they went whirling through space, with that rival flier a mile or two +ahead.</p> + +<p>"Do you think we're gaining on them?" asked Andy, after some time had +elapsed, and the country below began to get unfamiliar, proving that +they had now come beyond the range of any previous trip taken to the +northward of Bloomsbury.</p> + +<p>"I don't know for sure," replied his cousin. "Sometimes I think we are, +and then again I'm a little in doubt. Suppose you get the glass out, and +see what they're doing, Andy?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm a great one, forgetting all about that bully marine glass." +As he said this Andy hastened to feel for the article in question, which +was always kept handy, because there never could be any telling when +they might want to use it in a hurry.</p> + +<p>"Go slow; no use rocking the boat," sang out the pilot, who was forever +cautioning his companion with regard to quick motions when seated in +such a delicately balanced contraption as a biplane. "It's a good thing +that we've got that new fool-proof contrivance that Mr. Wright invented, +on this machine right now, because only for that you'd be giving me more +than a few scares when you swing from one side to the other so quickly."</p> + +<p>A minute later, and Andy, who had been looking through the glasses, +spoke again.</p> + +<p>"It's a little hard to cover them steadily, because they keep rising +and dipping just like we are; but I can see that little Casper Blue, and +the man alongside of him is a much larger chap."</p> + +<p>"Of course it's Casper who's piloting the biplane?" remarked Frank.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and he knows the ropes, let me tell you. I don't believe there are +many professional birdmen today who can go ahead of that man. I only +wish you could take a squint through here, and watch how he manipulates +the levers, in spite of that stiff arm of his. Only for that, and he'd +still be in the harness, and doing stunts that'd have Beachy left far +behind."</p> + +<p>"Either that, or else he'd be buried," remarked Frank, drily.</p> + +<p>"Oh! well, the less we have to say about that the better I'll feel, +Frank. If you're going in for aviation at all you've just got to forget +all about being in constant danger; though I hope I'll never get so I'll +be reckless like Perc Carberry. But Frank, sure we seem to be picking up +a little on that crowd. And from the way they keep looking back all the +while, I guess they know it too."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we are," Frank went on to say, "but if I really thought so I'd +cut down a peg or two in our speed."</p> + +<p>At that Andy set up a howl; at least he voiced his objection.</p> + +<p>"Well, that's a queer stunt for you to do, I must say, Frank. Here we +are chasing after our game, and the very first time we believe we're +gaining some, you inform me you mean to cut down our speed. Is that the +way to win the game, tell me?"</p> + +<p>"But we don't want to come up with them while we're booming along like +this, you understand," ventured Frank, as he gently moved a lever just a +trifle; "this sort of racing is a lot different from what you'd do on +the ground down there. Suppose we did come abreast of that biplane right +now, what good would that do us? Could we put out a hand and arrest the +yeggmen? Wouldn't it be more likely that such desperate men as these +must be, would try some sort of game looking to disable our craft, and +sending us tumbling down to our death? No, excuse me from coming to +close quarters up here with such hard cases. Honest now, Andy, if they +began to circle around as if they meant to turn on us, I'd think it my +duty to run!"</p> + +<p>"Oh!" exclaimed Andy, "you mean you'd coax 'em to follow us back to +Bloomsbury, and then give themselves up, is that it, Frank? Oh! but +you're a cunning chap, sure you are. But on the level now, what is our +game, if it doesn't mean we're going to overtake 'em?"</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you, Andy. We ought to keep following after them as far as we +can, and in that way learn where they drop. If we get a chance to send +down an occasional message to be sent on to Bloomsbury so much the +better. I've written several such out, and have the cord to tie them to +weights. Given a chance, when we're passing over some town perhaps we +can get one such message sent on home. Even that would tell them where +we were, and what the chances are."</p> + +<p>"Great game, Frank! Suppose you let me have those messages, and I'll be +amusing myself getting the same ready to heave, when you say the word. +We c'n play that this is a war game, and we've been sent out to drop +bombs on the fortifications of the enemy. We've done it with rocks, and +we can throw pretty straight; so it seems to me we ought to get some +sort of fun out of it all around."</p> + +<p>Frank told him where he could find the written messages in his outer +pocket; and for some time Andy was quiet, busying himself in fastening +some sort of anchor to each piece of paper, sufficient to carry it +earthward, despite the breeze that at the time might be blowing.</p> + +<p>All at once Andy noticed that they were going quite slowly in comparison +with the pace they had lately been "hitting up."</p> + +<p>"What's happening, Frank?" he exclaimed, almost alarmed lest some +accident had befallen the reliable little motor, which up to now had +never failed them, no matter how great the call upon its resources. "Why +are we slowing up? Is there something gone wrong, and must we own up to +being beaten?"</p> + +<p>"Look ahead at the biplane!" was all that Frank replied.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 65%;"><br><br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XIX"></a><h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> +<br> + +<p>DROPPING A "BOMB!"</p> + +<p>"Oh! we've started to swoop down on them! Honest to goodness, I don't +believe they're more 'n half as far ahead as they were, Frank!" cried +Andy, thrilled by the sight of the other biplane being so near.</p> + +<p>"Just about that," said Frank, quietly, the busy motor having decreased +its merry hum, so that they could talk without raising their voices very +much.</p> + +<p>"Then you must have let out an extra kink, did you, Frank, when I was +busy with my bombs?" demanded the other.</p> + +<p>"Oh! no," came the answer, "the fact of the matter is, Andy, they have +dropped off a lot of their speed, and that's how we covered space +quicker."</p> + +<p>"Something gone wrong with Percy's new Gnome engine, then, has it; and +he blew his horn so about what wonders it was going to do? Huh!" and +Andy chuckled in his boyish delight.</p> + +<p>"No, I don't believe that is the reason they've slackened their speed, +Andy."</p> + +<p>"Trying to save gasolene, then?" pursued the other.</p> + +<p>"Hardly that, either, Andy."</p> + +<p>"Oh! now I see what you mean, Frank; the poor old greenhorn's got cold +feet, and is making Casper slow down. He thinks that there's less chance +of a tumble if the speed is reduced; just as if that could make any +particular difference."</p> + +<p>"I reckon you're away off yet," persisted Frank.</p> + +<p>"Then, for goodness' sake won't you tell me what they have cut notches +out of their speed for; because I'm all balled up, and blessed if I can +think of another thing! Oh! look at that, Frank! Sure as anything I saw +a puff of smoke then. There must be something the matter with their +engine, and they're getting scared. I wouldn't be surprised a mite to +see them settle right away, and try to land."</p> + +<p>"Well, you saw smoke all right, and if you'd listened sharp, you'd have +heard a sassy little bark at the same time, Andy."</p> + +<p>"A what, Frank?"</p> + +<p>"Call it a snarl, then. Take up your glasses, Andy, and look; while I +drop out even a little more of our speed, so we'll fall back further."</p> + +<p>Hardly had Andy clapped the glasses to his eyes than he gave vent to an +exclamation of mingled amazement and alarm.</p> + +<p>"That greenhorn is looking this way, Frank, and as sure as goodness he's +pointing at us right now. Oh! he did something then, for I saw another +puff of smoke, and it came right from his hand. Why, he's shooting at +us, Frank! That must be a gun he's got in his hand, and he's trying to +hit us! If our motor didn't keep up such a constant whirl we might have +heard the whine of that lead when it went singing past us!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, perhaps we might," Frank went on to say, composedly.</p> + +<p>"But what can we do?" demanded the other, nervously.</p> + +<p>"Nothing more than decrease our own speed as often as they do, and play +the game of tag backwards. If they get going it too strong, why, just as +I said before, I'll turn tail, and head back toward Bloomsbury, daring +them to follow, which you can be sure they won't, because our town is a +mighty unhealthy place just now for Casper Blue and his pal. There! he +fired again."</p> + +<p>"That makes three times he's tried it, Frank!"</p> + +<p>"And I guess he can try the other three without doing us any damage, +Andy."</p> + +<p>"You believe that, do you?" asked the one spoken to.</p> + +<p>"Sure thing," Frank replied positively. "Why, it would be one chance in +ten thousand that he could strike any part of our aeroplane at that +distance, going as both of us are, and with only a revolver. I'd be +willing to let him blaze away all day, without being a bit afraid. But +I'm bound that the two air crafts must keep at least this distance +apart."</p> + +<p>The man in the other airship did fire three more times, but without any +success whatever. And as though the rival navigator realized that +Frank's tactics would effectually prevent his coming into closer contact +with the pursuing craft, he no longer tried to close in, but increasing +his speed, was quickly about the old distance away.</p> + +<p>Whereupon Frank Bird also hit up the pace cautiously.</p> + +<p>"That's the ticket!" cried out Andy, presently. "I guess we're holding +our own again now. For a little while I began to be afraid that they +were going to just make us take their dust, and give us the merry ha-ha, +vanishing in the distance. But now I know you've got the twist of the +thing down fine, Frank, and can haul up on the biplane, or drop back, +just as you feel like."</p> + +<p>For a long time they kept on, neither saying anything, for talking is +always more or less of an effort when speeding along in an aeroplane, +with the wind striking one in the face.</p> + +<p>Frank had had no time to fully adjust the muffler which he usually wore +about his neck when about to soar to a dizzy height, so he would have to +do the best he could; and besides, there was little chance of the other +aeroplane venturing to bore upward to any unusual degree, all the +efforts of the bank thieves being directed toward making their escape.</p> + +<p>He did have his goggles adjusted, however, which was a good thing, since +his eyes must have watered very much from the cold air; and this is +considered an ever present source of danger to one who manipulates the +levers of a mile-a-minute aeroplane.</p> + +<p>"We seem to have dropped a good deal lower, Frank," remarked Andy, after +another space of time had elapsed.</p> + +<p>"Yes," remarked the pilot, tersely.</p> + +<p>"And I'm looking now for a good chance to make use of one of my bombs; +don't you think it's about time to try the scheme out?" Andy continued.</p> + +<p>"Just as you feel like," replied Frank.</p> + +<p>"Then at the very next town, or place that looks like it had telephone +connection with the outside world, I'm going to have a try. Might have +done it when we passed over that last place where the people were all +waving things up at us, and we could just hear a confused shouting. I +bet you, Frank, they just thought this was a regular air contest, with a +prize offered to the winner."</p> + +<p>"Well, it is," observed the other. "If we win, we take back our +prisoners; and on the other hand, if they come out first best they get +away to Canada with their liberty and their plunder. Yes, it's a race, +all right, Andy, a test of skill and endurance; and perhaps the best man +will win."</p> + +<p>"Then I know who that will be," declared Andy, enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>"Don't be too sure," warned Frank, though it must have pleased him to +know that he possessed the fullest confidence of his cousin and chum, +who had been his constant companion on so many expeditions, and must +understand him like a book.</p> + +<p>"What if they keep everlastingly at it, and night comes on?" asked +Andy, presently.</p> + +<p>"Well, there's the moon, though I don't like chasing along this way +after sundown; and if we're put to it, we've got our fine search-light, +you must remember," Frank replied.</p> + +<p>"There, I believe we're going to pass right over another town, Frank!"</p> + +<p>"It does look that way, for a fact," admitted the other. "Casper doesn't +see any reason why he should bother changing his set course due north +because he happens to pass a few towns away up here in the northern end +of the State. Let the people stare all they want to. He's been used to +having crowds gape at him, you know, and rather likes it. Besides, if he +gets away, what does it matter?"</p> + +<p>Andy prepared himself for the little job he had on hand.</p> + +<p>As he had practiced throwing stones from the aeroplane while at a great +height, just to see how near he could come to hitting a certain place +far below, so as to ascertain what chance aviators would have of making +bombs tell in war times, the boy believed he would be able to drop his +message pretty accurately in some open place, close to where the +townspeople were clustered. And seeing it fall, some one would be sure +to hurry over to secure the mysterious object.</p> + +<p>"Here goes our old broken wrench, which has been hanging around so +long!" declared Andy, as, leaning carefully over, he measured distances +with his eye, and suddenly let the object slip, taking care to make all +allowances for their speed.</p> + +<p>This is more of a trick than most boys would suppose. The next time you +are on a speeding electric car throw a stone at a telegraph pole just as +you are passing it, and see how much beyond the missile will alight, +because of the momentum it received because of the fact of its starting +from the moving car.</p> + +<p>Andy had this pretty well figured out, and knew just when to launch his +weighted message. He turned his head, and tried to follow it downward as +well as he was able because of the fluttering white paper.</p> + +<p>"It's going straight there, Frank, I do believe!" he exclaimed, as he +managed to get the powerful glasses up to his eyes, and fairly followed +the progress of the message, though quickly losing it again. "Yes, and +the crowd there on the green must see it coming, because already a bunch +of boys has started to jump that way. They'll find it easy enough, +Frank. Now, what d'ye think of that for a successful bomb throw?"</p> + +<p>"Good enough for you, Andy," was the hearty response. "And we'll have to +take it as a sign that we're going to come out of this scrape as we +generally do, with our colors flying."</p> + +<p>Frank usually allowed himself to feel the fullest belief in his own +abilities; at the same time he always wished to avoid over-confidence.</p> + +<p>Again time passed on, and the hum of the busy motor was the only sound +that came to the ears of the two young aviators. They were again making +nearly full speed; though Andy felt pretty confident that, had it been +necessary for Frank to coax an additional unit or two of "hurry" from +the gallant little Kinkaid engine, it would respond to his efforts.</p> + +<p>"My! but we must have covered a lot of distance since we started," was +the next remark from Andy. "How long do you suppose we've been going, +Frank?"</p> + +<p>"Look and see. It was just five minutes after one when we left the field +on the Hoskins farm, Andy."</p> + +<p>"Two hours, Frank; now, what d'ye think of that? Why, I never would have +believed it if you'd told me. Do you think my watch has jumped on +ahead?</p> + +<p>"No, because we've been hustling right along all of that time, I guess, +Andy."</p> + +<p>"Keeping everlastingly at it, and headed due north all the while," said +Andy.</p> + +<p>"As straight as a die; they never varied their course even a little bit, +as far as I could see," the pilot declared.</p> + +<p>"But we've covered an awful lot of apace, Frank!"</p> + +<p>"I guess you're right there," admitted the one addressed.</p> + +<p>"And, Frank, if we keep on this way, and nothing happens, we ought to +sight the big lake away; ahead there inside of 'half an hour more, I +should think?" Andy ventured to say, and he was thrilled when his +companion, turning toward him just at that moment, went on to say:</p> + +<p>"Perhaps in less time than that, Andy; with the glasses you might +glimpse it even now!"</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 65%;"><br><br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XX"></a><h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> +<br> + +<p>OVER LAND AND SEA</p> + +<p>"Are you joshing me, Frank?" demanded the other Bird boy, as he swung +eagerly around, so as to fix his glasses upon the far off horizon ahead +of them.</p> + +<p>"I certainly am not, Andy; but please be more careful how you move. You +gave me a punch in the ribs just then that sent a cold shiver all over +me. Don't forget that we're not stretched out on the ground under an +apple tree taking an afternoon doze. Well, what do you see?"</p> + +<p>"Frank, I do believe you're right about that lake business!" exclaimed +Andy.</p> + +<p>"Then you can see it?" asked the other, himself more than anxious, +because of the fact that the fleeing bank robbers who had stolen the +biplane of Percy Carberry apparently intended to escape over the line +into Canada, even if to accomplish their purpose they had to daringly +cross Lake Ontario, many miles wide, a feat as yet only successfully +done by one or two bold fliers of national repute.</p> + +<p>"I sure can; and the way we're heading it's a dead open-and-shut thing +that we're just going to swing out over the water before another hour +passes. Whew!"</p> + +<p>Andy finished his sentence with this significant exclamation. It was as +though not only the novelty of the thing but its thrilling nature +staggered him. The Bird boys had flown under many strange conditions, +but as yet they had not made a water flight.</p> + +<p>There is and always must be a vast difference between passing over the +land, with its forests, hills, valleys, plains, cities and villages, to +starting out over a wide stretch of inland sea, with only the tumbling +waves far below, and new as well as untried currents of air to meet and +conquer.</p> + +<p>More than a few times Andy Bird had expressed a wish to have just such +an experience. It would be a novelty, something entirely new in their +line, and which would give them possibly delightful thrills.</p> + +<p>But now that the chance seemed opening up before them, he found himself +viewing it with considerable apprehension, as well as delight.</p> + +<p>Of course it made considerable difference that they should be chasing +after a desperate pair of rascals, rather than simply trying to +accomplish a flight from United States territory to that belonging to +Canada. There was always the chance that these men might turn upon them, +and succeed in doing something to injure the hydroplane, causing it to +drop into the midst of that inland sea.</p> + +<p>Strange how small things often insist upon thrusting themselves forward +when some sort of peril threatens. The very first thing Andy seemed to +think about was the fact that they did not happen to have any life +preservers aboard the craft. Not that there was one chance in a thousand +they would ever need such things around Bloomsbury, though there was +Lake Sunrise to be reckoned with; but just then it struck the boy that +every well equipped aeroplane ought always to carry a couple of rubber +rings along, which, in moments of dire necessity could be blown full of +air, and would serve to sustain wrecked aviators until help came.</p> + +<p>He even decided to mention this fact to his cousin, after this voyage +was concluded. It loomed up as large as the Rock of Gibralter just then, +even as a dream may at the moment of awaking, but which later on begins +to lose its realistic effect until it seems next door to silly.</p> + +<p>"They don't show the least sign of changing their course, do they, +Frank?" Andy remarked after another spell of time had passed.</p> + +<p>"Not that you could notice," replied the other, composedly.</p> + +<p>Andy derived more or less comfort from this way his chum had of keeping +his head even under the most trying conditions. When his own nerves were +fairly quivering with excitement, it always steadied Andy to turn and +see that Frank was as cool and calm as though nothing were amiss. More +than a few times in the past it had caused the more hot-headed Bird boy +to conquer his own weakness, and do himself credit in some difficult +feat that became necessary. Example is a splendid thing to lead any boy +along safe roads. Words may be forgotten in the trying moment; but when +he actually sees the thing done before his very eyes, it is indelibly +impressed upon his mind.</p> + +<p>"About how long will it be before we get there?" Andy asked again; for +he was forever wanting to know, when he had any misgivings about his own +capacity for reaching a reasonable conclusion.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean before we leave the land, and commence our voyage across +the lake?" Frank inquired.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's it—more than half an hour, at the speed we're going now?" +continued the other.</p> + +<p>"Just about, I should say," Frank replied, after carefully measuring +distances with his eye. "We are up pretty high, and can cover a +tremendous range, you know, so we first glimpsed the lake when we were a +long ways off. It may be all of forty miles away right now; and as we +must be clipping along at the rate of eighty, with the breeze favorable +behind us, why, half an hour ought to see us there."</p> + +<p>Andy fell silent again.</p> + +<p>Many times did his eyes travel from the distant water to the earth below +them; and then follow this up with an uneasy stare at the other +aeroplane that was flying along far ahead of them. The whole solution of +the problem of course lay in the hands of the man who controlled the +destinies of that stolen biplane. Would he really have the nerve to +attempt a flight across that great body of fresh water, aiming to land +on foreign shores, from which he could not easily be extradited?</p> + +<p>Frank seemed to think that such was undoubtedly the intention of Casper +Blue, the little man who had been actor, aviator, and yeggman in turn, +during the course of his adventurous life.</p> + +<p>He had already proven beyond any doubt that he was a capable airman, +even though he did have a crippled arm. Never had the Bird boys seen an +aeroplane handled with more extraordinary skill and dash than was the +one that had been stolen from the hangar of Percy Carberry.</p> + +<p>No, unless something unexpected happened to disturb the plans of the +fugitive yeggmen inside the next half hour, they plainly meant to launch +out on a voyage across the lake, possibly thousands of feet above its +surface, and perhaps among the very clouds.</p> + +<p>Not once did Andy dream of asking his cousin whether in this event he +considered it the part of wisdom for them to follow the men who were +doubly risking their lives in this mad effort to escape with their +booty.</p> + +<p>He knew Frank only too well to doubt his willingness to undertake such a +trip as this. In times gone by, and especially when they were down in +South America with their aeroplane, seeking Professor Bird, who had been +lost, with the balloon in which he was conducting experiments on the +isthmus, they had bravely faced just as serious perils as this promised +to be; yes, and wrenched victory from the jaws of apparent defeat more +than once.</p> + +<p>Hence, it was a foregone conclusion that if Casper Blue attempted the +difficult feat of flying across the lake, after being in the air several +long hours, the two Bird boys were determined to keep following after +him. It seemed like a game of "conquer," which Andy remembered so well; +where the rival aviator dared to go they must follow, or acknowledge his +superiority as a bold airman, something neither of them felt like doing.</p> + +<p>Frank had figured it all out while he was speeding along so smoothly.</p> + +<p>So far as he could see everything was working as easily as could be; the +motor never missed, and was running like a charm, just as though it +could keep this up everlastingly in an endurance test. And besides, the +wind, what there was of it at present, seemed to favor them most +positively, because it was at their backs.</p> + +<p>So far as appearances went the conditions were ideal for the crossing of +the great lake that was now showing up ahead most grandly.</p> + +<p>Andy drew in big breaths, and tried to keep from quivering with delight, +mingled with just a little nervousness. Here was a new experience about +to come to them; and one that they were not apt to soon forget. As a boy +Andy delighted in novel sensations; and as an ambitious aviator he +yearned to experience all the glorious possibilities that open up to the +one who has the pluck and the nerve to attempt them.</p> + +<p>They could see a town in plain sight, though they had gradually ascended +since Andy cast his bomb so successfully. Perhaps his little game of +opening communications with the earth below had been observed by one of +those in the leading airship; and in order to prevent another attempt, +this gradual ascent had been immediately carried out.</p> + +<p>But Frank fully expected to see the rival aeroplane begin to drop as +they drew near the border of the fresh water sea. Since just then there +was no squally wind near the surface of the water, which they wished to +avoid by remaining thousands of feet high, the chances were that Casper +Blue would soon commence to use his deflecting rudder, and begin to +descend in wide spirals; or else, with the daring of an old and skilled +air navigator, shut off power, and volplane down in a slant that would +thrill any spectator as nothing else could, until the required distance +had been covered, when he would again bring the shooting aeroplane on a +level basis, and resume his forward progress.</p> + +<p>Whatever he did Frank was ready to imitate.</p> + +<p>He had the fullest confidence in his own ability to accomplish the most +difficult feat that would be required.</p> + +<p>"Steady yourself, now, Andy," he cautioned; "because they're going to +change the going pretty soon, I take it. Better put that glass away, and +be ready to give me a lift if I need it. Watch and see if they don't +drop down closer to the water. It would be a wise thing to do, I take +it; for in case of accident the spill wouldn't be so bad."</p> + +<p>"All right, Frank, just as you say," replied the other, accustomed to +looking to his cousin for the words of command when an emergency or a +crisis came along.</p> + +<p>He fastened the precious glasses in their rigid case, where they would +be safe so long as the aeroplane remained above the surface of the +water, or did not fall to the ground in a serious wreck.</p> + +<p>Then Andy paid attention to a number of small but very important matters +that had always been given over into his charge at times like this. The +Bird boys had been comrades so long that they worked together like a +well oiled machine. The ball team that has played in company for a +season can accomplish feats that would be utterly impossible to a nine +that had been brought from various clubs, even though each player might +have been a star in his respective team.</p> + +<p>So it was with Frank and Andy; they had grown to know each other's +points so well that when the moment came it often seemed as though they +instinctively formed a single unit, with that exceedingly bright brain +possessed by Frank doing all the piloting of the combination.</p> + +<p>They were all ready for the business in hand long before the border of +the big water was reached. Frank had looked around him several times, +and his cousin seemed to know instinctively that he was endeavoring to +decide as to whether the wind was apt to hold as it chanced to be at the +time; or increase in velocity, should they drop to lower levels.</p> + +<p>It was rather awe inspiring to see that vast gulf of glistening water +stretching as far as the eye could reach in three directions, north, +east and west. From the high altitude which they still occupied, they +could not tell whether the lake was calm, or waves rolling along its +surface. The westering sun glittered from its bosom as though it might +be streaked with gold, and altogether it was a sight that neither of the +boys would soon forget.</p> + +<p>To Andy in particular it appealed with vigor. His nature was more +inclined to worship at the shrine of the romantic than would be the case +with the practical Frank. To Andy that vast sheet of water seemed +mysterious, profound, filled with secrets of argosies that were launched +on its breast centuries ago, when only the bark canoes of the red men +had ever been wedded to its waters. In imagination the boy could even +then see the barques of the early explorers, those bold men who had +pushed thither from across the ocean, and risked their lives in order to +learn what the New Country held for brave hearts.</p> + +<p>Perhaps, had he still gripped the glass in his hands, and cared to look +earthward before leaving the shore for that adventurous cruise, Andy +might have seen many a group of wondering people all watching the flight +of those hurrying ships of the upper air currents, and even waving hats +and handkerchiefs in the endeavor to attract the attention of the bold +navigators, whom they supposed to be engaged in a race for a wager.</p> + +<p>But there was now no longer time for anything like this, and all their +attention must be concentrated upon the one thing that meant so much to +them—the safety of the delicate craft in which they were now about to +entrust their very lives for a voyage, the like of which few airmen had +ever entered before.</p> + +<p>Already had the other aeroplane sailed away, and was even now hanging +over the inland sea, that lay fully four thousand feet below, its +further shore hidden in what seemed to be a cloud, though it might prove +to be a rising fog, fated to engulf both pursuing and pursued air craft +in its baffling folds, and turn the comedy of the race into a tragedy.</p> + +<p>"Goodbye old land!" sang out Andy, when they seemed to suddenly pass out +over the water, leaving the shore of New York behind.</p> + +<p>Frank said not a word, but no doubt his feelings were just as strong as +those of his companion. And so they had now embarked on what seemed to +be the last leg of the strange chase, with the future lying before them +as mystifying as that fog bank lying far away to the north.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 65%;"><br><br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXI"></a><h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2> +<br> + +<p>OVER THE BOUNDARY LINE</p> + +<p>It was with the queerest possible feeling that Andy saw the land +slipping away, and realized that they were at last launched upon the +water part of the voyage.</p> + +<p>It seemed as though they had cast loose from their safe moorings, and +were adrift upon an uncharted sea. When comparing his feelings with +other aviators in later times, he learned that every one of them had +experienced exactly similar sensations the first time they passed out of +touch of land, and found the heaving sea alone beneath them. It was a +sort of air intoxication; Andy even called it sea-sickness, though +doubtless most of it came from imagination alone.</p> + +<p>"There they go, Frank!" he called out, not ten minutes later.</p> + +<p>The land was far behind them now, and still in the other three +directions they saw only the level surface of the great lake.</p> + +<p>His exclamation was called out by a sudden change in the method of +advance adopted by those in the leading aeroplane. Instead of keeping +along in a direct line the biplane had uptilted and was now shooting +downward in what seemed a terribly perilous way; just as though the pair +of precious scoundrels had taken a notion to end the pursuit by seeking +a plunge into the water.</p> + +<p>But both boys knew differently, and that this was only a volplane, +adopted by experienced and rash aviators as a means of reaching the +lower air currents more rapidly than by slow spirals; or else undertaken +when having engine trouble that threatens destruction.</p> + +<p>Frank was ready to follow suit. It would not be the first time by long +odds that the Bird boys had accomplished this speedy method of +descending from high altitudes. There was always an exhilaration about +the clever trick that appealed irresistibly to their natures; though +Frank would never have attempted it unless reasonably sure that the +conditions were favorable for success.</p> + +<p>"Hold fast, Andy!" he remarked, quietly.</p> + +<p>The hum of the motor suddenly ceased, and with its cessation the +hydroplane was turned head-on toward the surface of the lake, four +thousand feet below.</p> + +<p>Down they went, plunging toward what seemed to be instant destruction; +but a steady hand was at the wheel, and the pilot knew just what was +necessary to do at the proper instant in order to bring this rapid +descent to a stop, and right the airship on a level keel.</p> + +<p>But there was no time just then to note what the rival aeroplane might +be doing. Whether the experienced airman in charge managed to stop that +downward plunge before reaching the surface of the lake; or failing went +to his death, was a matter that did not concern them now, since they had +their own affairs to look after.</p> + +<p>To tell the truth, Andy's heart seemed to be in his throat as they made +the drop. As yet they had never tried out the new hydroplane in a trick +of this sort; and hence really did not know just how it might act; +though Frank must have been pretty confident, else he would never have +attempted it.</p> + +<p>Given the choice the Bird boys would easily have decided to descend from +their lofty height by means of the much safer if slower "spirals," each +circle seeing the aeroplane lower than before. But since the reckless +man in the other air craft led the way, Frank had chosen to follow. He +believed that he could accomplish any feat that was possible to Casper +Blue, especially now that the old air navigator had a handicap in the +way of a crippled arm.</p> + +<p>The water seemed rushing up to meet them; so it looked to Andy, whose +anxious gaze was fastened upon the lower depths, as they dipped down in +that terrific swoop. But then, he had seen the same thing when over the +land, so that in itself this did not daunt him.</p> + +<p>"Oh!"</p> + +<p>That exclamation seemed to be forced from Andy's lips when he felt Frank +give a quick turn to the lever that caused the deflecting rudder to +again resume a normal position. The drop of the aeroplane was brought to +a gradual stop, and when immediately afterwards the buzz of the motor +announced that the propelling power was again at work, it was no wonder +that the nervous boy expressed his relief by giving vent to that cry. +There was a world of gratitude back of that word, it can be set down as +certain; for no matter how confident Andy might have been concerning his +cousin's ability to accomplish wonders, the new hydroplane was as yet +untried in many things.</p> + +<p>Now he even dared take his awed gaze from the heaving waters beneath the +framework of the aeroplane, and give a thought to those whom they had +chased overland and water for nearly three hours.</p> + +<p>"Bully for Casper Blue! He made the riffle too! he's all to the good!" +was the way the impulsive Andy announced his discovery to Frank, who +just then could not spare even a second to take his attention off the +working of the motor.</p> + +<p>After all, it was not so very strange that the boy should express +himself in this way. True, the man he was praising was now a criminal, +and they sought to effect his arrest in some manner as yet vague and +uncertain; but it was not in this light Andy viewed him just then. As a +birdsman Casper Blue had proved that he still possessed the nerve and +skill to direct a daring flight, and that all the tricks known to +celebrated fliers were at his finger's ends.</p> + +<p>Any one who has risked his life up among the clouds must always respect +such a valiant spirit, even though aware that the object of his +admiration has in other ways forfeited the esteem of all honorable men.</p> + +<p>There was the biplane moving along on a level keel, and not more than +two hundred feet above the water. And still the course held due north, +showing that the desperate men who were thus fleeing from arrest had +not the slightest intention of changing their plans.</p> + +<p>"What do you think of her now, Andy?" asked the pilot, with a quiver of +pride in his voice.</p> + +<p>"You must mean our new craft, I take it, Frank; and I want to say that +she's a real peach, if ever there was one. We never volplaned as easy as +that in our lives, and that's a fact. Why, it was like sliding downhill +on a sled, with never a single bump on the way. I could do that all day, +and never get enough."</p> + +<p>"Dangerous business, all the same," remarked Frank; "and doubly so when +you don't happen to be well acquainted with your machine. A single +hitch, and we would have struck the water at a terrible rate."</p> + +<p>"But all the same we didn't, Frank," the other went on, jubilantly; for +now that this peril was of the past Andy could be his old self again.</p> + +<p>"And they did just as well," remarked Frank, always ready to give +credit, even though it might be to a rival, for his nature was generous +to a fault.</p> + +<p>"Well, that biplane was easier to manage than our hydroplane, with the +pontoons underneath," Andy went on to say, grudgingly; for no one could +ever convince him that Frank had his superior as an air pilot; and he +would sooner go up to a record height of fifteen thousand feet in +company with his cousin, than accompany the most famous man living.</p> + +<p>"It looks like we might be booked for Canada, Frank," he went on to say, +a minute later, after they had fallen into the new "stride" comfortably, +and were rushing forward on a level stretch, with the surface of the +lake close at hand.</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't wonder," came the noncommital reply.</p> + +<p>Now, Andy knew his cousin like a book. Perhaps it was something in the +words; or on the other hand there may have been an undercurrent of doubt +in the way Frank spoke, that aroused the other's suspicion.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Frank?" he demanded, "for I reckon you see something that +is all a blank to me? Take me in, won't you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! I was wondering what would happen if they had an accident away out +on the lake, that's all," admitted the other.</p> + +<p>"Well, in that event I guess it'd be up to the Bird boys to play the +rescuer act for all it was worth. But Frank, do you think this new +machine of ours could climb up off the water with four aboard? Wouldn't +that be the limit?"</p> + +<p>"To tell you the truth, Andy, I don't know, because we've never had the +chance to try it out. With only two of us aboard you know how easy she +climbed; three passengers she could hoist, but four might faze her. We +can only wait and see, if ever the chance comes to make the test."</p> + +<p>"But you wouldn't hesitate about trying the same, I know, Frank?"</p> + +<p>"Of course not," the other remarked, confidently, "and especially when +it might mean life or death to a poor fellow away out here on the lake +miles from land. If we couldn't rise, we might still be able to float +like a duck, and hope that some boat would come to the rescue. In the +end that would be just the same."</p> + +<p>"Do you know," said Andy, "I saw a tug pulling out at full speed from +the little city on the shore of the lake, close to where we left land; +and somehow I seem to have an idea they know all about us, and mean to +keep in touch with us as long as they can, to be handy in case of +accident. Perhaps, now, my message was phoned to Bloomsbury; and seeing +about where we must be heading if we kept on a northerly course, they +have wired up here to watch out for us. How about that, Frank; am I +silly to figure that way?"</p> + +<p>"I don't see why you should be, Andy. In fact, just as soon as you +mentioned about the tug I began wondering if somehow these good people +didn't know who we were, and what we were chasing after the biplane +for."</p> + +<p>They had to speak unusually loud in order to hear, even though their +heads were close together at the time; for the propellers were whirling +with a hiss, and the hum of the motor added to the noise. But then, it +was all a merry racket that chimed in well with the spirit of the young +aviators; and which gave them much the same pleasure that the splash +through the foaming water of a ninety-foot racing yacht must awaken in +the heart of an enthusiastic skipper, when he knows that every sail is +drawing to the limit, and all things are working well.</p> + +<p>"Have you figured out what we ought to do if by good luck we all get +over to the other side, safe and sound?" went on Andy.</p> + +<p>"We'll have to leave that," was the reply Frank made. "No use crossing a +bridge till you come to it, you know, Andy."</p> + +<p>"But they'll be safe then, Frank?" "I'm afraid so, even if I don't +pretend to be up in all the international law connected with the +passing of a thief from United States territory to Canada."</p> + +<p>"But ain't that a measly shame?" ejaculated the indignant Andy, "to +think of a robber being able to turn, and put his fingers to his nose +and wiggle 'em at us, just because he happens to cross the boundary +line. It oughtn't to be that way, Frank!"</p> + +<p>"Of course not; and I guess lots of abler chaps than you and me have +thought the same; but there it stands, and the two countries won't get +together to change the law even a little bit. Every year dozens of +embezzlers light out across the border for Canada, where they can spend +their money, and start for Europe if they feel like it."</p> + +<p>"Then perhaps it's the money they take with 'em that the Canadians like; +though I wouldn't like to believe such a thing," ventured Andy.</p> + +<p>"Hardly that; but both countries are jealous about bringing back +political offenders, I've heard Judge Lawson say more than once. But +don't let's talk any more'n we can help, Andy. We've got our hands full +as it is watching those fellows, and keeping ready to match any trick +they try."</p> + +<p>This served to give Andy a new cause for concentrating his attention on +the fleeing biplane once more. As yet the pilot of the leading airship +had not diverted from his set course; but if he was as tricky as they +had reason to believe, there was always a chance that he might engineer +some scheme, sooner or later, looking to shaking off his pursuers here +in the middle of the great lake, where possibly no mortal eye could +witness the deed, so as to appear against him later on.</p> + +<p>With the wind aft, of course the further they advanced the larger grew +the waves; and Andy noticed that they were now of quite respectable +size; though being directly above, he could not tell much about it, only +that in many spots he saw the white caps breaking, and this served as a +pointer.</p> + +<p>Would the hydroplane be able to ride such a sea in safety, in case +necessity compelled them to alight upon its swelling bosom?</p> + +<p>Frank did not seem to doubt it, for he had the utmost confidence in the +ability of those aluminum pontoons to sustain a great weight without +sinking. What they would possibly have to fear more than anything else, +was the chance of a capsize; and of course this would spell disaster as +much as anything else.</p> + +<p>Once they overtook a sailing schooner that was speeding along with a +fair breeze. Possibly those aboard thought they were making most +excellent time, with everything in their favor, but the aeroplanes sped +past the vessel almost as though it were a toy craft.</p> + +<p>A faint cheer was heard from those aboard who could be seen wildly +waving head-gear, or red handkerchiefs; just as though what they +considered a novel air race had been engineered especially for their +amusement.</p> + +<p>When Andy took occasion to look backward again in a short time he was +amazed to discover how far distant the sails of the schooner seemed. And +it was this incident more than anything else that gave him to understand +just what amazing speed the aeroplanes were putting in their mad race +across the inland sea.</p> + +<p>But while up to now the voyage had been without incident worthy of +mention, or accident of any kind, it could hardly be expected that this +immunity would continue to the very end. The splendid good fortune that +had hovered over both airships was apt to be brought to a sudden +termination at any moment, as Frank well knew.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 65%;"><br><br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXII"></a><h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2> +<br> + +<p>A HYDROPLANE RESCUE</p> + +<p>All this while Andy's nerves had been strained to a high pitch. And it +was not at all singular, therefore, that when the anticipated event came +to pass he gave vent to a loud cry.</p> + +<p>"Looky! Frank; they're going to drop! Something must have happened to +the motor or else a plane guy broke to cripple them!" was what he almost +shrieked.</p> + +<p>Frank was watching, though he had not uttered a single sound. He knew +that the half expected crisis was now upon them. At least his heart +found cause for rejoicing that if an accident had to happen, it affected +the other aeroplane rather than their own. It is much easier to bear +watching another's troubles than to bear your own.</p> + +<p>What Andy had said was the truth, for the craft they were chasing after +had taken a sudden dip, and was fluttering downward.</p> + +<p>If you have ever seen a crippled bird trying hard to keep afloat, you +can have a pretty good conception of how that biplane dropped lower and +lower toward the water.</p> + +<p>That it did not fall like a lump of lead spoke volumes for the +magnificent management of the pilot who controlled the levers, and whose +long experience had taught him just what to do in such a dreadful +emergency as this.</p> + +<p>Frank had instantly cut off much of their power, though they still +continued to sweep onward toward the place of the catastrophe, and were +rapidly drawing near the falling aeroplane.</p> + +<p>Both boys stared at the terrible picture of the descending biplane +nearing the heaving surface of the lake. It seemed very serious indeed, +for any one to drop in this way; and yet how much more dangerous to fall +upon land, where the wrecked aviators would stand a good chance of +broken limbs, even though they saved their necks.</p> + +<p>Then a cry from the impulsive Andy told that the biplane was in the +water. If the engine had broken loose there was a pretty fair chance +that the craft with its long extended planes would float, and even bear +up the two aviators. Perhaps the quick-witted Casper Blue had looked out +for just such a contingency, and found a way to free the framework from +the dead weight of the motor.</p> + +<p>Frank had all he could do to manipulate his own craft, for in order to +alight successfully, even as a wild duck does, he must make a turn, and +head up into the wind.</p> + +<p>That meant the passage of a certain length of time; and meanwhile who +could say what might not be happening to the imperiled men?</p> + +<p>On the other hand, Andy could not tear his horrified gaze away from the +wreck of the fallen biplane; and it was really upon him that the +navigator must depend for his information as to how things were going.</p> + +<p>Fortunately Andy could talk as well as look; no matter if his tongue did +show a decided inclination to cleave to the roof of his mouth with +horror, he managed to find a way to make it wag.</p> + +<p>"It floats, Frank, sure it floats!" he ejaculated, presently, even as +the other was in the act of making a sweeping curve, and skilfully +ducking a squally puff of wind, turn back over the course they had just +covered, to sink down upon the heaving waters when he found the chance. +"Yes, they must have kicked the engine overboard. That makes three poor +old Perc has lost, don't it? There they are, both of 'em, squattin' in +the middle of the wreck, just as cool as you please, awaitin' for us to +call in and take 'em off. Hope it don't sink before we c'n get back. If +either one can't swim they'd go down like a stone. Now you're around, +Frank; and we're heading straight for the place. Hurrah! Hold hard there +and we'll lend you a helpin' hand!"</p> + +<p>He even waved toward the two men by now pretty well submerged in the +water, but who seemed to be still clinging to the floating aeroplane, as +though recognizing that their position might be much more desperate +should they cut loose from that buoy.</p> + +<p>Frank was watching closely, to pick out a favorable opportunity to +alight. Well did he know the chances he and his chum were taking in thus +dropping upon the heaving surface of such a tremendous body of water as +Lake Ontario. It was true that they had successfully performed this +operation many times with their other hydroplane, but that was upon the +much calmer waters of little Sunrise Lake, where the sea never arose +heavy enough to imperil the floating aircraft. It would be much more +perilous now, under these conditions; but Frank had made up his mind to +attempt the rescue of those in the water, and was not to be easily +daunted.</p> + +<p>When the right opening came he allowed the hydroplane to dip gently +down, making sure that there was as little violence as possible in the +drop, because of the chance of burying the forward propeller under; or +losing his balance, upon which so much depended.</p> + +<p>Andy knew what he was expected to do, and was nimbly endeavoring to +swing his weight this way or that after they had launched on the waves, +so as to keep the pontoons on an even keel, and prevent a disastrous +spill. For once this occurred, the hydroplane would be of little more +advantage than the wrecked biplane, which barely upheld the two clinging +men, and was evidently sinking lower under the strain, with each passing +second, until the end must be in sight.</p> + +<p>At least they had dropped safely. The pontoons had been cleverly +adjusted so as to bear a just proportion of the weight, and they did +their duty faithfully and well in this great crisis.</p> + +<p>Of course, the next thing was to try and work closer to the sinking +biplane, and take the men aboard, one at a time. That would be a risky +proceeding, requiring all the skill that Frank could bring to the front.</p> + +<p>In the first place he had chosen to drop beyond the wreck of Percy's +biplane. This he had purposely done, in the hope that the wind might +drift them down upon the other aircraft.</p> + +<p>A minute's observation convinced Frank, however, that if they waited for +this to happen, the frail support which was buoying Casper Blue and his +mate up would have gone under long long before they could get within +touch.</p> + +<p>Already the second man was shrieking for them to hurry, because he could +feel himself slowly but surely sinking; and he let them know that he +could not swim a stroke.</p> + +<p>Plainly, then, they must do something to quicken things, if they meant +to be of any service to the two rogues, thus brought to a sudden halt +just when escape had seemed most bright.</p> + +<p>Frank remembered his engine. But would it work under such strange +conditions as this? He quickly saw that the rear propeller was half +buried in the water; and if it turned at all would have to churn things +just as though they were in truth a queerly fashioned boat, instead of +an airship, intended to mount to lofty heights, and vie with the eagle +in his circling above the clouds.</p> + +<p>Quickly, then, he started to make the trial; and Andy, seeing his +movement, comprehended what he must have in mind; for he swung out in +such fashion as to preserve a balance, and thus help things along as far +as lay in his power.</p> + +<p>What a sensation of relief that hum of the faithful little Kincaid +engine brought in its train, as it once more took up the burden of its +busy song. Why, it seemed to Andy as though he could almost shout in +sudden relief, when he heard it first, and saw the water flying from the +partly submerged propeller.</p> + +<p>But Frank was wise enough not to turn on full speed, knowing what a +terrific strain this condition of affairs must be upon the entire +fabric, flimsy at best; and if anything gave way it was all over with +them; for if a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, a +heavier-than-air flying machine certainly comes under the same category.</p> + +<p>"We're going it, Frank!" shouted Andy, when he saw that their speed had +increased several hundred per cent, and that they were now heading +straight for the partly submerged air navigators.</p> + +<p>It never occurred to Andy that either of the men might offer the +slightest objection to being rescued. Frank looked a little further +ahead; but even he could hardly believe that Casper Blue would prefer +to drown rather than be saved.</p> + +<p>What Frank was really concerning himself about more than anything else +was how he could stow away the two fellows, once they found a chance to +climb aboard the hydroplane; and whether he could get enough impetus +from the engine with such an unusual load, to rise from the water, once +he elevated his planes.</p> + +<p>"Hurry! oh! Hurry! I'm going down!" cried the larger man.</p> + +<p>Casper never said a word. Possibly, being a swimmer, he did not feel the +same degree of terror that his companion experienced. Then again, he may +have been coolly figuring on how he might turn the rescue to his own +advantage in some way; for he seemed to have that little black box slung +over his back by means of the strap; and it was easy to understand that +it must, as Andy had guessed, contain something of considerable more +value than a mere camera.</p> + +<p>Now they were closing in. The hydroplane round-up was being carried out +in what seemed to be a successful manner; and if all went well during +the next few minutes the drifting fugitives would be hauled aboard by +Andy, who stood ready to act the part of gallant rescuer to the king's +taste.</p> + +<p>It happened by mere accident that they were on that side of the sinking +wreck where the larger man clung; and this was just as it should have +been, since he seemed more in need of help, at least in far greater +distress of mind, than the smaller man.</p> + +<p>"Get ready, Andy!" warned the pilot; "I'll shut off the power if it +seems best; but it may keep us on a more even keel if we move along."</p> + +<p>"I'm going to try and get hold, and then pull him aboard; hope we don't +have a spill, though!" the other sent back, as he braced himself as best +the conditions allowed.</p> + +<p>Frank gave one little turn to the rudder, for he was afraid that they +might get past without coming in reach. Then the gap was completed, and +Andy, leaning over, managed to get hold of the sinking man by the collar +of his coat.</p> + +<p>There was where the greatest danger lay.</p> + +<p>When a man or a boy has the terror of drowning pressed in upon his +heart, he is usually a most unreasonable being; and will even clasp his +intended rescuer about the neck, and prevent him from carrying out his +plans that might have worked well only for this blundering.</p> + +<p>"Take it easy, you!" yelled Andy, as he saw the man clutch hold of the +framework of the hydroplane, and struggle desperately to work his way +along to where the others were. "If you give us half a chance we'll save +you, all right; but upset us and well all like as not go down together. +Slower, I tell you, or I'll give you this to teach you something. This +ain't an ocean liner, d'ye understand. Let up!"</p> + +<p>Whether it was the excited words of the boy, the manner in which he +flourished that short steel bar, or his ferocious looks, that brought +the excited man to his senses no one could ever say; but he did relax +some of his frantic movements and began to act more within reason.</p> + +<p>This presently gave Andy the opportunity he wanted to stretch out a +helping hand, and get a firm grip of the other's coat collar; after +which he exerted himself to the utmost to assist him to climb aboard.</p> + +<p>What with his own weight, and the fact that his clothes were dripping +with water, the addition of the new passenger caused the delicately +constructed and already heavily freighted hydroplane to sink more +deeply.</p> + +<p>Frank, in that supreme moment realized that it would be almost a +hopeless task to think of once more flying, with such a cargo aboard. +Possibly the best they could do would be to keep afloat, and hope that +the pursuing tug might come up with them before the darkness set in; +and they could all be rescued.</p> + +<p>Now that the first of the imperiled airmen had been hauled aboard, there +remained but Casper Blue himself. The wreck had not as yet sunk wholly, +since, relieved from the weight of the heavy man, it seemed to possess +enough buoyancy to remain on the surface of the water. But this could be +only for a short time; the planes would soon be thoroughly soaked, and +then the end must come, when the clinging man would find himself +deprived of all support, and must swim or go down.</p> + +<p>He had something of a half defiant look on his small sunburned face, as +he saw Andy trying to draw the wreck toward him, with the evident +intention of giving him the next opening. Perhaps he was half inclined +to take his chances as he was, rather than allow these two boys to make +him a prisoner.</p> + +<p>Frank had his mind made up. He figured that both men had been long +enough in the water to have their weapons well soaked, so that they +would be in no condition to threaten their rescuers.</p> + +<p>"The box, make him pass it up first, or we leave him here!" he called +out to Andy, as the latter was about to reach out and lay hold of the +smaller man.</p> + +<p>Casper Blue glared almost savagely at Frank. For the moment the Bird +boys even thought the enraged man would hurl defiance back at them, and +declare that he preferred taking his chances with the wreck rather than +give up the spoils.</p> + +<p>But just then it happened, fortunately, that the remnant of the biplane +began to settle more positively than before, warning him that it was +folly to pin any hope on its buoying him up more than a few minutes at +most.</p> + +<p>"Here, take it!" he snarled, handing up the box; which Andy immediately +passed over to his cousin before he would stretch out his hand again to +render the defeated yeggman any assistance.</p> + +<p>Then Casper Blue was drawn aboard, and lower still sank the buoyant +hydroplane, until both propellers were almost wholly submerged beneath +the surface of the heaving billows that came rolling on, steadily and +remorselessly.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 65%;"><br><br> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a><h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> +<br> + +<p>BROUGHT TO BOOK—CONCLUSION</p> + +<p>"What time is it, Frank?" asked Andy, who w as breathing very hard after +his recent exertions in helping both men to get a footing on the +hydroplane.</p> + +<p>"I think pretty close to four o'clock," replied the other, though he +made no attempt to take out the little nickel watch, he always carried +nowadays.</p> + +<p>The fact of the matter was that Frank did not dare trust Casper Blue. He +could see that the little man was a desperate character, and that he did +not view the prospect of being made a prisoner, and taken back to +Bloomsbury with any great show of enthusiasm. In fact, it was a most +unpleasant proposition for the bank thief to contemplate at all.</p> + +<p>And so Frank was watching him closely. He had, before starting on this +dangerous air flight that had ended so far from home, and under such +singular conditions placed a little pistol in his pocket, though hardly +under the belief that he would have any occasion to make use of it.</p> + +<p>But he was now determined not to let this man get the upper hand. He +could see that various desperate plans must be forming in that scheming +brain of the one-time aviator, and now yeggman; and Frank was constantly +on the watch so that he might not be caught napping.</p> + +<p>"Four o'clock!" repeated Andy; "that would mean at least two more hours +before the sun set, wouldn't it; and even after that it might stay light +enough another hour for them to see us if they steamed along?"</p> + +<p>"You mean the people aboard that tug, don't you?" asked Casper Blue, +sneeringly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, they seemed to be chasing after us, and I only hope they do keep +moving," replied Andy, "because they must have seen the accident, that +is if they had any sort of a marine glass aboard, which I reckon they +did."</p> + +<p>"And I suppose, now, you think there might be officers aboard that same +tug?" the other went on to say.</p> + +<p>"Oh! we don't know anything about that," Andy remarked, carelessly. "But +if they came along after a while it'd save us from a lot of worrying. +Just think, if the night set in, and the four of us weighing this poor +old hydroplane down like we are what a time we'd have before another +morning came around."</p> + +<p>"It would like as not rise, if there was only two aboard, wouldn't it?" +Casper asked quickly, and before Andy could understand what his question +meant he had replied to it.</p> + +<p>"Sure thing, Frank and myself have left the water many a time in a less +powerful hydroplane than this, haven't we, Frank?"</p> + +<p>"Well, turn about is only fair," said Casper, fiercely.</p> + +<p>"Why, I don't understand what you mean by that," complained Andy.</p> + +<p>"Two's company, four a crowd; so please skip out of this, both of you +boys. My pal and me can run this shebang, and just take my word for it, +we mean to do the same. Get that straight, both of you? Now, jump, I +tell you, and lively, or I might be tempted to let her go; and that +would be a shame after the way you rescued the two of us. Overboard with +you!"</p> + +<p>Andy gaped when he saw that the man had actually drawn out a revolver, +and was aiming the same directly at him.</p> + +<p>"Here, quit that, will you?" he demanded, feeling a flush of alarm, for +even a seasoned veteran of many battles does not fancy having such a +threatening weapon thrust under his nose.</p> + +<p>"Jump, then, d'ye hear, consarn you?" shouted the man, menacingly waving +his pistol; "take a header, and over you go, both of you! I'm a +desperate man, and not to be fooled with. P'raps you c'n keep afloat on +that wreckage long enough for the tug to come up, and pull you in. But +no matter, over you go, one way or the other!"</p> + +<p>"Just wait a bit, Casper," said a quiet voice, and turning his head the +man saw that Frank had him covered very neatly, "you must know that your +weapon has been soaked, and wouldn't go off, the chances are. Besides, I +don't believe there's a single cartridge in the chambers. Throw it +overboard, do you hear, Casper, or I may be tempted to cripple that +other arm of yours!"</p> + +<p>No doubt Frank was speaking the exact truth when he declared his belief +that the revolver had not been charged since the time when Casper +emptied it at the pursuing airship, in the hope of either frightening +the boy aviators; or else doing some sort of damage.</p> + +<p>He stared hard at Frank for half a minute; then with some muttered +words, as if he realized the folly of butting up against fate, threw +the useless weapon far out on the heaving surface of the lake.</p> + +<p>After that a dense silence fell upon them. The men were too down-hearted +to want to talk; and there was little that the boys had to communicate, +because they were now in a position where they could do absolutely +nothing to help themselves; and must depend entirely upon the coming of +the tug.</p> + +<p>An hour passed, and it seemed very long. All of them were more or less +wet because of the splashing waves; but as the air was balmy, they cared +little for such a thing as that, if only the tug would show up.</p> + +<p>Innumerable times did Andy stretch his neck, and look toward the quarter +in which it must appear, if it came at all; but the hour began to extend +far into a second one, and as yet there was nothing seen that brought +with it a ray of hope.</p> + +<p>Worse still the sea was gradually getting more and more tempestuous, it +seemed to Andy, though the sky remained absolutely clear, and, there was +not a sign of a storm.</p> + +<p>If that had been a fog in the far distance which Frank had sighted, the +breeze must have long ago dissipated it entirely.</p> + +<p>Lower sank the sun, until it was now not more than half an hour above +the horizon, if its stay could be measured in the way of minutes and +seconds. Oh! if only the friendly tug would come in sight amidst the +foam-crested waves! It was really getting to be too much of a good +thing, trying to keep the hydroplane from keeling over, with those waves +breaking against the frail planes. If this kept up much longer, Frank +was very much afraid that Percy Carberry would not be the only boy in +Bloomsbury to mourn the loss of an airship.</p> + +<p>When, therefore, Andy gave a sudden shout, and announced that he +believed he had seen the smoke of the tug wreathing above the waves, all +of them looked considerably relieved, even Casper himself; for on second +thoughts the yeggman must have decided that it was better to be alive +and in prison, than dead, and under the waters of Lake Ontario.</p> + +<p>In five minutes they could all see the smokestack of the powerful tug, +and for fear lest it should pass by and not do them any good they +shouted hoarsely in unison.</p> + +<p>"They hear us!" exclaimed Andy, whose position, somehow, allowed him to +see better than any of the others, "yes, they've changed their course, +and are heading this way now. It's all right, Frank; we've won out, I +guess!"</p> + +<p>But Frank was keeping an eye on the two men. He did not mean to give +them even the slightest chance to play a trick in the eleventh hour. +Frank Bird was a pretty hard fellow to catch napping, he usually had his +eyes open, and especially when he knew there was danger around.</p> + +<p>The tug came booming on, and they could see that there were quite a +number of people aboard.</p> + +<p>"What if some of them are from Bloomsbury?" suggested Andy. At which his +cousin laughed.</p> + +<p>"You didn't stop to think twice before you made that break, Andy," he +remarked. "Tell me, by what conveyance could they have got to the lake +ahead of us, when we came through by lightning express at the rate of +nearly a hundred miles an hour at times? But I can see they are +expecting to take charge of our friends here, because there's an officer +aboard. Just keep where you are, Casper; your goose is cooked, and +there's no need of making matters worse."</p> + +<p>The man settled back again with a growl, and then burst out into a +reckless laugh.</p> + +<p>"Small difference it makes, I guess, boys, how the thing's done, so +long as we've got to go to the lock-up. You might just as well have the +credit for the job as anybody; and man to man, now I want to say that +I'm full of admiration for the fine way you handled that hydroplane of +yours. If so be you're the Bird boys I've been hearing so much about, +you've got the making of crack-a-jack aviators in you. That's about all +from me now."</p> + +<p>The tug came alongside, and the two men were assisted aboard, where the +police officer saw that they were promptly ironed.</p> + +<p>"We got the word from Bloomsbury, and your father hired this tug right +away, Andy Bird, to follow you out on the lake, if so be you kept after +the rascals," said a tall gentleman with a white mustache, who, they +afterwards learned, was the mayor of the city on the lake shore. "Now +what can we do for you?"</p> + +<p>"Please stand by, and let's see if we can get away," answered Frank, "if +not we'll have to go on board, and tow the hydroplane behind, but since +relieved of so much extra weight the pontoons have risen again; and I +expect she'll go."</p> + +<p>And she did, with the very first effort, beginning to move over the +surface of the water in the lee of the tug; then, as Frank hastened to +elevate the planes, the airship started to mount and when free from the +lake a mighty cheer broke from the lips of those aboard the small +vessel, even Casper Blue joining in giving the brave lads their just +dues.</p> + +<p>Frank carefully started back toward the American side of the lake. He +did not know whether the capture had been made on the Canadian side or +not, and as the question was never raised, even in the trail of the bank +robbers it was never wholly clear in his mind.</p> + +<p>When they reached land it was early night; and save that the wind had +lulled considerably, they would not have been able to get in for a long +time after that. As there was no need of their hurrying homeward, Frank +and Andy consented to stay over as the guests of the mayor, who was more +than pleased to have the famous Bird boys stop under his roof.</p> + +<p>But first Frank made sure to send a message to each of their homes; as +well as to Chief Waller, who would have to come on and get the two bold +men who had broken into the Bloomsbury bank and about cleaned out the +vault; and not content with one haul, were planning to rob the pay-car +when it stopped in Bloomsbury to settle with a large number of employees +centering there.</p> + +<p>Doubtless that must have been a season of considerable excitement in +the home town; and the names of Frank and Andy Bird were cheered to the +echo by the crowds of town boys Larry and Elephant would lead around, +burning red lights and firing off Roman candles purchased with money +supplied by Dr. and Professor Bird, the happy fathers of the two young +heroes.</p> + +<p>On the following day Chief Waller was on hand with one of his men to +escort the prisoners back to the town where their latest crime had been +committed. Frank had already sent the little camera box with its +valuable contents, just as he had received it from Casper Blue, to the +president of the bank by express, not caring to hold it any longer in +his hands than was absolutely necessary.</p> + +<p>About noon, the conditions being favorable, the Bird boys sailed away +amidst the cheers of half the little city, and headed directly south on +a bee line for home.</p> + +<p>Fortunately enough no further adventures overtook them on their way +there, and as their coming had been announced they found the whole town +in an uproar, and came near being mobbed, such was the desire of every +man, woman, boy and girl to have the honor of shaking hands with them.</p> + +<p>Percy was on hand too, with a thousand questions concerning the fate of +his precious biplane, and bemoaning the fact that he seemed to be the +most unlucky fellow who had ever attempted to bring honors to +Bloomsbury. But there were precious few who sympathized with him; and +everybody knew that all he had to do was to demand that his mother +advance the ready cash to buy another flier, and it was sure to be +forthcoming.</p> + +<p>But there were other lively times in store for Frank and Andy Bird, +although neither of them suspected it just then, and believed that a +period of calm would likely follow their hydroplane round-up. What the +nature of these exploits were the reader who has accompanied us in our +voyage through the pages of this book, will learn when he purchases the +next story in this series, now on sale under the title of "The Bird +Boys' Aeroplane Wonder or, Young Aviators On a Cattle Ranch."</p> +<br> + +<p>The End.</p> +<br> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Aeroplane Boys Flight +by John Luther Langworthy + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE AEROPLANE BOYS FLIGHT *** + +***** This file should be named 10576-h.htm or 10576-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/5/7/10576/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Dave Morgan and PG Distributed +Proofreaders + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Aeroplane Boys Flight + A Hydroplane Roundup + +Author: John Luther Langworthy + +Release Date: January 2, 2004 [EBook #10576] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE AEROPLANE BOYS FLIGHT *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Dave Morgan and PG Distributed +Proofreaders + + + + + +THE AEROPLANE BOYS FLIGHT + +Or A Hydroplane Roundup + + +By JOHN LUTHER LANGWORTHY + + + + + +MADE IN U.S.A. + +M.A. DONOHUE & COMPANY + +CHICAGO NEW YORK + +1914 + + + + +CONTENTS + + +Chapter + +I--THE BOY FLIERS + +II--ON GUARD + +III--NOT CAUGHT NAPPING + +IV--THE STARTLING NEWS + +V--THE EXCITEMENT GROWS + +VI--FIGURING IT ALL OUT + +VII--THE AIR SCOUTS + +VIII--JUST BELOW THE CLOUDS + +IX--THE PILOT OF THE MERMAID + +X--HEARD OVER THE WIRE + +XI--COMPARING NOTES + +XII--AT THE HOSKINS FARM + +XIII--THE BUTTERFLY COLLECTOR + +XIV--A CLUE + +XV--WHEN CASPER CAME BACK + +XVI--THROWING OFF THE MASK + +XVII--SALLIE RIDES BAREBACK + +XVIII--AN AEROPLANE CHASE + +XIX--DROPPING A "BOMB!" + +XX--OVER LAND AND SEA + +XXI--OVER THE BOUNDARY LINE + +XXII--THE HYDROPLANE RESCUE + +XXIII--BROUGHT TO BOOK--CONCLUSION + + + + +THE AEROPLANE BOYS FLIGHT + +Or A Hydroplane Roundup + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +THE BOY FLIERS + +"It was my mistake, Frank!" + +"How do you make that out, Andy?" + +"Simply because I was using the little patent Bird monkey-wrench last in +our shop, and should have put it back in the toolbox belonging to the +aeroplane. The fact that it isn't here shows that I mislaid it. Give me +a bad mark, Frank." + +"Well, I must say it's a queer stunt for you to forget anything, Andy +Bird. But with dark coming along, and home some miles away, it's plain +that we'll have to let the mending of that wing go till morning." + +"But do you think, Frank, it's just safe to leave our pet hydroplane +over night in this field on the Quackenboss farm?" + +"Why not, Andy? Sky as clear as a bell; little or no wind promised; and +then we can hire the farm hand, Felix Boggs, to keep an eye on it. Looks +as easy as falling off a log." + +"And all because I didn't put that little wrench where it belonged! +Kick me, won't you, please, cousin; I deserve it." + +"Well, I guess not. Didn't I make just as bad a break last week? I guess +now, no boy's perfect. And I don't mind the walk home a bit. Fact is, it +ought to do us both good, because we don't stretch our legs enough, as +it is." + +"You're the boss chum, Frank!" + +"Then you're another. See what you get for calling me names. But when +you've fastened down that plane so it can't get into trouble, if the +wind should rise in the night, perhaps we'd better be hunting up this +Felix Boggs, and then start for home. + +"Well, I'm glad we'll get there in the night-time, Frank, even if the +moon does happen to be nearly full." + +"What makes you say that, Andy?" + +"Because, when an aviator leaves his wounded machine in a field, and +walks home, it makes him feel like a dog with his tail between his legs, +sneaking along back of the fences." + +Frank Bird laughed merrily at the picture drawn by his cousin and then +stooping again, with a few deft turns of a heavy cord, helped Andy +secure the broken plane so it would not get into trouble during the +coming night. + +After which the two boys headed toward the barns belonging to the farm, +which just showed their tops above the adjacent rise. + +While they are walking there it may be a good time for us to introduce +the pair of young aviators to such readers as have not had the good +fortune to meet them in previous volumes of this series of stories. + +The cousins lived in the town of Bloomsbury, a thriving place situated +on the southern shore of Sunrise Lake, which was a magnificent body of +water, said to be nearly seventeen miles long by three wide, in places. + +This lake having hilly shores that were heavily wooded in spots, and +with numerous fine coves, afforded grand sport to the young people of +Bloomsbury, both winter and summer. + +The railroad skirted one shore and then passed through the town. Some +miles off arose a lofty peak known as Old Thundertop, which had a road +running part way up its side. The summit was believed to be utterly +inaccessible to mortal man until one day the Bird boys managed to +accomplish the wonderful feat by the aid of their aeroplane. + +They had been spending all their spare time, when not in school, working +upon the line that seemed to have a strange fascination for them. +Frank's father was one of the best known doctors in town, a man of +considerable means, and with a firm faith in his boys, so that he was +easily convinced whenever Frank wished to do anything. + +Andy had been living with his guardian for some time, until the return +of his own father, Professor Bird, who had been lost while attempting a +difficult balloon trip in Central America, and found in a most +miraculous way by the two boys as told in a previous story. + +Andy had inherited the passion which his father, a noted professor, had +always had for navigating the air. It was a favorite expression of his +"A bird by any other name would fly as high," and his cousin would +retort: "A Bird takes to the air just as naturally as a duck does to +water." + +They had been doing some fine "stunts" during the last year or two; and +it may be supposed that the people of Bloomsbury were more than a little +proud of seeing the name of their town mentioned so favorably in the +papers in connection with the doings of the Bird boys. + +Of course, as is always the case, there was a rival in the field, who +had been the cause of much trouble in the past, and still watched their +work with an envious eye. This was a boy by the name of Percy Shelley +Carberry, rather a bold fellow too, and as smart as they make them, only +unscrupulous as to the means he employed by which to gain his ends. + +Percy was the only son of a rich widow, who could never refuse him +anything he demanded; and with unlimited cash at his disposal he had +been able to do quite a few feats himself that might have gained him +more or less fame, only that they were eclipsed by the accomplishments +of Frank and Andy; and that was where the shoe pinched with Percy. + +His temper was one of his weak spots, also a liking for fast life, +which, of course included tippling; and the aviator who indulges to the +slightest degree in strong drink is next door to a fool; for as he takes +his life in his hands every time he leaves the ground, the necessity for +a clear brain is apparent. + +In most of his tricky work young Carberry had for a boon companion one +"Sandy" Hollingshead, a sinewy chap, whose most prominent trait was his +faculty for disappearing suddenly in a pinch. He was considerable of a +boaster, but could always invent a most remarkable excuse for going +before the storm broke. But Percy, no coward himself, knew how to make +use of his sly crony; and despite their numerous quarrels, that often +ended in actual fights, the pair of precious tricksters still kept +company together. + +Sandy was freckled had pale eyes and very blonde hair, that gave him a +queer look. Those eyes never could look any one straight in the face, +but shifted uneasily; and other boys said that Sandy, the cigarette +smoker, was always on the watch for a quick "getaway." + +The Bird boys, of course, had many friends among the lads of Bloomsbury; +but only two who were close enough to be admitted freely to the workshop +on the grounds of Frank's father's place, where the young inventors +worked out many of their lofty ideas. + +These were Larry Geohegan, and a small runt who had been called +"Elephant" by his companions in a spirit of sport, and could not shake +the name. His full name was Fenimore Cooper Small, and as a rule he had +always been rather timid. But Elephant was always having queer ideas in +which he believed fully himself; but which were nearly always jeered at +by more practical Larry. + +The two Bird boys had been out on this afternoon, trying some new +arrangement in connection with their hydroplane, when they met with an +accident when attempting to land on the Quackenboss farm, to make some +changes they saw were needed, to improve the working of the machine. + +Neither of them had been even scratched, but a certain amount of damage +had befallen one of the planes, which might have been remedied on the +spot in time to allow them to get back home easily, only for the +unfortunate fact that just when they needed a monkey wrench the worst +kind, it was discovered to be missing; perhaps the only occasion when +such a thing had happened with the boys. + +"I just saw somebody go into the barn there," remarked Frank, as they +approached the large outbuildings connected with the successful farm of +Josiah Quackenboss. + +"Yes, and it was the farmer himself," added Andy. "I know him pretty +well; and I guess you do too, because your father brought his little boy +around when everybody thought he didn't have a single chance to get +well. I don't believe we'll have any trouble getting Felix Boggs to look +after our machine tonight, Frank." + +They quickly reached the door of the barn and could hear the steady fall +of the streams of milk passing into the buckets as the farmer and his +hired hand pursued the regular business of the evening. + +As the two boys entered, the half grown boy started up with an +exclamation of alarm, for of course both Andy and Frank looked rather +queer. Each of them had on a white woolen hood that fitted close to head +and shoulders, for the air in the upper currents was very cold these +days, and secured to this were goggles to protect the eyes, so that they +would not water and dim the vision of the aviator at just a critical +instant when they needed clear sight. Then they also wore warm colored +mackinaw jackets, so that altogether Felix had reason to be startled +when two such "sights" suddenly entered the barn. Why, even the gentle +cows showed evidence of nervousness, and came near upsetting the milk +buckets. + +"Hello, Mr. Quackenboss!" called out Andy, cheerfully; "we're the Bird +boys, and we've dropped in on you without an invitation. The fact is, we +had a little trouble with our aeroplane, and landed in your field. How +much rent will you charge us, Mr. Quackenboss; to let our machine lie +there over night? It needs a little fixing which we can't do until +morning." + +Of course Andy was joking when he said this, and the farmer knew it as +well as anything. He laughed as he came around out of the stall and +offered his rough hand to each of the boys. + +"How are you, Andy and Frank Bird?" he said, hearty. "Say, you did give +us a little start when we first saw you. D'ye know what I thought boys? +Why, I was just reading in the county paper about how the bank up at +Jasper was robbed by two men last week. It told how they had their faces +hid back of red handkerchiefs, just like they always do out West, you +know. And first thing I sighted you two, my heart nigh about jumped up +in my mought, because I thought them yeggs had dropped around to see if +I'd collected my monthly milk accounts in town. And about leavin' your +aeroplane in my field, why, there's little that I wouldn't do for the +son of the man who saved my Billie, when everybody said he'd never get +well again." + +"We thought you might let us show Felix here where the aeroplane lies, +and that we could arrange with him to kind of keep an eye on it tonight. +Of course, there isn't one chance in a thousand that anything'd happen +to injure it; but then that machine represents a heap of hard work, and +considerable money besides, so we don't care to take chances with it. + +"Sure he can, just as well as not, eh, Felix? Suppose you go out right +now, and I'll finish the milking. In the morning I want to take a look +at that contraption myself. I've seen you boys sailing around more'n a +little, but never got close up to examine the aeroplane. Well, I guess +all the money going couldn't tempt me to go with one of you. Skip along, +Felix, now." + +And the farm hand, a heavy-set boy, eagerly fell in behind Frank and +Andy, as, after thanking Mr. Quackenboss heartily for his kindness they +passed out of the barn. Felix considered this an event in the tame +routine of farm life; and would be only too glad to stay up all night, +if necessary, in order to guard the precious aeroplane. + +Once in the field, the boys explained to Felix what they wanted him to +do, and he promised not to meddle with anything connected with the +engine or the aeroplane itself. + +They were passing back again toward the barns, having left their prized +possession in good shape, when Andy uttered a sudden exclamation that +told of both surprise and disgust. + +"What's the matter now?" asked Frank, who had been talking with Felix, +and was hence not so wide awake as his chum. + +"Just take a look over there, and see what's stopped on the road," +remarked Andy. + +"Seems to be a car, and I can see two heads raised above the top rail +of the fence, as if the people in it had sighted our aeroplane sprawled +out there in the field, and were wondering what sort of giant insect it +could be," Frank went on. + +"Look closer, Frank," the other boy went on to say, while his disgust +deepened; "and you'll discover that the two fellows in that car happen +to be Percy Carberry and his shadow, Sandy Hollingshead. Did you ever +hear of such tough luck? Of all the boys in Bloomsbury they are the last +we'd want to know that we'd left our new hydroplane out, unguarded, all +night, in an open field. Guess I won't go home tonight, Frank. I'd +rather camp out here with Felix. You let my folks know, and turn up in +the morning with a new piece for that plane. That's settled and you +can't change it." + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +ON GUARD + +"Perhaps I'd better stay with you, Andy," the other Bird boy remarked. + +"No need of it," replied Andy, resolutely. "Besides, you know one of us +ought to get busy in the shop, making that new piece we really need so +that our job won't have to be done over again. You go, Frank. Perhaps +Mr. Quackenboss would let you have a horse; or if you cared to, you give +Percy a hail, and he'd take you back to town, I reckon. Goodness knows +he owes you a heap, after the way you saved his life the time he was +wrecked up on Old Thundertop." + +What Andy referred to was a very exciting event which had occurred not +so very long before, and which was fully treated in the volume preceding +this. + +Frank shook his head in the negative. + +"I never want to ask any favor of Percy Carberry," he said, resolutely. +"And if Mr. Quackenboss can't let me have a horse to ride, why, the +walking is good, and I can make it in less than an hour. So don't +mention that again please, Andy." + +"It's too late now, anyhow," remarked the other, drily, "because there +they go, spinning down the road like wildfire. Percy never does anything +except in a whirl. He's as bold as they make them, and the only wonder +to me is that he hasn't met with a terrible accident before now. But +somehow he seems to escape, even when he smashes his flier to kindling +wood. His luck beats the Dutch; he believes in it himself, you know." + +"But some day it's going to fail, and then he'll never what happened to +him," declared Frank. "Of all the professions in the world, that of a +flying machine man is the one where a cool head and quick judgment are +the things most needed. And the fellow who takes great chances, +depending on his good luck, is bound to meet up with trouble. But if you +are bound to stay, Andy, I'd better be off." + +Upon entering the barn they found that the farmer had finished his task, +and was pitching some new sweet hay to the cows. + +Frank suggested hiring a horse from him, but Mr. Quackenboss scoffed at +the idea. + +"You're as welcome to the use of my saddle hoss as the sunlight is after +a spell of rain," he said, heartily. "Here, Felix, get Bob out; and +you'll find my new saddle hanging on that peg back of the harness room +door. And as for Andy, who's going to stay over with us, we'll find a +chair for him at the supper table, and only hope hell tell us some of +the many things you two have gone through with, both around this region, +and away down in South America, that time you found the lost Professor." + +Inside of five minutes Frank was in the saddle, and waving his hand to +his chum and cousin, of whom he was more fond than if Andy had been his +own brother. + +"He'd be back tonight with the part we need, and we could make home in +the moonlight," said Andy, as, with the farmer he headed for the house; +"only both of us have promised our folks not to travel at night-time +when it can be helped. Even if the moon is bright there's always a risk +about landing, because it's a tricky light at the best, and even a +little mistake may wreck things. And so Frank will work in the shop +tonight, and be along in the morning." + +Once in the farmhouse Andy was given a chance to wash up, and then met +the housewife, as well as little Billie, the small chap whose life good +Doctor Bird had saved. Mrs. Quackenboss proved to be a very warm-hearted +woman, and any one who answered to the name of Bird could have the very +best that the place afforded. There was never a night that she did not +call down the blessings of heaven upon the physician who had been +instrumental in preventing her darling Billie from being taken away. + +The table was fairly groaning under the weight of good things to eat, +for when company comes the average farmer's wife never knows when to +stop bringing out the most appetizing things to eat ever seen. + +"Perhaps I'm the luckiest fellow going to be able to stay over-night +with you, Mrs. Quackenboss," laughed Andy, as he sat down to the +generous spread. + +"Well, you know, we never like anybody to get up from our table hungry," +she explained. + +"The chances are that I won't be able to get up at all, for if I try to +taste half I see here, I'll be foundered, as sure as anything," Andy +went on to say. + +The farmer was not going to allow much time to pass talking about common +every-day topics. Those might do all very well when he had ordinary +guests; but when fortune sent him one of the now famous Bird boys for +company, he wanted to listen to some thrilling accounts of adventures +that had come the way of the young and daring aviators, from the time +they built their first aeroplane, after purchasing most of the parts, +and found that they had an immediate rival in Percy Carberry. + +Andy was willing to oblige, and kept those at the table, including the +farm hand, Felix Boggs, thrilled with his stories. But the farmer could +not help but notice how modest the boy was, giving most of the credit to +his cousin Frank, when everybody about Bloomsbury knew that Andy +deserved just as much credit, if not more, than the other Bird Boy. + +After supper Andy and Felix prepared to go out to where the hydroplane +lay. They meant to take blankets along, and make themselves as +comfortable as possible for a night's vigil. + +Andy would not have dreamed of doing this only for the fact that he knew +Percy and his shadow, Sandy, were aware of the plight of the precious +flier. And while Frank was inclined to partly believe that the Carberry +boy might let up in his mischief-making ways for awhile at least, after +all they had done for him up on Old Thundertop, Andy could not bring +himself to trust the other further than he could see him. He believed +that the nature of Percy was so "rotten" as he called it, that, given a +chance to injure his successful rivals, he would shut his eyes to all +sense of gratitude, and just lie awake nights trying to get the better +of them, by fair means or foul. + +Andy also knew that the other was particularly chagrined, because he did +not know what manner of a new flier the Bird boys had in hand now. He +had resorted to various expedients in order to find out, but all without +success. + +On this account, if no other, then, Andy believed that the others would +be apt to come out here during the night to examine the hydroplane with +the aluminum pontoons under its body for floating on the water; and +perhaps to slily injure it in such a fashion that it would break down +when next Frank and Andy mounted into the air. + +It happened that they had alighted close to one corner of the big field, +though in plain view from the pike. Andy had noted a clump of trees +conveniently near, and already his mind was made up that he and Felix +would camp there, to pass the night in alternately keeping watch and +ward over the precious aeroplane that lay there like a wounded bird. + +Felix was quivering with eagerness. This was like a picnic in the +humdrum life of the farm hand. Except when the circus came to town, or +there was a Harvest Home day, poor Felix knew little beyond the eternal +grind of getting up before dawn, and working until long after sunset. + +First of all, Andy walked around the stranded aeroplane, and took +occasion to explain how it worked, using as simple language as he could +find, because Felix was not at all up in professional terms, and would +not have understood, had the other spoken as he might have done when +talking with a fellow aviator. + +Then they sought the trees, and spreading their heavy blankets so as to +make as comfortable a seat as possible, started to talk in low tones. + +The bright moon hung there in the sky, and it seemed as though every +foot of the big meadow could be scrutinized just as well as in the +daytime; but Andy knew from experience how deceptive moonlight can be, +and how cautious one has to be when trying any difficult feat at such a +time. + +"I've heard people talk about reading by moonlight, and how they could +tell a friend half a mile away," he remarked to Felix; "but let me say +that it's all a humbug. There never was a brighter night than this, I +reckon you'll agree with me, Felix; and yet look at that stump not a +stone's throw away; you couldn't say now whether it was a cow lying +down, a horse, a rock, or a stump, which last I take the thing to be. +Am I right about that." + +"Why, sure's I live, that ere is a fact, Andy," replied the other; "but +I never'd a thought it. Moonlight fools a feller the worst kind. I +throwed a stone at a whippoor-will as was perched on the roof a-keepin' +us all awake nights, and would yuh believe me, she went right through +the winder of the attic, kersmash. Never was more surprised in my life. +And you don't ketch me heavin' stones by moonlight agin." + +From one subject they drifted to another. Andy even told more or less +about how Percy Carberry had hated and envied them in the past, and how +often he had tried to do them a serious injury. + +"Frank seems to think he will give up that mean sort of play, because we +really saved his life that time we had our race to the rock on the +summit of Old Thundertop, and his aeroplane was smashed there; so one of +us had to carry Percy and Sandy home, bruised as they were. But I don't, +because I know it'd take more than that to change the spots of a fellow +of his kind. And chances are, Felix, we'll find those two boys sneaking +up here before the middle of the night." + +"Wish't they would," chuckled the farm hand. "You're ready to give 'em +a warm time of it, I guess, Andy. Be as good as any old circus to me, +just to see how they jump when you open up. Let 'em come, says I. The +sooner the better, too." + +Long they lay there, and talked in low tones. Felix wanted to make the +best of this glorious chance. A new world seemed to open up to the farm +hand, as he heard of the wonderful things the Bird boys had seen, and +taken part in. Perhaps ambition was beginning to awaken in the boy's +soul, and he might not after this be so satisfied to plod along in the +same old rut every day of the year. Perhaps the seed thus sown might +take root, and bring him either great good or harm, as the tide of +fortune chose. + +"We heard as how a feller was up there to watch you boys fly not a great +while ago, Andy," he went on to say; "an' he was so took by the way you +managed things that he wanted to get you to go in with a big concern run +by a boss airman; but you just up and told him you couldn't do that +same. Was that so?" + +"Why, yes, you must mean Mr. Marsh," returned the other, modestly. "I +believe he did read some account of us that got into the papers, and was +sent up here to look us up. He was kind enough to compliment Frank on +the way he made that corkscrew climb; and also on his volplane drop; +said we had both of them down pretty fine; and he did hint at our having +a chance to go in with his company; but of course we couldn't think of +that. We're too young to dream of being professional fliers yet; and +besides, we've got to go to school again pretty soon. So we turned the +offer down. But Mr. Marsh was mighty kind, and we liked him a heap." + +"Heard how he was watching you fly, when that little chap belonging to +Cragan, the fisherman, got overboard, out in the lake; and this same +gent, he saw Frank dive right off his aeroplane like a bullfrog, and +save little Tommy. That jest took him by storm, he told Mr. Quackenboss, +and he meant to get you boys for his company if money could do it, but +it all ended in smoke, didn't it." + +It was almost half past nine before Andy decided that the time had come +for them to shut up shop, and do no more talking. + +"I'm going to take the first watch myself, Felix, and I promise to wake +you up when I get to gaping, whether it's midnight or two in the +morning," he said, as he settled himself more comfortably on his +blanket, and pulled it up over his shoulders, because the night air was +already quite chilly, and would undoubtedly be much more so ere long. + +"But chances air, Andy, they're a-goin' to come inside an hour or so; +and you must promise to give me a kick, if so be I'm sleepin', then. You +will, won't you?" + +"Sure," replied the Bird boy. "After you being so kind as to keep me +company, I'd never think of making a move, and you asleep. So just +settle down, and don't get excited if you feel me pushing my toe into +your ribs later on." + +Felix was tired from his day's work. He had probably been constantly +busy since four the morning before. It was therefore a fight between +weary muscles and brain, and the desire to stay awake, in order to see +all that went on. + +This lasted for perhaps ten minutes. + +Then Andy knew that Nature had won out, for he could catch the regular +breathing of the stout farmhand, and from this judged that Felix must be +sound asleep. + +From where Andy sat he had a fine view of the field on all sides of the +broken hydroplane, and especially in that quarter toward the fence, +beyond which the road leading to Bloomsbury lay. + +He kept up a constant watch, never relaxing his vigilance for a single +second, for Andy knew that while one might be on guard for fifty-nine +minutes, if he relaxed just for a breath, that was almost sure to be the +time when something would happen. How often he had proved that when +fishing, and taking his eye from his float just to glance up at some +passing bird, when down it would bob, and he had missed a chance to hook +a finny prize. + +The time passed on. + +Three separate times did Andy look at his little dollar nickel watch, +and in the bright moonlight he could see that it was now after eleven. +He was beginning to believe that if there was anything doing that night, +it must come about very soon, when he thought he heard a sound down the +road that made him think a car that had been coming along had stopped +short. + +Thrilled with the expectation that a change was about to occur, he sat +up a little more eagerly, and continued to scan the line of fence, as +well as the field lying between the road and the helpless hydroplane. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +NOT CAUGHT NAPPING + +Five, ten minutes passed. + +Andy was beginning to fear that after all he had been mistaken, and that +it had been some other sound he had heard when he thought a car had +stopped down the road toward Bloomsbury. + +Then all at once he detected a movement over at the fence, and the +figure of a man or boy was seen to quickly clamber over, dropping in the +field. Even as he looked a second followed suit, then a third and even a +fourth. + +"Whew! what's all this mean?" Andy whispered to himself, as he took +notice of the fact that there was quite a procession of fellows changing +base from the road to the field: "Percy and Sandy thought they might +need help in their little game of smashing our machine, or carrying it +off somewhere, so as to give us a bad scare; and I reckon they've picked +up a couple more of the same kind as themselves. Well we ought to be +able to take care of four just as easy as two 5 and the howl will be +all the louder, I guess." + +He moved over a little, and with the toe of his shoe nudged Felix under +the ribs. + +"Quit shovin' there!" muttered the farm hand, possibly thinking he was +in bed with some other boy. + +Luckily the night breeze was making the windmill turn, not very far +away; and as it needed oiling, there was a constant succession of +squeaks and groans; so that the chances of Felix being heard when he +spoke in this way were very small. Andy would not take any further risk +but creeping over shook the boy roughly. + +"Wake up, Felix; they're coming across the pasture!" he whispered in his +ear. + +That was quite enough for Felix. He seemed to grasp the situation at +once, and only muttering the one significant word, "Gosh!" he +immediately sat up. + +Andy, moving as little as possible, pointed to where moving figures +could just be detected advancing in a bent-over attitude. + +"How many?" whispered the farm hand. + +"I counted four," replied the other. + +"Whee! bully for that!" chuckled Felix, no doubt tickled because the +promised circus would be a double-ring affair, instead of the ordinary +kind, and therefore quite up to date. + +Both of them lay there watching intently. + +They could see how the intruders were crawling along, anxious apparently +only to avoid being seen from the direction of the farmhouse, the roof +of which showed dimly in the moonlight over on the other side of the +little ridge. + +As the creepers drew closer, the watchers saw that they had adopted the +method spoken of by the farmer in connection with the bank thieves, +keeping their identity secret--they all seemed to have handkerchiefs +tied across their faces, and kept their hats pulled well down, so that +they could easily have passed close to an acquaintance without much risk +of discovery. + +Of course Andy could tell that they were boys, and not men; and it was +an easy task for him to guess who two of the party at least must be. + +The preparations he and Felix had made were about as simple as anything +could be. The farm hand possessed an old musket that had been used in +the Civil war, and which, muzzleloader that it was, had probably brought +down many a plump rabbit when held in the hands of the owner, as well as +black ducks in the marshes along the shore of Lake Sunrise. + +Besides this, the farmer had loaned Andy his double-barrel Marlin +shotgun, an old model when compared with the up-to-date hammerless and +the repeaters, but no doubt a good, serviceable weapon. + +Of course they had no idea of trying to pepper the marauders, though it +would seem as though they richly deserved to be punctured with a few +small bird shot, because of the meanness of their contemplated action. + +To give them a good fright would satisfy Andy, and he had made the eager +farm hand promise to fire up in the air also because he was afraid lest +Felix allow his indignation to have full swing, when he saw what the +four boys meant to do. + +They were skulking very close to where the aeroplane lay now, and the +critical moment had undoubtedly arrived when the surprise must be +launched. + +"Ready, Felix!" he whispered, in the softest of tones. + +"Yep!" grunted the farm hand, at his elbow. + +"One, two, three! Blaze away!" + +With the last word Felix let go with his old musket, into which he must +have rammed a tremendous charge, for it made a report like unto the +crash of thunder, and came very near sending the owner flat on his back. + +Immediately on the heels of this boom Andy pulled one of the triggers +of his double-barrel, so that the report seemed almost merged in with +that of the other weapon. + +The four boys had jumped to their feet at the flash and report which +startled them when Felix fired. And as they turned to dash wildly away +and that second shot came, they became madly excited, evidently under +the full belief that they were being made targets for a whole battalion +of sharpshooters. + +Two of them collided, and rolled over on the grass, kicking wildly and +scrambling to their feet again, to resume their flight toward the fence, +which doubtless seemed three times as distant as when they were creeping +toward the stranded aeroplane. + +The whole thing was so ridiculous that Andy burst out laughing, and +could hardly hold his gun; seeing which the farm hand made bold to +snatch it out of his hands, and aiming directly at the place where the +fugitives were just then in the act of mounting the fence in their +panicky flight, he pulled the trigger. + +There was a series of loud yells, which would seem to indicate that a +few of the small shot contained in the shells with which the Marlin had +been loaded must have reached their mark, and pricked the boys like so +many needles would have done. + +That was the last seen of them, though for a short time they could be +heard running along the hard road, and exchanging excited comments, +possibly comparing their injuries. + +Then a car was heard to start off with a great deal of bluster, and came +dashing along past the farmhouse, though those in it bent low enough to +keep any one from discovering who they might be. + +Andy did not know whether to be a little angry or not because of what +the impetuous Felix had done, but apparently nobody had been seriously +hurt; and on the whole, the four "sneaks," as Felix called them, +deserved some punishment; so he let it go at that. + +There was no further alarm that night. Neither of the guardians of the +hydroplane expected any, after the prompt measures that had been taken +to inform meddlers of the warm reception they might expect. + +All the same, Andy kept up his vigil until sleep almost overpowered him, +when he aroused Felix to finish out the night. + +With the coming of early dawn he knew that the safety of the imperiled +aeroplane was assured, and that when the horn blew, he and Felix could +both go in to breakfast. Indeed, he released the farm hand long before +that time, so that he might go about his usual early morning chores; and +Andy himself found plenty to do around the machine until summoned to the +morning meal. + +The farmer was a hard sleeper, and had not heard a single thing that had +taken place; so that he was surprised when told how the enemy had come +after all, and what measures the boys had taken in order to frighten +them away. + +He even told Felix he could have a day off as soon as the last load of +hay was in the barn, just to show how he appreciated the bold way in +which his hired help had tickled the rascals when they were getting over +the fence. Indeed, the farmer said Andy had been too lenient, and that +if it had been his aeroplane that was threatened in that mean way, he +would have felt wholly justified in emptying both barrels of the gun +after the marauders, first giving them time to get a certain distance +off, so that no serious results might follow the discharge. + +But Andy was never a vindictive lad, and he believed the fellows had +received sufficient punishment, especially as no one knew exactly what +they had meant to do in connection with the new hydroplane. Possibly +Percy only wanted to look it over at close quarters, and knowing he +would not be allowed to do so if he asked permission outright, sought to +take this opportunity. But from the way in which they had rigged +themselves out, so as to avoid being recognized, if seen, it looked as +though the four boys had something more than that in view. + +However, all's well that ends well, and Andy was quite satisfied with +the way things had turned out. + +"Here's hopin' a few of 'em may be limpin' 'round this same mornin', and +feelin' rayther stiff in the legs," Felix took occasion to remark, as +they sat at table, and Andy was again in danger of being foundered by +the multitude of good things which the farmer's wife spread thereon, +bacon and eggs, fried potatoes, scrapple, puffy biscuits, apple sauce, +doughnuts, cold pie, jelly, and finally heaping dishes of light +pancakes, which were to be smothered in butter and real maple syrup made +on the farm each early spring when the sap was running. + +"I expect Frank will be along any minute now," Andy remarked, about the +time he had to firmly refuse a fourth helping of cakes, because he could +hardly breathe comfortably. "It wouldn't take him long to do what little +work was necessary, in our shop, which you know my old guardian, +Colonel Whympers, built for us before we found my father, when he was +marooned in that valley in South America, a prisoner for many months, +because the cliffs around prevented him from escaping. And of course +he'll gallop out here on your saddle horse, Mr. Quackenboss." + +"Well, work ain't got any call on either Felix or me until we see all +that goes on, that's flat," remarked the farmer, with a smile, "and it's +lucky he done the milkin' already, or else the cows'd have to wait long +after their usual hour, which is a bad way to treat 'em, you know." + +They all went out to the field, even the housewife and little Billie +wanting to see what a real aeroplane looked like at close quarters. Many +times had all of them seen the Bird boys, and perhaps Percy Carberry as +well, soaring aloft as if the upper air currents might be their natural +heritage; but up to now they had never had the chance to examine one of +the wonderful machines, and touch the various parts gingerly as though +afraid of injuring them. + +"Beats all what people are a-doing nowadays," ventured the farmer, +shaking his head with astonishment, almost awe, as he looked the thing +over. "They ain't even contented to just fly like a red-tailed hawk, or +an eagle that kin look the sun direct in the eye; but now they got to +have a contraption that's at home in the air or on the water; a +hydroplane you called, it didn't you, Andy? And them ere twin pontoons +underneath, that look kinder like gondolas, as you say, are made of +aluminum, and kin hold up the whole affair when you light on water. But +tell me, how in all creation kin you ever mount up agin, once you settle +there?" + +"Why that's the easiest thing of all," replied the young aviator; +"you've watched a wild duck get up many a time, haven't you, Mr. +Quackenboss; well, we do just the same, only instead of flapping our +wings, we start the engine, and skim along the surface for a little +distance, then elevate the planes, and immediately begin to soar upward. +And it does the stunt as gracefully as anything you ever saw. Some time +I hope to give you a chance to see how it works. When we leave here, of +course we'll use the bicycle wheels you see underneath, and run along +the ground until going fast enough to soar. But I think I see Frank +coming, away down the road there." + +"That's right," declared the farmer; "I know my Bob as far as I can see +him, and his gallop in the bargain." + +Frank was evidently coming at full speed, and Andy presently got the +idea in his head that his cousin seemed to be strangely in a hurry for +him. He wondered whether anything could have happened at home, and if +Frank would prove to be the bearer of bad news. + +The other dashed into the narrow road leading from the pike to the barns +of the Quackenboss farm. Hitching the horse to a post, he started toward +the spot in the big field where the two boys and the farmer awaited his +coming, close beside the stranded aeroplane. + +Frank was carrying the little part he had expected to knock together at +the workshop; but as he drew nearer, his chum could readily see that he +was considerably excited. + +"Is everything all right here, Andy?" he called out, even before +reaching them. + +"Yes," replied the other Bird boy, promptly, "though we did have a call +from four fellows who had their faces hidden behind handkerchiefs, but +we fired our guns in the air and nearly frightened them to death. Felix +grabbed the double-barrel I had, and gave them a last shot when they +were climbing the fence over there; and we heard some howls too, so I +guess a few of the Number Eight shot pinked them. But what makes you +look so bothered, Frank? Has anything happened at home?" + +"There sure has," came from Frank, as he joined them, and cast a pleased +glance over the flying machine that lay upon the grass like a huge bat, +with wings extended. + +"Tell me what it was?" demanded Andy, breathlessly. + +"Somebody broke into our hangar and workshop, and knocked things around +at a great rate," Frank went on to say. "Acted like they might be just +mad because they didn't find our new machine there, and wanted to show +their spite. And nobody in your house knew a thing about it till I came +along, after an early breakfast, meaning to get the piece I'd been +working on up to eleven last night, when I went home to sleep, and +locked up the place as usual." + +"That's a queer piece of news you're telling me, Frank," said the other, +looking puzzled, as well he might. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +THE STARTLING NEWS + +"Well," said Frank, with a frown on his face. "It's puzzled me a whole +lot, let me tell you, Andy. Because, of course, my first thought was +that it must have been Percy Carberry's work; but now that you tell me +he was here, and knew we hadn't fetched our hydroplane home, I hardly +know what to think." + +"Did you say you worked till about eleven at the shop?" asked Andy, +quickly. + +"Three minutes after when I quit, locked up, and went home," Frank +replied. + +"That was just about the time they showed up here," the other went on to +say. "Unless one of us is wrong about the time, they couldn't well be in +two places at the same minute, now, could they? Seems like it might have +been some other crowd that broke into our hangar, Frank!" + +"But why? Did they want to play fast and loose with our machine, and +force an entrance just for that purpose? Listen to something I'm going +to tell you, Andy. I found several things on our work bench where +somebody had left them, without meaning to do it, I guess. Here's one." + +Frank while saying this held something up which he had taken from the +package he carried under his arm. + +"Why, that's a splendid electric torch, looks like to me?" exclaimed +Andy. + +"Just what it is, now," the other agreed. + +"And it was forgotten in our shop, was it?" demanded Andy. + +"I made out that whoever entered used this first, and then lighted our +lamp to look around with, putting out the torch, and laying it down. +When they skipped out, why, they just forgot all about it, also these." + +Again did Frank make a dive into his pocket, and dangled something +before the astonished eyes of his cousin. + +"Great Caesar! what d'ye call those things?" gasped Andy, staring as +though hardly able to believe his eyes. + +"Well, as near as I can make out, they're a couple of half masks made +out of black muslin, and just like a domino worn at a masquerade ball." +Frank remarked, with positive conviction in his voice and manner. + +"Masks?" echoed the other; "and the fellows who broke open our shop wore +them, did they? Well, the crowd that came out here seemed to be +satisfied to tie handkerchiefs across their faces, and pull their hats +down." + +"I don't know that they wore them," Frank went on, "but they had the +things along and laid them down with the lantern, forgetting the whole +lot when they cleared out. Perhaps your dog got to barking and +frightened them off before they found a chance to do much damage." + +"A regular bullseye electric torch, and black masks like cracksmen +use--say, tell me, Frank, what's coming over our quiet country up here +lately? There was the affair over in a neighboring town, when yeggmen +broke into the bank, and robbed it; and now here you tell me we've had a +little smash-up on our own account, with the burglars leaving cards +behind them. But what d'ye think now anybody would want to go poking +around in our shop for, Frank?" + +His cousin was looking very grave. + +"Well, you forget that we've been working overtime this winter on +several little inventions that, if we ever complete them, will make a +stir in the world of aviation." + +"Jupiter, I had let that slip away from me, for a fact, Frank!" +exclaimed the other, looking rather startled. + +"Of course, it sounds pretty big for us to even imagine that any party +could take enough interest in what the Bird boys are doing to come up +here, intending to break into the shop, and learn our secrets; but what +else can we think, tell me that, Andy?" + +"But they wouldn't find out much, even if they had six hours to poke +around our shop in, would they, Frank?" + +"I guess you're right, because we've made it a rule to be cautious +enough to hide our work and cover our tracks as we go along. But let's +get busy now, and put the plane into shape, so we can slip along home. +And as we work we can keep on talking as much as we want to," Frank went +on to say. + +The farmer and Felix still loitered around, determined to see the +wonderful contrivance make a start, and expecting the greatest treat of +their lives, when that event occurred. + +Such experienced workers as the two Bird boys had now become would find +little or no trouble about carrying out the work they had on hand. Every +steel wire guy was kept as taut as a fiddle string; and by the time they +were done handling the aeroplane it would be in apple-pie shape for +work. + +"Did they smash much in the shop, Frank?" Andy asked after they had +been working some little time, and making fair progress. + +"Why, no, it didn't seem to me that they took the time to do great +damage; and that's why I fancy they were scared off, somehow or other. +They went in a hurry, or else they would never have forgotten those +things. And when I looked around I made up my mind that they were just +mad because they didn't find our machine at home, and so tried to let us +know that fact." + +"Perhaps it was a second detachment of the same crowd that came out +here?" suggested Andy, speculatively. + +"Tell me, what would they be doing with electric torches, and black +masks? Now, you can see that these have been pretty well used; they're +not new ones just cut out by pattern at home with mother's scissors. +These have been made by an experienced operator, and were bought either +for a mask ball or some other purpose." + +"Well, perhaps we'll never know the truth about it," grumbled Andy, who +never liked anything to puzzle him and would lie awake half the night +trying to find the answer to a conundrum that had been offered to him by +a boy friend. + +"Oh! yes, I've got a hunch that we will," chirped his cousin, with a +sublime confidence that quite won Andy's heart; if he could not see any +good reason for hope himself, the fact that his chum pinned his faith on +it was enough to bolster up his own courage. + +Meanwhile they were both as busy as bees, and the work was approaching +completion. + +"What are you looking up every little while that way for?" Frank asked, +after noticing that Andy cocked his eye upward several times, and +appeared to be scanning the heavens in an expectant manner; "the day is +all right, so far as wind goes, and we ought to get along home without a +bit of trouble." + +"Oh! I wasn't bothering my head about that part of it," the other +replied, with a scornful smile. "We've been out in all sorts of weather; +and now that we have a chance to try this new invention of the Wrights', +that makes it next to impossible to tilt an aeroplane over no matter how +you move around when up in the air, we can feel safer than ever. Even a +fool would be kept from meeting with an accident when protected by that +wonderful balancing bar that responds to the slightest movement of the +human body." + +"Then it was something else you had on your mind, was it, Andy?" + +"Well, I was wondering just what took Percy and Sandy out at daybreak +this morning, that's all," replied the other. + +"What's that? Did you see them pass over in their biplane this morning?" +demanded the other. + +"Felix woke me up at dawn to tell me there was a queer chugging +overhead, that sort of scared him. I jumped up, because of course I knew +what that must mean. And sure enough I was just in time to see a biplane +pass over at a good height, and head up the lake. I lost it back of the +barn, because a flock of crows came flying along, stretching out for a +mile or two; and among the lot I couldn't make out just what was biplane +and which was crow. It was pretty high up, too, I thought." + +"But you made sure it was Percy's biplane?" asked Frank, interested +somewhat, for somehow the other rival flier was always doing such bold +stunts that he could not help feeling as though it might pay to keep +track of what he was doing, lest their interests clash unexpectedly, in +midair perhaps. + +"I ought to know the way it glides, and the whole general look; and I'd +be willing to take my affidavy that was the Canvas-back, as he calls +his biplane." + +"And he was in it, of course, with Sandy too?" Frank went on. + +"I could just make out that there were two aboard," said Andy, "but +somehow it seemed to me that Percy had altered his whole way of piloting +his airship, or else he was drunk, and hardly knew what he was doing." + +Frank whistled to indicate his surprise and consternation: + +"When it gets as rough as that you can take it from me that Percy's +mother will hear something simply awful about him before long. He's +bound to go from bad to worse; and everybody knows what the end of such +an aviator is going to be." + +"But what under the sun could he be off at daylight this morning for?" +Andy went on to remark, as though that thing had been bothering him ever +since the moment he lost track of the biplane among the teetering, +cawing crows. + +Frank shrugged his shoulders as he replied: + +"Did you ever know any reason for half the things Percy does? He just +acts from a sudden impulse. Remember all that happened when he followed +us down there to Columbia in South America, and tried to give us all the +trouble he could make up. And there have been lots of other times too, +we can look back at, all of which prove what I am saying that he is +often like a ship without a rudder. Now, perhaps, he's got the crazy +notion in his head that we might prosecute him either for what he tried +to do up here to our hydroplane, or on account of breaking into our +hangar, and doing a certain amount of damage, if the vandal was Percy +Carberry." + +"That sounds a little reasonable, anyhow, Frank. Queer that I never seem +to get hold of these things, and they just float along as easy as +anything to you. But it looks as if we had her all primed up now as +steady as a church. How about it, Frank?" + +For answer the other touched several taut wire guys with a peculiar +little movement of finger and thumb, and each one responded with a +musical note that was the sweetest possible sound in the responsive ear +of the young aviators. + +"All done, and let's be off," he said, presently, after the last test +had been applied. + +Accordingly they shook hands with Farmer Quackenboss, his good wife, and +Felix, in the palm of which latter Andy made sure to leave a greenback +that made the boy grin broadly. + +Three minutes later Frank sang out the word, and both the farmer and +Felix ran along with the machine for a dozen paces or so, when it left +them behind, taking on speed, and finally rushing over the ground at a +tremendous pace. + +Uptilting the planes caused it to leave the ground and start to curve +gracefully upward, as the whizzing propeller did its noisy duty. + +They could hear the farmer and his hired hand shouting themselves hoarse +with delight at having actually witnessed the start of a modern +aeroplane; but naturally the sound grew fainter and fainter in their +ears as they left the field and the squatty farmhouse far behind. + +Having arisen to the height of several hundred feet, Frank headed toward +Bloomsbury. Like a true and alert pilot he was watching and listening to +ascertain how their recent work held; and presently a satisfied +expression crossing his face announced that he found his faith well +justified. + +They had skimmed along for perhaps a mile or more when Andy made a +certain discovery that caused him to call out. + +"Look along the road below and ahead, Frank," he said, "and you'll see +something that makes you think of old times, when we hunted, in company +with Chief Waller, for those men who looted Leffingwell's jewelry +establishment." + +"Why, as sure as you're born, Andy, it does look like the Chief; and +he's sitting in a vehicle, waving his hat. He seems to be looking up at +us, and now that I've turned off the motor to glide a little I can hear +him shouting." + +"Frank, do you think he's just saluting us, or does he want us to come +down?" demanded Andy, in some apprehension. + +"Now he's making all sorts of gestures, and honestly I think he means +that he wants to see us. Had we better drop in that open field just +alongside the road? Looks good to me for a rise when we want to start +again." + +"Whatever you think best, Frank; I'm always willing to be guided by you. +Mighty seldom you make a bad mess of it, while I often do. Yes, let's +drop down, and if the field turns out to be pretty smooth, we'll land." + +Accordingly, the hydroplane which was of course now in a condition for +making a landing with the wheels below the aluminum pontoons, circled +around, dropping lower and lower, until presently it came to a stop in +the field close to the fence. + +When it landed it was done so beautifully that, as Andy enthusiastically +said, an egg would hardly have broken had it come between. And there, +not more than twenty feet away, the man, dressed in a blue uniform and +wearing a silver shield with the words "Chief of Police" engraved upon +it, was soothing his horse, which had apparently been badly frightened +by the swooping down of what seemed to be a great roc, or some other +species of now extinct gigantic kings of the air. + +"What's up, Chief?" asked Frank, as soon as they had reached the road +together. + +"Then you haven't heard the terrible news; they told me you left home to +come up here about daybreak; and we didn't find it out until an hour +ago. The bank in Bloomsbury was broken open last night, the safe rifled, +and the thieves have disappeared in the queerest way ever heard of, for +they left no trace behind. And when I saw you boys aloft, I was in hopes +you might have seen something of the bank looters." + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +THE EXCITEMENT GROWS + +"Well, what d'ye think of that for news, eh, Frank?" burst out Andy, in +his usual impetuous way, after the Bloomsbury Chief of Police had made +this startling announcement. + +Frank was as a rule much cooler than his cousin. He had undoubtedly been +equally astounded to hear of the terrible calamity that had befallen the +banking institution, in which most of the leading citizens of the town +were financially interested; but he certainly did not show it the same +way. + +His eyebrows went up to indicate astonishment; and a slight frown +settled on his grave face, as he replied to Andy's question. + +"It's a stunner, just as you say, Andy; but I wish the Chief would tell +us a few more details. I think it's a little queer nobody seemed to have +any suspicion of this awful business at the time I left home on +horseback, to ride up to the Quackenboss farm, where you had been +watching our injured aeroplane all night." + +"Well," continued the head of the Bloomsbury police force; "that's +because the yeggs worked so neatly they never left a bit of mess around +to arouse suspicion; and the first thing that was known of the looting +of the bank was when Seth Jarvie, the day watchman, went into the place +at seven this morning to relieve Cadger, the night man, and found him +lying there, tied up like a bundle of goods, and nearly dead with fright +and humiliation." + +"Whew!" was the way Andy relieved his pent-up feelings at this point; +while his cousin went on asking questions. + +"Then Cadger must have seen the robbers, if they captured him; how about +that, Chief?" he demanded, eagerly; for the excitement was beginning to +take hold of him. + +"That's right, he did, and was able to give us more or less +information," the police officer continued. "Of course as soon as Jarvie +saw what had happened he knew it was a case for me to handle, and so he +ran across to Headquarters; and in a jiffy we had thrown a cordon of +police around the building to keep out the curious citizens who would +have no business inside, and spoil any trace of the rascals." + +"And would you mind telling us what Cadger had to tell, Chief?" asked +Frank. + +"Not at all, because I'm depending on you boys to help run the thieves +down, if you feel like giving the authorities any assistance," the other +replied, craftily. + +Frank's answer was immediate and to the point. + +"Of course we'll do anything that's in our power, Chief. Both our +fathers are interested in that bank; and besides, the good name of the +town must suffer if it is wrecked by a wandering band of yeggmen. And we +can understand why you should want to capture the thieves, Chief; +because that's a part of your business. Please tell us what the bank +watchman had to say." + +"Then I will, and without any frills, if I can make it that way," +returned the other earnestly. "Cadger says he was caught napping, not +that he was asleep; but never dreaming of any danger, he stepped over to +the door when he heard a knock and a voice said: 'It's me, Cadger, Mr. +Hedden, the cashier; I forgot some important papers, and have gotten out +of bed to come back for them. Let me in without attracting any +attention, if you can.'" + +"What do you think of the smartness of that?" exclaimed Andy. "And so of +course poor old Cadger, who is as honest as the day is long, never +suspected any trick, but went and opened the door a crack?" + +"Just what he did," returned the Chief, "and as that side of the bank +was in the shadow he could only see the figure of a man, who slipped in +alongside him. Before he knew what was happening he was being chocked by +a pair of strong hands. Cadger started to struggle but another man must +have joined the first, for he was knocked unconscious by a cruel blow, +that's left his face all bloody and after that he didn't know a thing +for an hour or two." + +"Whee! you've got me all worked up with your story, Chief," said Andy +again. "I can just seem to see the whole thing happening. And chances +are, that when Cadger did come to, he found himself tied up, and unable +to even whisper?" + +"He had hard work to get enough breath, they had fastened the bandage +across his mouth so tight; but he could see out of one eye. And lying +there, Cadger watched the two yeggs go through the whole operation of +getting nitroglycerine planted, and using all sorts of clothes and even +the rugs off the floor of the president's room to deaden the sound of +the explosion." + +"They were old hands at the business, that's sure," remarked Frank, when +the officer paused to catch his breath; for he was talking unusually +fast in his desire to give them all the particulars in as brief a space +of time as possible. + +"Yes, there can be no doubt of that," the Chief went on to say, wagging +his head wisely; "and they had been able in some way to get on to a lot +of things that make us wonder like the name of the cashier and the +night-watchman. Looks mighty much like they must have had a friend +around Bloomsbury, who put them wise to those facts. Then they seemed to +have the running of the trains down pat also; for long after they had +their arrangements made they just sat down and waited until the freight +going north and passing Bloomsbury at two-eighteen was pounding up-grade +from Deering's Crossing, and making all manner of noise." + +"Oh! to think of the smartness of that, would you?" burst out Andy. "I +was wondering how they could blow open the safe, and the sound of the +explosion never even be heard over at Headquarters, only half a block +away; but now I see how it could be done. Just like a fellow says he can +pull a hair out of your head, and you not feel it; and he makes out to +give you a thump on the head with his other hand at the same time, so of +course you never notice him pulling the hair." + +"Just about on the same principle," said the officer, nodding; "for +when that heavy freight goes pounding past the station, it makes enough +noise to drown almost any sort of sound. The windows rattle, and we +always have to stop talking until the caboose gets past. And that was +the time they chose to explode their juice, with an absolute certainty +that no policeman's ear would hear a single thing." + +"And Cadger saw it all, did he?" asked practical Frank. + +"A good lot of it, by twisting his head from time to time," replied +Chief Waller. "And after the thing had been successfully done, he could +watch the two thieves gathering the swag together, and putting it in a +satchel they found in the cashier's room. Then, just at a quarter to +three they doused the glim, which was only an electric torch one of them +carried, and skipped out, locking the door on poor Cadger. It was hours +afterwards when the day watchman came on duty and the discovery +followed." + +Frank and Andy had somehow turned, and exchanged a significant look +about this time; and the expression of astonishment on the face of the +latter deepened. + +"Did you say an electric torch, Chief?" demanded Frank, immediately. + +"Yes, one of the handy kind that are used so commonly now," the other +replied. + +"Tell us, did Cadger say anything about the thieves wearing masks over +their faces; or did they use handkerchiefs to hide them from him?" + +"I didn't mention that matter, but it was just as you say, Frank; both +men had on masks all the time," answered the police officer. + +"Black ones too, I expect?" ventured Andy. + +"That's what they were; but see here, are you two just guessing this, or +do you happen to know something about those men?" asked the other, +quickly; for he could not help seeing from the manner of the Bird boys +that they were on some sort of a scent; and he knew from past +experiences that their sagacity could always be trusted to do the right +thing. + +"Well," Frank went on to say, drily, "while Andy was watching our new +hydroplane out in the Quackenboss pasture, I worked until eleven o'clock +in our shop, and then went home. This morning, early, after a bite to +eat, I hurried over there to do some finishing touches and carry the +thing out to apply to our broken plane, when to my astonishment I found +that the shop had been broken into later in the night, as well as our +hangar, where the aeroplane is usually kept. And here's what I +discovered lying on the work-bench, where the men had forgotten them." + +With these words he held up the flashlight torch, and the twin black +masks; and they produced an immediate shock upon the Chief of Police. + +"And you found those things in your workshop this morning, you say?" +he cried, reaching out to take hold of the torch, and the bits of black +muslin. + +"Yes, and whoever was there, they must have been mad because they didn't +find the aeroplane, for they smashed a few things, just for spite, it +looked like," was what Frank added. + +"Then, if it was the same men who robbed the bank they must have known +about you boys having a brand new machine. And say, that must mean one +of the robbers was something of a birdman himself; because no greenhorn +would ever think of making his getaway in an aeroplane. Don't you see +that's a pretty good clue, Frank? I'll remember that when I'm getting in +touch with other points, and find out if there's any aviator who's gone +crooked of late. Yes, that's worth knowing, now; and I'm glad you +mentioned it to me." + +"What description did Cadger give of the men, Chief?" queried Frank. + +"Oh! he said one was tall and thin; and the other short and wiry like, +pretty much like a cat. I rather reckon he'd be the fellow who's been in +the flying business. Seemed to have a stiff left arm too, like he'd met +up with some sort of an accident. That might turn out to be a pointer; +I'll just remember it. It surely was a lucky thing for me I saw you boys +come sailing along and managed to attract your attention. I begin to +feel better already. You gave me so much help on that other occasion, it +just seems as if I had to fall back on you again." + +"Better move your horse out of the way, Chief, because there comes a car +at a licketty-split racing speed. Wonder what the fellows in it are +thinking about, to take such chances. Why, hello! look there, Frank, +perhaps you know the one who's at the wheel? Seems to me I've seen him +before, and that his name is Percy Carberry." + +"It is Percy," said Frank, "and alongside him who'd you expect to see +but his shadow, Sandy Hollingshead? And they look some excited too, as +though they'd heard about the robbery, and the Carberry family was +threatened with bankruptcy if the missing funds were not recovered right +away. There, he sees us, and is pulling up. I reckon he's looking for +you, Chief." + +The car that had been tearing along the pike came to a stop close to +where the head of the Bloomsbury police force sat in his buggy. + +Percy Carberry got out, and Andy could not but notice that he was not +displaying his accustomed agility on this fine morning; indeed, he made +a face as though it gave him a stab of pain every time he took a step. + +"Hello! Chief Waller!" remarked Percy in his customary patronizing way, +ignoring the presence of the Bird boys completely and purposely, of +course; "I've come out after you, to get your assistance in trying to +find the rascals who broke into my hangar some time last night, and ran +away with my biplane!" + +Upon hearing these astonishing words it was little wonder that Andy and +Frank once more looked at each other, with the light of understanding +dawning on their faces. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +FIGURING IT ALL OUT + +"That's a strange story you're telling us, Percy," said the Head of the +local police force, at which the boy bridled up immediately. + +"I don't see what there is so funny about it, Chief!" he exclaimed, +frowning. "I tell you my hangar was broken open last night, and I'm out +a biplane that cost me a good round sum. It's up to you to get on the +track of the same, and recover it. I hereby offer a reward of three +hundred dollars for the recovery of my machine uninjured, and make it +five hundred if the thief is captured in the bargain." + +When he said this Percy assumed all the airs of a millionaire; but then +it was well known about Bloomsbury that the Widow Carberry was very +wealthy; also that her only hopeful could wheedle her in to settling any +sort of a bill he chose to contract, so that the mention of the sum of +five hundred dollars was not anything extravagant for Percy. + +"Oh! it wasn't that I doubted your word at all, Percy; don't think +that," Chief Waller hastened to say; for like most men he was ready to +bow down in front of the golden calf; and more than once Mrs. Carberry +had been very generous to the force--when her house took fire and came +near burning, but was saved, thanks to the energetic work of police and +fire departments; and again, when a hired man tried to carry off some of +her jewelry, but had been easily caught, and the plunder restored. + +"Then what makes you act like that, I'd like to know?" demanded Percy, +looking very much put out, as though he did not like to be treated with +suspicion, especially when his old-time rivals, the Bird boys, were +around. + +"Why," the officer went on to say, "when you said that about your +aeroplane being taken, it struck me all in a heap; because Frank here +was just telling me that two men broke into his shop last night after +eleven, and knocked things around, just because they failed to find his +hydroplane in its bunk as usual. They wanted that machine, and wanted it +so bad, that, as a last resort, they went over to your place, and +confiscated your biplane." + +It was Percy's turn now to look astonished. He even condescended to +notice the presence of the two Bird boys, and surveyed them with +interest. + +"Is that a fact, Frank? Did somebody break into your place last night? +I remember now that I did see you pottering about your craft up there +somewhere about the Quackenboss place, but I'd forgotten it till the +Chief mentioned that you didn't have it in the hangar. That's the time +you were lucky. See what I got for having mine at home all snug and +nice. It's been hooked clear as anything, and not a trace to tell who +did the business." + +"Hold on there, Percy," said the Chief, with a broad smile, "perhaps it +isn't such a deep mystery after all." + +"Tell me what you mean when you say that," demanded the boy, loftily, as +though he resented the fact that anything should be kept from him a +single second. + +"Why, Frank and Andy found these things in their shop, left by the two +men who tried to get their hydroplane; and the chances are ten to one +the same parties went right straight over to your place and got yours as +a second choice." + +"I don't like the way you speak of my biplane, Chief, which cost ever so +much more money than the contraption the Bird boys own," Percy remarked, +sneeringly; "but never mind, tell me what these things stand for. An +electric torch and--why those things look like black masks. Great +Caesar! and the Bloomsbury bank was robbed last night, they told me when +I was rushing around looking for you. See here, do you think the yeggs +who did that neat job got away with my biplane?" + +Percy was getting more excited than ever now. When he did, he seemed to +just foam a little at the corners of his mouth, his eyes glittered, and +his face turned red. + +"There seems to be no doubt of it," replied the Chief, calmly, and yet +with a stiffening of his figure, as though conscious of having already +discovered a most promising clue, that could not but reflect credit on +his astuteness as an officer of the law. + +"They knew all about Frank's machine and mine too, then?" continued +Percy, still grappling with the tremendous problem. + +"Looks that way," the official went on to remark, "and makes me think +more than ever that they must have a friend right here in Bloomsbury who +put them wise to lots of things. Time'll tell that. But I don't suppose +you found anything around your place like Frank did, to tell that some +strangers had been there while you slept?" + +"Not a blessed thing; though, to tell the honest truth, I didn't hang +around long when I found my biplane was gone. It was the best machine I +ever owned, and as you know I've had several, all told. And inside of +three days I expected that the latest model of aluminum pontoons would +be along, to turn it into a water as well as an air craft. Now chances +are, I'll never see it again, because, like as not, nobody knows which +way in creation they went." + +"We happen to have a pointer about that same thing," Andy could not help +saying, though he hardly liked the superior air of the other, not being +able to overlook such things as easily as his cousin did. + +"I hope, then, you'll give it to the Chief, Andy," the Carberry boy +remarked, for the first time directly speaking to one of the cousins. + +"Sure thing. We want to see the rascals copped just as much as anybody +does. You see, Felix, he's the farm hand up at Mr. Quackenboss' place, +and me, we thought it good policy to stay around, and keep an eye on our +machine while it was lying overnight in that meadow. I had had a long +watch of it, and was taking my turn at sleeping when just at daybreak +Felix shook me, and said there was a queer noise up aloft that kind of +scared him, and which he rather believed must come from some sort of +air craft. + +"Oh!" exclaimed Percy, looking intensely interested, of course; "go on, +please." + +"I jumped up, and sure enough I glimpsed a biplane passing over, and +headed up the lake at a pretty good height, I thought it looked like +your machine, but as I remarked to Frank later on, whoever steered it +had a different way about him from your method. While I was wondering +what took you out so early, and I could see there were two in the +machine, a big flock of crows passed over, and I lost track of it. + +"So, you see, Percy," broke in the eager Chief just at that point, +"we've got a pretty good clue already about the direction the rascals +took, who broke into the safe of the bank, and carried off a bagful of +money, and valuable papers; and then followed that up by cribbing your +biplane. It was north they went, up the lake, in fact; and that's the +quarter we'll have to look for them. But let me tell you it's putting it +pretty hard over on a police officer to make him try to track a stolen +flying machine." + +"But you can get in touch with every town to the north, and pick up +pointers here and there!" Percy declared, excitedly. "Get back to town +as fast as you can, Chief, and with a couple of your men I'll carry you +wherever you want to go. In the meanwhile, you can leave orders for your +men to do the wiring business; and whenever we strike a town we can ring +up Headquarters over the 'phone, and learn what news they've managed to +pick up." + +Percy seemed to think that all he had to do was to tell the Chief what +he wanted; but then his plan of campaign was really a good one, and the +police officer was wise enough not to quarrel with his bread and butter; +for the Widow Carberry was a large property owner in Bloomsbury. + +"You just take the words out of my mouth seems like it," he remarked; +"and that is the best plan we could carry out. I was just going to +suggest to Frank and Andy here, that if they felt like taking a little +spin off to the northward this fine morning, and discovered anything +suspicious, they could get word to us, perhaps through the Bloomsbury +Central, for we'll be apt to keep in touch with home." + +Percy did not know whether to look pleased at this suggestion or not. It +would be just like the everlasting luck of the Bird boys to make another +remarkable success out of this thing, for they seemed to have a failing +that way, while all the hard fortune came in his direction. That would +give him a pain to be sure, for he was horribly envious of their local +fame as successful aviators; but at the same time he hated to lose that +beautiful biplane, which he had not owned very long, and which had taken +his heart by storm. + +So Percy finally compromised, as he frequently did. He even forced a +grim smile to appear upon his face, though it did not deceive Frank in +the least; and as for Andy, he never took the least stock in Percy +Carberry's honesty. In his mind there was always a deep meaning +underneath every action of the other. + +"Why, sure I hope Frank will discover the thieves, and recover the stuff +they've grabbed from the bank; also that he'll have the good luck to get +back my biplane without its being badly wrecked. That reward is worth +trying for, and I don't go back on my word." + +All the same he knew very well that neither of the Bird boys could be +forced to ever accept one penny from his hand, no matter what good Dame +Fortune allowed them to do for him. + +Andy was watching keenly when the Carberry boy walked back to his +machine, and climbed into the steering seat. Frank, happening to look +that way, saw his cousin's face lighted up as if in glee: and he even +heard him chuckle. Perhaps Percy may have caught the same sound, for he +turned his head after dropping down into his seat, and scowled darkly at +Andy. There is nothing like a guilty conscience to bring about a +self-betrayal; and somehow Percy seemed to know what the Bird boy was +thinking about just then. + +At any rate, he was an adept at the pilot wheel of a car, though +inclined to be a reckless driver; just as he was also a daring air +voyager, taking desperate chances that promised to bring him to grief +one of these days. + +Backing the car swiftly around, he sped away. Sandy Hollingshead, who +had not once moved from his seat, or uttered a single word all the time, +turned his head to look back; and Andy thought he too scowled darkly, as +though stirred by unpleasant thoughts; but in another minute they had +vanished around the bend far along the pike, and the Chief alone was +seen, whipping up his nag, in the endeavor to get back as speedily as +possible to Headquarters. + +"Well, of all things, don't this just take the cake?" remarked Andy, +when he and his cousin once more found themselves alone beside the +motionless aeroplane, that nestled like a great bird on the grass close +to the road. + +"It certainly looks as though we might be in for a little more +excitement," replied Frank; "but what seemed to make you chuckle so +much, Andy? You must have noticed something that escaped my attention, +because I was busy thinking of other things. Suppose you open up, and +tell me?" + +"I was tickled half to death to see how Percy tried to walk, as if +nothing was the matter with him, when all the time he couldn't keep from +limping; because, don't you see, one or several of those bird-shot Felix +scattered around last night, must have stung him about the legs. That's +why he scowled so at me, Frank!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +THE AIR SCOUTS + +Frank laughed a little, himself, when he heard his cousin say this. + +"I give you credit for getting one on me there, Andy," he declared. + +"Then you believe I hit the right nail on the head, do you, Frank?" + +"Well," remarked the other, "come to think of it, Percy did have a +little limp; and I guess he tried to hide it the best he could, for I +remember seeing him wince several times. But how about Sandy, who never +tried to get out of the car once, and didn't even open his lips to say a +single word?" + +"I bet you he got a double dose, and is pretty sore this morning." Andy +went on. "You seemed to think it was kind of hard lines for Felix to +give 'em a load when they were pretty far off, and just climbing over +that fence; but it tickles me every time I think of it. Seemed like the +whole bunch just fell over after he shot; and like as not each fellow +got his share of the Number Eights somewhere in his legs. But how about +this job the Chief asked us to engineer, Frank? Are we going to start +off on that little spin up the lake; and d'ye guess we could get a +pointer about where the two thieves have gone?" + +"We might try, anyhow; no harm in that," was his cousin's reply, as he +turned once more toward the hydroplane that lay near by. + +"I remember we had great luck that other time, when we discovered that +the men who broke into Leffingwell's place were hiding in that old cabin +up in the woods. Perhaps the same story might be repeated, who knows? +They call it the Bird boys' luck, Frank; but then, we work for all we +get, and ought to have a little credit when we win out. If we made a bad +job of things, the same people would be quick to say we didn't know our +business. Shall we go back to the shop first?" + +"That would be the only way," replied Frank. "If we're going to take on +this dangerous job of looking up yeggmen who have broken into a bank, +and looted it, why, it seems to me we ought to make a little +preparation. Of course, about all we expect to do is to scout around, +and see if we can pick up any information with the aid of our marine +glasses. It's hardly to be expected that two boys would take the chance +of trying to nab a couple of reckless thieves, who must be armed and +desperate." + +"But if the opening came, Frank, we wouldn't let it slip by, would we?" +asked Andy, always willing to go to the limit, when temptation beckoned. + +"Perhaps not," answered the other, smilingly; "but there's no use +crossing a bridge till we come to it, so we won't bother any more about +that. Get aboard, Andy, and we'll head for home again." + +"Just think of all that's happened since we had that little accident +yesterday afternoon, up near the Quackenboss place?" Andy went on to +say, as he complied with his cousin's request, and settled himself in +his seat, leaving the piloting of the machine to Frank. + +"There has been quite a little run of excitement, that's a fact," mused +the other; "first the accident, and our great good luck in making a +landing without breaking a thing, including our precious necks." + +"Then the discovery of Percy and Sandy looking at the hydroplane lying +there, and hurrying away as if they had already laid a plan to come back +and pay a night visit, if they failed to see us get home by daylight," +Andy went on to add. + +"Events followed thick and fast after that, Andy--the coming of the +four fellows, with their faces hidden; their repulse at the hands of +yourself and the friendly Felix; then the robbery of the bank; the +breaking into our shop by men who left their cards behind in the shape +of these burglar tools; the meeting of the Chief on the road, and the +news he gave us; and last of all the coming of Percy with the startling +news that his biplane had been stolen!" + +"Yes, but don't forget my seeing it sailing over just at early dawn," +remarked the other, as Frank stooped forward for a last look around, +before starting up the powerful little Kinkaid engine. "Because that +promises to play quite a figure in the pursuit of the smart thieves; +though they may be fifty miles away from here by now, if they know how +to handle that fine biplane right." + +"Hold tight; we're off!" warned Frank, as he applied the power; for the +new engine was of course a self-starter, and could be operated from his +seat with almost as much ease as might be shown in using electricity, +and pressing the button. + +The hydroplane ran easily along the ground, for the bicycle wheels were +always kept in first class condition; and as the speed kept on +increasing Frank soon uptilted the plane, and like a great bird rising +from the ground, with a graceful sweep the flying machine took to the +air. + +Long practice had made the Bird boys familiar with every movement +connected with the actions of an aeroplane, but at the same time they +tried to be always on their guard against being incautious. That is the +trouble with most aviators; they grow so familiar with danger that they +forget the terrible risk that always hangs over the head of every one +who soars aloft in his frail airship; and then, when finally something +happens after they have become too reckless, they never get another +chance. + +Sweeping along not more than three hundred feet above the ground, the +boys were home in almost no time. They could see the car containing +Percy Carberry, and his crony, Sandy, just vanishing among the houses of +Bloomsbury; and the Chief, about half-way there, waved his hat at them +as they sped past him. + +Then the aeroplane dropped lightly down close to the hangar back of the +Bird home, where Andy and his father, the professor, lived, together +with old Colonel Whympers, the veteran who used crutches or a cane on +account of his rheumatism, brought on, he always declared, not by age, +oh! no, but the wounds he received many years ago, when he was fighting +for his country in the great civil war. + +He was sitting there on a pile of lumber waiting for them, a quaint old +fellow, who was greatly beloved by both cousins; and who believed firmly +that some fine day Andy Bird was bound to even eclipse the fame which +his father had gained in the field of science and aviation. + +It happened that the professor was away at the time delivering a series +of lectures before some body of scientists in a distant city. And +whenever the boys were in their shop the old veteran was in the habit of +coming around, to see what new and wonderful things engaged their +attention, as well as chatting with them. And he was as welcome as the +sun in May. + +Of course, just then he was bristling with questions as a hedgehog would +be with sharp-pointed quills. And knowing the Colonel of old, Frank and +Andy lost no time in telling him all that had happened to them, from the +time of their little accident, down to when they heard the latest news +from Percy Carberry. + +"And I warrant now," remarked Colonel Whimpers, as soon as the tale was +finished, "that you two boys get the first clew to where the robbers +are hiding. Didn't you beat the wonderful Chief out before, and doesn't +history have a habit of repeating itself? Oh; if only I was ten years +younger, how I'd love to be along, when all these glorious things are +happening. I hate to think I'm put by on the shelf and never can be any +good again." + +That was the old man's only fault; he was forever complaining because +his day for indulging in exciting scenes had passed; but any one who +knew the half that he had passed through, would think the colonel had no +reason to say anything; and that it was only right that someone else had +a show. + +They soon soothed him, however, and long practice had made Andy +particularly apt at this sort of thing. + +"Here come Elephant and Larry, on the run," remarked Frank, a little +while later; "I wonder if they saw us come home, and whether they can +have picked up any additional news connected with the bank robbery, that +we ought know." + +"Well, it might pay us to hold up a little, and see," added Andy. + +"Yes, since we're in no great hurry, and the day is long," Frank +remarked. + +The two boys came up panting for breath. Larry had evidently set the +pace, and it was a matter of the smaller lad keeping with him, or else +being left behind, something Elephant never liked to have happen; so +that he was unable to say even a single word for a full minute after +arriving alongside the hangar. + +"Tell us, have they learned anything new since the Chief started off?" +asked Frank, as usual right to the point; and in this way cutting off +the myriad of questions which he knew both the newcomers were primed to +ask. + +"Why, yes," gasped Larry, while Elephant nodded his head as if to say he +agreed to all that was said, "after Percy came bustling around, asking +for the Chief, and telling how somebody had busted into his place, and +run off with his biplane in the night, they got to talking it over, and +wondering if it could have been the robbers, and if one of 'em knew how +to handle such things. So they called up the city, and asked questions. +In that way they learned that there was a yegg who had been suspected of +having been connected with several other jobs, though they never could +just put the kibosh on him, and his name is Casper Blue, and one time he +used to be an actor, and then became a pretty well-known flier, but in +an accident he broke his arm, and had to give up his business. He was +always a crooked sort of feller, and after that just boozed around, +joined in with hobo gangs, and they believe touched up a few jobs +himself. There, that's all we know; and now, what you been doing?" + +"Too long a story to tell just now," declared Frank. "The colonel knows, +and perhaps he'll amuse you after we've gone." + +"Oh! say, are you meanin' to take after them fellers that busted the +bank safe, and then got away with Percy's biplane?" asked Elephant +eagerly; "don't I wish though I could just hang on behind, and be in the +swim for once. You two seem to have about all the fun there is going, +hang the luck, say I?" + +"Well, you'd better not try it, that's what!" said Andy, shaking his +head threateningly at the bare suggestion of having Elephant aboard when +they made a start. + +"I think we've got everything now, Andy," remarked Frank, anxious to be +off. + +"Hope you're taking guns along, because if you do run across them hobo +fellers you'll be apt to need them right bad," Larry went on to say, +also looking downcast at having to miss all the sport simply because +Nature had never intended him for an aviator, as he was inclined to get +dizzy when looking down from any height. + +"Oh! Frank's provided for that, and besides, we don't really expect to +round the thieves up, just find out if they've dropped down anywhere +inside of thirty miles to the north of Bloomsbury. Shall I get aboard, +Frank?" + +"Yes; and after we're off, Larry, will you and Elephant do me the favor +to step around to my house, and tell my folks that the Bird boys have +hired out as scouts to Chief Waller? Tell dad that we'll be mighty +careful, and for mother not to worry about us. You know I always call +Aunt Laura mother, because she's been that ever since my own died years +ago. Will you do that, boys?" and Frank sitting there ready to start, +turned a smiling face upon his two friends. Even as they promised, the +aeroplane started off, and a minute later soared up in the air, like a +bird rejoicing at its freedom for leaving the earth behind. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +JUST BELOW THE CLOUDS + +"Good luck to you, boys!" came floating up from the ground, above the +buzzing of the busy little Kinkaid motor; and looking down, they could +see Larry, Elephant, yes, and the old veteran also, carrying on +excitedly, as they swung their hats around. + +"Who're you waving your handkerchief to, Frank; does your best girl keep +her eyes on the skies all the day long, looking to see you come around?" +demanded Andy, humorously. + +"Yes, that's my best girl, as sure as you live; and she's standing there +on the porch of our house right now, waving to me--Aunt Laura, who +thinks just as much of me as any mother could. But Andy, neither of us +said anything when Larry told about that hobo aviator named Casper Blue; +yet he answered the description the bank watchman gave of the smaller +man who had a stiff arm." + +"Oh, I noticed that, all right, even if I didn't look your way," +returned Andy, promptly. "It sort of clinched the nail we drove through +didn't it, Frank?" + +"Seems like it," the other went on to remark. "And the chances are ten +to one, we've got the story down fine right now, know who one of the +robbers was, why they wanted to steal an aeroplane to make their +get-away in, and all that. But there are a few things we don't know, +that'd throw a little more light on the affair." + +"As what?" queried his cousin. + +"Well, for one thing, the Chief seemed to think the thieves might have +had inside information, they seemed to know so much about things +connected with the bank, our having an aeroplane, where we lived, what +our habits were, and then about Percy's biplane in the bargain. Now, +that's something serious; if there's a man in Bloomsbury who's in league +with such rascals he'll be apt to help them out again later on if they +get away with this job; and he ought to be found out." + +"Whew! looks like we've got a big job on our hands if we hope to do all +that sort of thing," commented Andy, with a whistle to indicate his +feelings. + +"Nobody said we even think of trying," laughed Frank, as he stopped +mounting upward in spirals, and headed away toward the north. + +It was a glorious view that they had now spread out beneath and around +them. Neither of the Bird boys ever tired of such wonderful sights; and +although by now it had become an old story, they enjoyed it as much as +ever, even if their former sensation of awe had given way to one of +familiarity. + +They could see the entire outlines of beautiful Lake Sunrise, with its +many coves, and points jutting out, the water glistening in the +sunlight, as the morning breeze fanned it gently. + +Why, yes, there was the little lake steamboat called the Mermaid, +passing along the northern border of the lake, on the way between the +town of Cranford, on the shore opposite Bloomsbury, and headed toward a +small lumbering camp far up the left bank, possibly to deliver supplies, +after which she would point her nose down toward the home town, which +was of more importance than any other station on Lake Sunrise. + +The boys did look back, dear though the scenes around home must ever be +for them. It was characteristic of these lads that once they put their +shoulder to the wheel, or in other words, their hand to the plow, they +would not allow themselves to be discouraged by thoughts of the home +ties. That accounted for much of the success that had been their portion +in the past. They could for the time being forget that there was any +such place as home; and in this way they avoided the weakness that such +thoughts are apt to bring along in their train. + +Forward their way lay, toward those forbidding wilds far to the north, +where few towns could be found, and pretty much all the country was a +vast wilderness, filled with picturesque forests, wild swamps, and +rugged hills. + +It was just the country where desperate law breakers would choose as a +hiding-place, after they had committed some crime, and expected a warm +pursuit. Ordinary methods would never find them, save through a mere +chance; but when one can copy the eagle, and mount to dizzy heights, +with a pair of powerful glasses he can see almost everything that is +going on for miles and miles around, provided he has a skilled companion +along to manage the aeroplane or balloon. + +And that is destined to be the greatest value of these winged messengers +in future years, since it has been proven that they are not so very +dangerous after all in the line of dropping explosives upon battleships +or fortified places. + +"Somewhere up yonder, Frank, they are probably hiding, and feeling +perfectly safe from pursuit," ventured Andy, who was sweeping the marine +glasses around and examining the country ahead with more than common +interest. + +"Look how Old Thunder-top stands out today!" remarked Frank, turning for +just an instant to glance upward toward the left, where the high +mountain towered, its heavily wooded sides looking as gloomy as ever, +and the white cliffs that made the summit inaccessible to human feet, +appearing almost dazzling in the glittering light of the undimmed +morning sun. + +"And say, there's our old friends, the eagles that had a nest up there, +and gave me such a warm time when we first reached the top." Andy cried, +as he focused his glasses on a sweeping pair of huge birds that were +heading their way, as if meaning to investigate, and find out what +manner of rival this could be, invading their native element. + +"They know too much to bother with an aeroplane by now!" declared Frank, +laughing again. "Why I'm thinking those birds have hardly grown new +feathers in place of the lot they lost that time they fought us so +savagely." + +The memory appeared to amuse his cousin also, for he could be heard +laughing heartily, even above the purr of the now steadily going motor +that sent the propellers whizzing around so rapidly; for there was one +fore and aft, as is the case with all biplanes, the engine being behind +the pilot and his companion. + +"Tell me if you can remember, was that other aeroplane headed straight +up the lake the last you saw it in the early morning light?" Frank +asked. + +"That's right, Frank; but then I couldn't say just how long they kept +along that same course. When those hundreds of old crows came sailing +along on the wind, cawing to beat the band, and going every-which-way, I +lost sight of the biplane. After that it would have to be just guess +work." + +"But we've got a good pointer to start with," insisted Frank. "They +wouldn't be so apt to head toward the south, east or west, because in +those directions there are plenty of towns and villages, and these could +report seeing a strange biplane passing over, so giving the police a +clue. No, chances are ten to one they kept right on toward the north. +And there's where we've got to do all our searching today. We can just +comb the whole district over, and anything that looks like the stolen +aeroplane is sure to catch our attention from this height, don't you +think so, Andy?" + +"I reckon it will, Frank; but the only thing bothers me is that things +may have worked all right with the rascals, and by now they're away off, +so far distant that we'll never in the wide world get in touch with +them, the more the pity." + +"Well, it's never been a habit of ours to own up beaten till we've done +everything under the sun to win out. And Andy, we've only started as +yet. The field is before us, you know, with a whole day's supply of gas +to push us on, if we want to keep going. So I'm not asking any favors, +and expect to do just my level best to find out where the bank robbers +have gone." + +"And if we hunt around a whole lot without getting tabs on the pair, +why, we can drop down somewhere in a town, and get in touch with +Bloomsbury Headquarters. The Chief as much as promised that he'd leave +word there to put us wise to anything that had been learned by way of +the telephone, from other places. And given a clue in that way, we might +take a fresh spurt, you know." + +"Just so, Andy," agreed the other, bending his head to watch how some +part of the machinery was doing its duty; for that is always the weak +link in modern aviation, nearly everything depending on the engine +fulfilling its part perfectly. + +Andy continued to make use of the pair of glasses that magnified objects +in the far distance so wonderfully that a man could have been recognized +easily a mile away, and perhaps much further, if the air were real +clear. + +Now and then he turned them to the right. The beautiful lake always +attracted him very much like a magnet would, whenever he had a chance to +look out over its glistening bosom. + +And there was the little steamer, just as Frank had said; why, he could +even distinguish Todd Pemberton up in the pilothouse, grasping his wheel +and guiding his charge among the shoals that were charted in the +northern end of the lake as dangerous, that is, for green hands at the +tiller or wheel of a boat propelled by sails, steam or gasolene. + +They were moving in a line that would carry them up along the shore, and +consequently every minute they drew nearer the small lake steamer that +was heading toward them. + +Passengers could be seen on its deck, and possibly every eye was glued +just at that particular moment on the aeroplane that was buzzing go +steadily northward; perhaps it might have been the first time some of +these people had ever seen such an interesting object; but in the region +around Bloomsbury it was by now a common sight, with such enterprising +young air pilots as the Bird boys and Percy Carberry in the field almost +every decent day. + +All at once Frank was heard to utter an exclamation. + +"Turn your glasses straight ahead, and see what that can be fluttering +among the bushes at Norton's Point, Andy!" he called out hastily. + +When the other had swung around, and covered the region spoken of, he +quickly gave the desired information. + +"Somebody seems to be shaking a handkerchief or something else white," +he observed. "And it don't look like just waving at the steamer either, +for they do it after a system, as we would signal with wigwag flags. +There, I counted seven times he did it; then comes a halt, and one, two, +three times, another halt; and once more he starts in, this time three, +four, five, and then stops. Now, what do you suppose the fellow means by +that, and who can he be waving to, Frank?" + +"You'd expect it might be some one out on the lake; can you see any +small boat in sight, Andy; or any one waving back from another point?" + +"Not a thing, as far as I can see," replied the boy with the marine +glasses. + +"Suppose you try the steamer, then," suggested Frank, meaningly. + +Immediately Andy gave an exclamation of astonishment. + +"I see a signal moving, Frank, and it seems to be copying the one on +shore," he hastened to remark, excitedly. + +"Where does it come from, the passengers that I saw pushing up against +the rail, and staring at us; are any of them interested, do you think?" +continued Frank, who just then could not turn his head to look, but must +depend on his chum. + +"Well, no," answered Andy, "it seems to come from the pilothouse, and +must be Todd Pemberton, himself." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +THE PILOT OF THE MERMAID + +"So, it's Todd Pemberton, is it?" remarked Frank, "I think it'll pay us +to slow down a little, and look into this white rag-waving business." + +"Goodness gracious! you can't be thinking that Todd is in touch with the +bank robbers, can you, Frank?" Andy exclaimed, astounded, apparently, at +the very thought of such a thing. + +"Oh! I'm not up to that point of saying anything--yet. But all the same +it's what I call interesting, you know," the other replied; and from +this Andy could easily guess that while Frank might have notions about +the matter, he did not care to commit himself so early in the game. + +"Yes, that's so," Andy replied, still having his eyes glued to the +binoculars. + +"What's doing now?" continued Frank. + +"Nothing that I c'n see," replied the other. + +"No more white handkerchiefs waving around the point, eh, Andy?" + +"Not a blessed thing; and Todd's quit too. Guess they've come to some +sort of an understanding. Wish I knew what seven, three, five meant; +something pretty interesting, I'll be bound." Andy went on to mutter, +half to himself. + +"Well, we can only guess, and that's the extent of it," Frank was +saying, in a rather serious tone, as though he believed there might be +more in connection with the little affair than a mere exchange of +civilities. + +"How about Todd Pemberton, Frank?" asked the boy with the glasses. + +"Well, you know him as well as I do, perhaps better," returned his +cousin. + +"I mean, wasn't there once something against him? I know, Frank, that my +guardian signed a paper about getting Todd his position with the +steamboat company this last spring; they always get him to sign +everything going, he's so good-natured and what you call an Easy Mark." + +"Yes, they came to my father too, and he put his name down, I remember. +As near as I can say, it was a petition to ask the company to give Todd +the position of pilot; and stated the belief of all those who signed +that he would make good. He used to be a pilot on Lake Sunrise, and +before that on one of the Great Lakes." + +"But, Frank, why the petition, if he was able to fill the place you'd +think all he had to do was to make application, and then jump in?" + +"Well, it seemed to be pretty generally known about Bloomsbury that Todd +had not always been as straight as he is today; and lots of people +believed he would never hold his place a week; but he's had it all +summer now, and seems to be giving satisfaction, all right," Frank went +on to say. + +"But there was a past, you mean; Todd had gone the pace, and used to +drink and gamble, I suppose. Perhaps, now, he even used to herd with a +tough set. How about that, Frank?" + +"It's so all right. Todd got down pretty low, and was even a hobo, I +heard, before he took a brace, and came back to Bloomsbury to make a man +of himself again." + +"Gee! I'm real sorry to hear that," Andy muttered. + +"What? That he reformed?" demanded the cousin, in pretended surprise. + +"Shucks! no; but about his having been a tramp; because, don't you see, +Frank, it makes things look black for Todd. Remember, don't you, about +what the Chief said when he spoke of the yeggs knowing so much about +things, that he thought they must have had inside information; and that +somebody familiar with Bloomsbury ways helped them figure it all out. +Looks bad for Todd, that's what, Frank." + +To hear Andy talk you would think that the party in question must have +been a personal friend, at least, when, in truth, he only knew Todd +Pemberton to speak to, as he did a thousand other people in and around +the home town. + +"By that you mean you're afraid he's fallen in with some old companions +in crime and been tempted, or forced to join them in this raid on the +bank?" was the way Frank put the matter direct. + +"You've covered what I do believe, as sure as my name's Andy Bird." + +"Well, let me say that I think the same way you do," Frank went on to +remark. + +"Good!" cried Andy, in a delighted tone. "Sometimes we agree, and again +we have different minds; but in this case it looks like we might be on +the same raft." + +"Take another good squint at the point, Andy, and see if you can pick up +that man again, the fellow who was doing all that tall Wigwagging." + +"I'm looking, Frank." + +"What d'ye see there now?" the other continued. + +"Nothing--that is, there are stones, and moss, and trees, and perhaps +birds flying around this way and that; but never the first sign of a +human being can I discover anywhere, Frank." + +"Still, we know there's one man there at least, perhaps a pair of them +hiding somewhere around that desolate place. Why, Norton's Point is, I +guess, about the meanest and loneliest place of all the Disston Swamp +lumber company. Nobody hardly ever goes there except to shoot snipe and +woodcock in the fall, and yet we happen to know there's one person +hiding out there, and that he knows Todd Pemberton, for they've been +exchanging signals through the wigwag code." + +"Looks suspicious, Frank, don't you think?" + +"Looks like it might pay to investigate a little closer, Andy." + +They were by this time passing over the identical strip of country where +Andy had watched the signal waving. By looking almost directly down, he +could see between the tall trees as only an aviator ever has a chance of +doing. + +"You know what I'm hoping to discover, Frank?" he remarked as he +continued to scan every part that was at all exposed by openings among +the trees. + +"Percy's lost biplane, I take it," came the prompt reply. + +"Yes, because they couldn't very well have landed without a certain +amount of open space. We know how hard it is to drop into a hole, and +worse still to climb up out of one. Didn't we have the toughest of times +down there in that South American forest finding open spots where we +could land with some chance of ever getting out again, without cutting +trees down that were as big around as a young house?" + +"But I don't hear you shouting out that you've made any sort of +discovery, up to now, Andy?" + +"Well, no, for a fact I haven't. But Frank, I wish you could take the +glass and let me hold the wheel for a minute." + +"You can tell me just as well, I think," replied the other. + +"It's about the sandy beach in front of the point," remarked Andy. + +"What ails it then?" Frank inquired, seeing his cousin hesitate. + +"Why," Andy went on to say, "you know how powerful this glass is, and +how it shows up the smallest of things when the sun is just right? It's +doing that now. I can look down on the sand spit at the point; and for a +lonely spot where hardly a man ever comes from November to June, it +looks pretty well trampled up to me." + +"Trampled by men or animals?" the pilot inquired. + +"I think by two-legged animals," answered the one who held the powerful +lenses to his young eyes. "And it struck me that perhaps the biplane +came down right there early this morning. It was headed this way when I +saw it, and not so very high up; though that flock of crazy crows +knocked me out of watching it for some times." + +"Do you mean it fell there; that they had an accident of some kind, +Andy?" + +"Might be that; and then, again, perhaps they dropped down on purpose; +p'raps they mean to have another warm session around Bloomsbury before +skipping out of this section for good. With the aeroplane to make a +quick get-away, they might think of some rich haul they want to gather +in. Am I away off in my guess, Frank, or do you kind of lean the same +way?" + +"I think you are getting pretty close to the truth, Andy, and that's a +fact," replied the other. "But it would clinch it if you could only +glimpse the biplane hidden away somewhere down there under the brush or +the trees." + +"That's what I've been hoping for," returned Andy, a little fretfully, +"but so far without meeting any success that you could notice. But what +ought we to do about it, Frank?" + +"Go on, and take a wide sweep around," came the steady reply. "Perhaps +we might run across another leading clue, and then this one would look +foolish. We'd be sorry then, that we thought so bad of Todd. Perhaps, +after all, he was only making signals to one of the men connected with +the logging camp, up on the Point for something or other." + +He allowed the motor to work at the reduced speed that it had been +carrying on ever since quitting the home field, where the workshop and +the hangar stood. Andy still continued to use the glasses, as though he +had not quite given up all hope of making some sort of discovery. + +Once, however, they had left the northern end of the lovely lake behind +them for good, and only the forest lay below, Frank quickened matters +somewhat. Truth to tell, he hardly knew what to think, and whether what +they had witnessed could really have any bearing on the solution of the +puzzle or not. + +Certainly if the hunt was only kept up in automobiles, that required +fairly decent roads to allow of their getting along, there was not much +chance of the authorities ever discovering the concealed hobo thieves; +for they could not get within a mile of the shore up there at Norton's +Point by such methods. The only way it could be reached was by boat; or +possibly through the means of an aeroplane, such as the Bird boys were +now using. Few places but could be spied upon, when one had the means +for passing over the most inaccessible thickets and rocky hills. + +After a time they had gone many miles. Occasionally a small hamlet was +seen below; and then would come once more the woods that extended over +such a large space of territory in this part of the country. This was +generally because of the swampy nature of the ground, which prevented +farming operations being carried on, while the difficulty of getting the +logs out of the bogs had deterred lumbering thus far. + +Andy had done his part of the work faithfully. He had scoured the +territory over which they passed, and never did a break occur, however +small, but he clapped his eyes upon it, and examined the open space +thoroughly. + +"There's Rockford ahead, and we've passed over the whole stretch of +swamp and forest. Suppose, now, we dropped down on the commons, and get +Bloomsbury on the long distance phone; perhaps they might have some news +they could give us," and as Andy at once agreed to the proposal, for he +was thirsty anyhow, and wanted a drink of soda water the worst kind, +Frank began to descend gracefully. + +They had about half the population of the place gaping at them as they +finally landed on the big green. Frank asked his cousin to stay by the +machine while he sought police headquarters, and asked to get in touch +with the home town. + +He had no sooner made the connection, and heard some one answer him +after he told who he was, when there was sent along the wire some +information that rather gave Frank a shock, because of its nature, and +the fact that it seemed to fully dispose of the theory he and his cousin +had already formed. + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +HEARD OVER THE WIRE + +Luckily the center of interest remained around the odd looking aeroplane +with the metal pontoons underneath its body, so that Frank was allowed +to walk away almost unnoticed, when he had secured the important +information he inquired for, and which was leading him to the drug store +nearest the town green. + +True, an aviator had landed in Rockford on one or two occasions, for +some reason or other, in times past. Since the Bird boys could not +remember having done so, possibly it may have been Percy Carberry, +anxious to enjoy the stares of the good people, and pose as a great +fellow. + +But this was a type of air machine with which none of them were +familiar; and as so much space was being taken up even in the local +papers with the accounts of the wonderful doings of daring navigators of +the upper currents, it was only natural that some bright boy should +speedily guess what manner of craft the chance visitor to Rockford must +be. + +"Hey! that's a hyderplane, mister, ain't it?" demanded one sharp-eyed +chap, after he had glimpsed the construction of the aluminum pontoons +that were just kept from contact with the ground by the bicycle wheels. + +"Have you ever seen one before?" asked Andy, desirous of keeping up +friendly relations with the crowd, for he knew how important that might +prove, since, as yet, no man wearing a blue uniform had put in an +appearance; and should any hoodlum choose to play "rough house," or try +to be too familiar with the apparatus, there was always a chance that +some damage might be done. + +"No, I ain't, but I seen a picture of that 'ere Coffyn feller, a-flyin' +down on the Hudson river nigh New York; and she looked a heap like this +here shebang," came the quick response. + +"Well, you guessed right that time, for that is what it is called, a +hydroplane; because it can be navigated on the water as well as in the +air. And if you'll please stand back, so as not to bother with anything, +because the least handling may put the whole machine out of tune, I'll +be glad to tell you something about how we manage to use it as a boat." + +Andy knew how to manage, and he exerted himself to entertain the crowd +while Frank was absent, keeping their interest aroused by little +stories of things that had happened to birdmen in recent times, and +which were of course well known to him, from the fact that both the +cousins kept in close touch with all that went on in the world of +aviation. + +All the while Andy was keeping one anxious eye out for the sign of a +blue uniform and brass buttons, while new additions kept arriving +constantly to swell the eager crowd gathered on the park green. + +In the end he was vastly relieved to discover a policeman hurrying up, +looking as serious as though he expected to discover a fight, or two +youngsters matching pet roosters, to the delight of the gathered host; +for since the flying machine lay on the ground it was mostly concealed +from his view; and he would never have known what it was anyway. + +Of course, when he arrived on the scene and took command Andy quickly +gained his favor by a little subtle flattery; and after that felt that +he was, as he himself expressed it, "on Easy Street." + +Meanwhile Frank had proceeded direct to the drugstore on the corner, +about two blocks away from the end of the green, where they had told +him he could talk over the long distance phone with Bloomsbury. + +He was pleased to find that they had a regular booth in the store; for +he knew of numerous cases where the phone simply stood on a little +stand, and everybody could hear what the subject of the talk might be, +especially one side of it. + +Once closeted in the booth he hastened to ask for connection with Police +Headquarters at Bloomsbury. There was some little delay, as though these +long distance calls might be of rare occurrence in the local Central; +but finally he received notice that connection had been made, and he was +at liberty to start his message. + +"Hello! this Bloomsbury?" Frank asked first of all in a cautious way. + +"Yes," came the reply, distinctly enough. + +"And is this Police Headquarters?" + +"Yes." + +"This is Frank Bird speaking and we are over in Rockford; get that?" +Frank continued. + +"Yes," again came the reply from the party at the other end. + +"Chief Waller asked us before we left Bloomsbury to keep in touch with +Headquarters, and that you would supply us with any new information +that might come to hand while we scoured the country overhead, looking +for signs of the men who robbed the Bloomsbury bank last night, and +escaped in Percy Carberry's biplane. Who is this I am talking to, +please?" + +"Officer Green, Frank." + +"Oh! is that you, Joe; I didn't recognize your voice over the wire," +Frank went on to say. "You heard what the Chief said about giving us the +latest news, didn't you, Joe?" + +"I certain did, Frank," answered the man at the other end of the wire. + +"We've covered quite a large territory up to now, and think we've run +across a clue; but we want to make sure before putting the bloodhounds +of the law on the scent. Get that?" + +Frank was wise to the fact that Officer Green took himself and his +position on the local police force very seriously. True, he had never +done anything very great, to distinguish himself, beyond once stopping a +runaway horse that some people said was too decrepit to have gone twenty +paces further; and rescuing a little pet dog that had fallen into the +lake from a wharf; but then he believed in himself; and read up all the +thrilling stories of police achievements that were published in the New +York papers, satisfied that sooner or later the day was bound to come +when he would be able to prove himself a grand hero. + +And that was just why artful Frank used that phrase "bloodhounds of the +law," for he knew that it would cause Joe Green to puff up with pride, +and feel more kindly disposed than ever toward the speaker. + +He gauged matters exactly right, too, it seemed; for when the police +officer spoke again it was with additional eagerness. + +"Good for you, Frank; all Bloomsbury expects the Bird boys to do the old +town proud again. Many the time have you done it in the past, we all +know. And when you feel dead sure that you've got track of the desprit +villains who looted our town bank, all you have to do is to give the +police the signal, and they'll throw a drag-net around the hang-out of +the yeggs. That's what we're here for; that's what we draw our salaries +for; to protect the citizens of Bloomsbury against danger by fire, +flood, robbers and the like." + +Frank knew only too well how Officer Green liked to talk, especially +when once started on the subject of his exalted office; and accordingly +he thought it time to cut him short, before he could get launched on the +sea of police duties. + +"Tell me, have you learned anything new since we left?" he asked. + +"Why, yes, we've just had a man in here, who had heard about the +robbery, and that it was suspected the thieves had escaped by means of +the biplane belonging to the Carberry boy. He thought as how we might be +glad to know that he'd sighted a flying machine just after daybreak." + +"Why, yes, that ought to be an important piece of news," remarked Frank, +wondering whether it would corroborate that which the farm hand, +Felix Boggs, had already contributed to the fund of knowledge concerning +the movements of the fleeing yeggmen. + +"I thought it was; and I'm only waiting right now to forward it to the +Chief, as soon as he calls me on the wire from Hazenhurst, or some other +place where he's apt to turn Up," came over the wire from the home town. + +"Don't cut me off, yet, Central!" called out Frank, hastily, as he +thought he detected an uneasy movement, which was doubtless a sigh given +by the girl, who possibly had her ear to the wire, drinking in what was +being said: "I'm not near done talking yet. Hello! Joe!" + +"Yes, I'm here, Frank; what more do you want to ask me?" came from miles +away; and in imagination he could see Officer Green crouched at the +telephone stand, as he remembered it at Police Headquarters in +Bloomsbury, feeling the importance of his relations with the public as a +genuine guardian of the peace. + +"Why, it's of considerable importance to us to know in which direction +the aeroplane was going at the time this party sighted it," Frank went +on to say, "and I hope he told you that." + +"Which he did without my asking," replied Officer Green, quickly, +"though you may be sure I would have done the same before letting him +leave, because I was on to the fact that it would be a pretty good +pointer." + +"Oh! he thought of it himself, did he?" the young aviator shot back, +"well, that was pretty bright of him, and shows that he was a fellow to +take notice. And now, please tell me what he said about the direction in +which the biplane was headed, at the last instant he could see it far +away in the distance." + +"Exactly southwest, Frank!" + +This gave Frank a sudden jar, because it upset the theories he and Andy +had been forming concerning the escaping bank robbers. They had believed +the two men had gone almost directly north! + +"Southwest, you say, Joe?" he asked, wishing to make assurance doubly +sure. + +"He said exactly southwest; and as he kept repeating that word a number +of times there isn't a bit of chance that I'd get it mixed. You can +depend on it, Frank, and if you're away up at Rockford, seems to me +you'll have to make a big change of base right soon, if you want to get +in touch with them raskils." + +Frank's mind was in somewhat of a whirl. He wondered whether the farm +hand, Felix Boggs, could have been mistaken in what he had said; though +Andy, too, had seen the biplane, and noted the direction of its flight. +But perhaps this farmer, or whoever he might turn out to be, had +discovered the fugitive flying machine at a much later time, after the +two men had changed the course of their flight. + +"I suppose you might as well tell me who the party was from whom you got +your news, Joe," he remarked; though without any particular object in +view, since he could hardly expect to hunt the other up, and ask more +questions. + +And then came the answer, that gave Frank quite a thrill, as he grasped +the peculiar significance of it all. + +"Why, you know him all right, Frank," said Officer Green, glibly, "he's +the pilot of the little lake steamer, and his name's Todd Pemberton!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +COMPARING NOTES + +"He must have hurried up to Headquarters, then, as soon as he landed, +because we saw the Mermaid crossing the northern end of the lake, bound +for the lumber camp, before heading for Bloomsbury. How about it, Joe?" +Frank went on to ask, as soon as he had recovered from his surprise +after hearing that particular name mentioned. + +"Said he heard about the robbery," came over the wire in Officer Green's +ponderous tones; "and the fact of the raskils skipping out with the +Carberry boy's biplane, as soon as he put foot ashore; and thinking that +the police might like to know what he had seen, he just ran all the way +here." + +"Which I take it was mighty thoughtful of Todd," declared Frank, drily; +but if he spoke sarcastically the fact was not known to the man at the +other end. + +"I told him so, and complimented him on his zeal in assisting the course +of justice," the other continued, "which was all the more remarkable, +you know, Frank, because, to tell the truth, Todd himself was once a bad +egg, until he reformed, and got his present job. It does him great +credit, sure it does." + +"He went away after letting you know that if you hoped to capture the +thieves you'd have to chase southwest, and not north, didn't he, Joe?" + +"Oh! yes, about ten minutes ago, I reckon. But I assured him that if we +did succeed in capturing the rogues he would not be forgotten in the +division of the reward that was sure to be offered by the bank for +the recovery of the money and securities that were taken, not to speak +of the five hundred young Carberry has said he would pay for the +recovery of his biplane and the arrest of the thieves." + +"That was nice of you, Joe; but only what might be expected because your +heart is as big as a bushel basket," Frank went on to say, "and when you +told Todd that, how did he take it?" + +"Why, he just chuckled, and looked at me kind of funny, and said he +never hoped to take any of the hard-earned reward money that the police +were justly entitled to because of their activities," replied the other. + +"It's plain to be seen that Todd is a generous fellow. But I'm obliged +to you, Joe, for giving me this information, because, you see, we've now +got some foundation to build on. Goodbye, Joe!" + +With that Frank rang off. He knew that he might chat with the gossipy +police officer in Bloomsbury for at least fifteen minutes, but what was +the use, when he already knew all the other had to tell? + +And the news that had come over the wire was of considerable importance, +too. He smiled as he hurried out of the drugstore, not even waiting to +quench his thirst at the soda fountain, though a short time before he, +as well as Andy, had complained of feeling so exceedingly dry; but then, +all that was now forgotten in this excitement connected with the latest +development in the robbery case. + +It was back to the village green, now, with Frank. + +The crowd was greater than ever, and he quickly saw there would be no +opportunity for any communication between himself and his cousin until +they had left for the upper realms, where, surrounded only by silence, +they could converse while the busy motor hummed and the aeroplane headed +as they willed, either high above the hills, or skirting the tops of +the forest trees. + +Accordingly, Frank addressed himself to the arduous task of getting away +without any mishap. He, as well as Andy, had long since learned that it +is the part of wisdom to gain the good will of a curious crowd. In that +manner many friends are raised up, who are only too willing to lend a +helping hand. + +He quickly selected half a dozen fellows who looked as though they might +be of more than ordinary importance among the boys of Rock-ford. These +he particularly picked out, and asked them to assist the police officer +to keep the crowd back until they could get a good start, at the same +time explaining that a clear passage would have to be made ahead, and +that anyone getting in the way might not only be seriously injured, but +wreck the machine as well. + +Proud to have been thus honored, the six boys proceeded to push back the +gaping crowd and when Frank gave the word, also assisted in starting the +hydroplane on its way. + +A salvo of loud cheers rang out when they started, and this burst into a +furious chorus as the well balanced aeroplane presently left the ground +to start upward into the air. + +"I'm glad that's over with," said Andy, when they were safely off the +ground, and the shouts of Rockford's enthusiastic population began to +grow fainter in the distance. + +"Same here," echoed Frank, "you never know what will happen when a crowd +is pushing all around you, every fellow eager to just say he had hold of +a flying machine. There's always one or two of the lot ready to hang on +and risk their lives just to see how it feels to be carried up on an +aeroplane. They're the kind I'm most afraid of." + +"Well, did you get Police Headquarters in Bloomsbury, Frank?" + +"No trouble about that; and our old friend, Officer Green, was in charge +during the absence of the Chief," the other Bird boy answered. + +"Anything new developed since we left?" asked Andy. + +"Just one thing, and Joe thought it meant a whole lot," Frank went on to +say. + +"Which was what?" inquired the other. + +"A man came hurrying in and told how he had seen a flying machine +containing two parties just after daybreak, and making directly toward +the southwest, Andy. What do you think of that now for news?" + +His cousin gave a whistle. + +"Whew! important, if true!" he vouchsafed, tersely. + +"That sounds as if you had some trouble believing it?" chuckled Frank. + +"Well, considering what I saw myself, I'd have to know the name of this +party first, before I'd believe anything he said," Andy went on. + +"Oh! You know him, alright; fact is, we were speaking of the same not a +great while back," Frank observed, quietly. + +"Don't make me start in guessing, Frank, because we've been talking of a +dozen people; but tell me right out who it is," Andy pleaded. + +"The pilot of the Mermaid, Andy!" + +"Gee! Do you mean Todd Pemberton?" exclaimed the other. + +"Just him and no one else. Why, he was that anxious to let the police +know he had seen an aeroplane steering away straight into the southwest +early this morning, that as soon as he warped his boat to the wharf, +Todd, like a public-spirited citizen, hiked away for Headquarters as +fast as he could run, hardly waiting long enough to understand about the +bank being robbed, and Percy's biplane being used by the thieves as a +means of making a quick get-away." + +Andy turned his head and looked in his cousin's face. + +"Public-spirited citizen go hang!" he said, contemptuously. "After what +we saw, Frank, it's easy for us to understand just what it was made Todd +want the police to do all their hunting away off in the southwest." + +"Yes, what do you think was his object?" asked Frank, as he held the +aeroplane just about five hundred feet above the level ground, covered +by forests, as in most places around to the north of Bloomsbury, though +occasionally they ran across farms that looked like oases in the +dessert. + +"Why, that's as plain as the nose on my face," replied Andy, "and nobody +ever had any trouble about seeing that, I guess. Todd wanted to get in a +little bit of assistance for his friends, the hoboes who looted the bank; +and he could do them the best thing ever by turning suspicion in nearly +the opposite quarter. If Chief Waller could be assured that the last +seen of the biplane before it vanished in the distance it was heading +into the southwest, of course he'd take all his men off in that +direction; and the bank robbers, hiding perhaps around the northern end +of Lake Sunrise, would be free to do whatever they wanted. Do I hit +about the same guess that you do, Frank?" + +"You've just echoed what I had in mind," returned his cousin, "only +I've had more time to think it over, and perhaps gone a little further +than you could." + +"As how?" demanded the other, promptly, just as Frank knew he would. + +"Why, you know, it struck us as queer that these fellows should want to +hang out within twenty miles of the town where they'd just made a +successful raid on the bank. It would stand to reason that they'd be +only too glad to cut for it, after getting possession of Percy's fine +new aeroplane, and by keeping on north, reach Lake Ontario, and perhaps +fly across to Canada, where they'd be safe." + +"Yes, sure; we talked that over before, Frank, and came to the +conclusion that either they'd met with some sort of accident to the +biplane, and had to hold over till the fellow who used to be an aviator +repaired the same; or else that they had some other robbery in mind, and +wanted to make a double killing of it before skipping out." + +"All right. You can see, then, that if Chief Waller and about all his +men got on a warm clue that led them off to the southwest for a day or +so, it would leave things open for the carrying out of this second +scheme!" + +When Andy heard his cousin say this so gravely he seemed more startled +than ever. + +"Say, I believe you've gone and struck the truth just as you nearly +always do, old fellow, not by luck, but by figuring it out. To get the +coast clear, then, this sly Todd Pemberton means to go on bringing in +important news, and keeping poor old Chief Waller worked up to top-notch +speed, chasing around down there after shadows! Yes, that must be the +game they've got in hand; and perhaps that's what all those waves of +handkerchiefs meant between the pilot of the little Mermaid, and the +fellow we couldn't see, who was hidden in the bushes on Norton's Point." + +"He was undoubtedly there just to give Todd the high sign when the boat +passed. Both of us spoke of the fact that we'd never known the steamboat +to keep so far north when making the run from Cranford, across the lake, +up to the lumber camp on our northwest side. But now we can understand +why; he wanted to make sure his partners in crime were ready for him to +do his little share in the game; which is to send the police on a wild +goose chase and leave Bloomsbury next to unprotected tonight." + +"But whatever in the wide world, Frank, do you think they mean to try +next?" + +"I couldn't guess in a year," was the reply of the boy who manipulated +the levers of the hydroplane so dextrously. "It might be any one of a +dozen or two games. The bank isn't the only institution in Bloomsbury +carrying a lot of money in the safe. And then there are several rich men +we happen to know, who keep a little fortune about the house, in the way +of money, jewelry, or curios. For all we know, these yeggs may even have +an eye on your house or mine, because they could make a pretty good haul +there." + +"Whew!" was all Andy said just then; but his mind was undoubtedly filled +with startling ideas. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +AT THE HOSKINS FARM + +"Well," Andy went on to remark, presently, "I see you are turning back +again in the direction of the head of the lake. I hope, Frank, you don't +mean to go all the way to Bloomsbury, and put the police in possession +of the few facts we've succeeded in picking up." + +"That was not my calculation at all," replied the other, "in the first +place, we suspect a good deal, but up to now we haven't got very much +positive evidence on which to found a case. I'd like to know a little +more before I get the Chief on the wire, and put him wise." + +"Then when we get near the northern end of the lake perhaps you'll think +it best to make a landing somewhere, and prowl around on foot, finding +out what we can," Andy, continued eagerly; for he had become much worked +up by this time, and was hoping that fortune would be as kind to them as +on a previous occasion, which all Bloomsbury remembered very well. + +"If we can only find a decent opening where we could make a get-away +again, that is the only thing that bothers me," Frank replied. + +"Now, I remember noticing a field near what seemed to be a lonely +farmhouse; in fact there were a number of open places there, and they +seemed to have Canada thistles growing in clumps, all a-bloom, as if the +farmer had given up cultivating, and let things just go to rack and +ruin. I was never up there myself, but from what I've heard my father +say, I rather think that must be the Hoskins place. They say he +consulted some fortune teller a couple of years ago, who told him he +would some day discover a gold mine on his property that would make him +a millionaire; and ever since the farmer has spent about all his time +digging here and there, but up to now without any success at all." + +"Why, yes, I remember hearing a lot about the queer old farmer myself," +Frank went on to say. "He's got a wife, and a half-grown daughter named +Sallie. I met her at a country dance last winter, and she's a pretty +nice sort of a girl. Now, we've been on the move a good while, Andy, and +perhaps we might manage to make the Hoskins farm around the dinner +hour." + +"A bully good idea, too, Frank, and don't you forget it!" cried the +other, with considerable show of enthusiasm. "Now, I just bolted what +little breakfast I got this morning, and already I feel hungry enough to +eat nearly anything. And speaking generally, these country people do set +a great table; though I don't know how it will be with the Hoskins, +because, if they've been neglecting their farm to chase around after +rainbows, they probably won't be any too flush with supplies. But any +port in a storm, and I guess we'll be able to get filled up; if only we +can make a landing, and find the farm." + +"As I figure it out, Hoskins' place wouldn't be over a mile or so +directly above Norton's Point, Andy," the pilot of the expedition +continued, thoughtfully. + +"Yes," Andy said, encouragingly. + +"And perhaps, now, we might happen to run on some sort of a little clue +there. For instance, one of those yeggmen may have wandered around, and +bought some eggs or milk from the farmer's folks; because, if they've +been camping out in the woods, they've had to eat all the while, you +know." + +"A good idea, Frank; and we'll ask, if we're lucky enough to happen +around the lonely farm about meal time." + +"I'm going to make it a point to be there, and as we've got some time +to kill meanwhile, let's hop over to that nice landingplace at the foot +of old Thunder top, and overhaul the machine again. There are a few +things I'd like to tinker with, because I'm not quite pleased with the +way they work; and you know, Andy, I'm a regular crank about having a +motor run like a watch." + +"Well, I'm getting that way mighty fast, thanks to your hints, and the +knowledge of how it pays, when you're taking your life in your hands +every time you go up in one of these heavier-than-air outfits," was what +the other Bird boy observed, with what was a thoughtful look, for him; +because, as a rule, Andy appeared to be a merry chap, and laughing much +of the time. + +Within half an hour they had successfully landed at the place indicated, +and which had witnessed the coming and going of the young aeronauts on +numerous occasions. + +Here at least they could remain and take things easy while waiting for +the morning to slip along, so that eleven would roll around. Little +danger of their being bothered by curious persons here; indeed, the boys +had never yet known a solitary man or boy to come around the place. + +They could look up while lying there on their backs, and watch the +fleecy clouds sailing swiftly past the lofty crown of the rocky +mountain. And how vividly there came into their minds memories of lively +times which they themselves had experienced up there on the summit of +old Thunder top. + +They spoke of them now, as they lay stretched out on the soft turf, and +watched the two white headed eagles soaring far up in the blue heavens, +around and around in circles, without ever seeming to flap their great +wings. + +Once the young aviators had engaged in a terrible conflict with those +two mighty birds, on the crown of the mountain, where they had landed +with their aeroplane, and been looked upon as intruders by the eagles, +possibly under the belief that they entertained hostile intentions +toward the fledglings in their nest that was built amidst the crags, +close to the tip of the lofty peak. + +Frank and Andy often spoke of that thrilling episode, but never without +some sort of little shiver, because it had been a serious time with them +since one blow from those powerful wings might have toppled them over +the edge of the dizzy height, and sent them to their deaths. + +But they had succeeded in beating their feather antagonists off by the +aid of clubs which they wielded with vigor; and after the eagles learned +that no harm was intended to their young by these bold navigators of the +upper air currents, they came to have more respect for the strange +winged thing that came humming up from the earth on more than one +occasion. + +When eleven o'clock came around, the boys were off again, and headed +toward the northern end of the lake. + +Of course they kept close down to the treetops, because, once they +discovered the opening, they would wish to drop into it as easily as +possible. + +Suddenly Andy, who was on the lookout, while Frank paid more attention +to the easy working of the motor, and the steering of the hydroplane, +uttered an exclamation of satisfaction. + +"I see it, dead ahead!" he remarked, in a satisfied tone. "We made a bee +line to the place from the foot of the mountain, Frank. And unless I'm +away off in my guess, the farmhouse lies over yonder beyond the trees; +so nobody's apt to see us come down; and we can make any sort of yarn we +want, to explain just why we're here right now." + +"We can do that all right, without telling anything that isn't so," +replied the other aviator. "The farmer doesn't know us, though Sallie +will, and on that account we must be careful what we say. But the +dinner's the main thing just now. And at the same time we'll try and +pick up a little information, if Farmer Hoskins happens to know anything +that would interest two fellows of our stamp." + +He passed over the opening once, to make sure that it contained all the +necessary requisites for a successful landing, and also a launching of +the airship. Then, making a graceful sweep back again, Frank allowed the +aeroplane to drop lightly to the ground. It landed in almost the center +of the field, and both boys saw that they might get away again without a +great amount of trouble. + +"Fine!" was the comment of the pilot, as he jumped to the ground, and +bent over to detach some part of the machinery without which the motor, +as Andy always said, "would not move worth a cent." This he often took +with him, just as a chauffeur might the spark plug of an automobile, +rendering it helpless unless the would-be thief were prepared to supply +the deficiency off-hand, which was a remote possibility that never +worried Frank. + +"Now for grub!" announced the hungry Andy, leading off in the direction +where he had reason to believe the farmhouse lay; Frank always declared +that Andy had a most wonderful nose for a meal that was preparing, and +could spot a camp a mile away just by the smell of frying onions, or +coffee cooking. + +At any rate he proved to be a successful pilot on the present occasion, +for in a short time they were passing through an abandoned grain field +where the bees and butterflies were swarming about the many lavender +colored flowers of the great clumps of thistles; and the smoke from the +farmhouse kitchen arose just over a little knoll. + +"Told you so," said Andy, as they drew near the house, and caught +fragrant odors of cooking in the air. + +Upon their knocking a girl came to the open door, and recognized Frank +immediately as a boy she had met at the country dance the preceding +winter. But nothing she said would indicate that the Hoskins, living +here away from the world as they did, with the head of the house +spending all his time hunting for that treasure-trove he still believed +in, had heard anything to speak of about the wonderful things the Bird +boys had been doing lately. + +Frank was glad of this, and he just casually mentioned that they +chanced to find themselves near the farm, and wondered if they could get +dinner there. + +So the good housewife was brought out, and with true country hospitality +she immediately invited both boys to sit down with them, although saying +that they were not as well supplied with the good things that used to be +seen on their table before father took to boring those horrid holes all +over the place, thinking to strike a coal vein, or perhaps a silver +mine. + +He was off now, and would not show up until night, for the farm was one +of vast dimensions, and covered miles of territory. + +"But we have a boarder," said Sallie, as they sat down at the table. +"Sometimes he's here to meals, and again he gets so far away chasing his +butterflies that he just carries what he calls a snack in his pocket. +Such a queer little man he is too, with his brown glasses on, and always +running this way and that with his little net in which he captures the +butterflies that come to the thistles on our old barren fields. Perhaps +he'll turn up while you're here. I'd like you to meet Professor +Whitesides, who is from a big college, he tells us, and spending his +vacation in the way he likes. Sometimes I think he's a little off up +here," and she touched her head as she said this, "and that perhaps he +got hurt worse than he thinks, the time he met with the accident that +crippled his arm." + +Somehow Andy looked up when he heard about that broken arm to find his +cousin giving him the wink, while his eyebrows were elevated in a +suggestive way, just as much as to say: + +"Now, here's something mighty interesting already that would pay us to +look into; because we know of another fellow who is troubled with a +crippled arm and his name happens to be Casper Blue!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +THE BUTTERFLY COLLECTOR + +The dinner passed off without the odd little professor showing up, +although Sallie said it was nothing unusual for him, and that he was +liable to appear at any time, carrying his little white hand-net, and a +small handbag in which he claimed to keep the trophies of the chase that +had been run down during his last campaign. + +Frank wanted to get a chance to confer with his chum, and as soon as he +could conveniently withdraw from the table, giving Andy a nod, he went +out on the porch where he could look down the lane that led to the poor +road, which in turn, after many trials and tribulations merged into the +main pike. + +Andy joined him there a minute later, with a question in his eye. + +"Professor Whitesides!" was what Frank remarked. + +"And a butterfly collector at that!" Andy went on to say, with cutting +sarcasm. + +"That sounds pretty rich, to me," his cousin continued. "I wonder, now, +could it be possible that the other man we've heard of lately, Casper +Blue, is playing a smart trick on these honest people, who would never +dream that he could be anything else than he claimed." + +"It would give him a splendid chance to wander around just whenever and +wherever he wanted to go, and nobody to ask questions. Then, when he got +hungry, why, he could drop in at the farm. Perhaps he don't like camping +out as well as the other fellow; perhaps his health is too delicate to +stand roughing it. Or he might have any one of a dozen other reasons for +carrying on this way; always providing that this is Casper Blue." + +Andy was brimful of excitement. His manner would forcibly remind one of +the nervous tension that seizes upon the hounds when the scent grows +strong, and they anticipate coming in sight of their quarry at any +moment. + +"We're taking a good deal for granted, seems to me," remarked Frank. + +"Of course, but then see how queer it is that this man who calls himself +a college professor, and collector of bugs and butterflies, should just +happen to drop in here at the Hoskins farm, where the thistles grow so +wild, and the moths and other things are to be found by thousands. We +never heard of him in town, that I can remember. And then he's small in +size; together with a stiff arm, that was injured in an accident; well, +wasn't Casper Blue knocked out of his job as an air pilot by his arm +failing him when he had to handle the levers like a flash, or have his +aeroplane turn upside-down, Frank? I tell you I just feel dead sure it's +our man, and that we've found the clue we want the first thing." + +"Well, if we could manage to get a peep into his room perhaps we would +run across something worth while?" Frank suggested. + +"We might pretend to be deeply interested in butterflies ourselves," +remarked Andy, "even if we don't really know one kind from another; and +perhaps, if you gave Sallie a sly hint that you'd be tickled to see what +sort of a collection her professor has with him, she'd let us look in +his room." + +"We'll make the try, anyhow," said Frank, firmly. + +"But think of this Casper Blue being able to carry out the part of a +learned professor, would you? That is something most yeggmen would find +a pretty hard proposition, don't you say, Frank?" + +"Well, stop and think a little, Andy," was the other's reply to this. +"From all accounts this man isn't just a common, everyday hobo. He used +to be known as something of an aviator before he met with that accident +that disabled his arm, and made it impossible for him to go up again. +And the fact is, I seem to remember having seen that name mentioned +among a list of airmen who had been either killed, or knocked out by +accidents happening to them." + +"That's all right, Frank, but it takes a pretty smart man to carry out a +part like he's doing." + +"Didn't Larry tell us that this same Casper Blue had once been an actor +before he took to the air for a living?" asked Frank. + +"You're right, he did that same thing, but somehow it seemed to have +slipped my mind. But you never forget a single thing, do you, Frank? And +if he used to be an actor, why, of course Casper would find it easy to +play this part. Perhaps he's just enjoying it the best you ever heard +of. Some people are never happy unless they're hoodwinking others." + +"Let's go back and find Sallie, and get to talking about butterflies and +gypsy moths, and all sorts of things in that line we can think of," +suggested Frank. "Then she'll believe we're head over ears interested in +what her boarder is doing, and if I give her a little hint she may ask +us to step in and take a peek at his room. Of course we mightn't pick up +anything worth while there; and then again there's always a little +chance we could." + +"It's worth while, I think," declared Andy, who seldom disagreed with +any proposition his cousin advanced, simply because Frank was usually so +wise that he succeeded in covering the whole ground the very first +thing. + +So they once more left the porch, though both boys looked down the lane +before going in, to make sure that the queer little butterfly collector +was not coming in time to interfere with their immediate plans. + +Sallie was just tidying up the diningroom when they found her. The good +woman of the house seemed to have gone into the kitchen, where she was +preserving some sort of fruit, or making catsup, to judge from the +fragrant odors that came floating out from that part of the farmhouse. + +Naturally Sallie was only too willing to enter into conversation again +with two such attractive looking and bright boys as Frank and Andy Bird. +She must have been aware of the fact that they were favorites among the +girls of Bloomsbury; and of course also knew something about their being +aviators, although both or 'them had shunned that subject carefully +while at the dinner table. + +And so Frank managed to gradually steer the conversation around to the +subject of bug collection. He told of a friend he once had who was +"daffy" along that line, and would rather capture some queer looking old +night-flying hairy moth, with a death's-head sign on his front, than +enjoy the finest supper, or listen to the best play. + +That allowed Andy to venture the suggestion that he had taken +considerable interest in butterflies himself, and always wanted to see a +collection that was worth while. Of course he did not have to explain +that the only interest he ever did have in the matter was when, as a +very small boy, he used to chase after the fluttering insects as they +went from flower to flower, until shown by his mother how cruel it was +to destroy the life of such wonderfully beautiful things, that he could +not restore again. + +Sallie took the bait, Andy knew from the eager light that flashed upon +her face. And when he saw her step over to a window, and look quickly +down the lane, he turned to his cousin, and made a grimace as much as to +say, "See how she fell to my little game, will you, old fellow?" + +"Well," said Sallie, flitting back again, "Professor Whitesides hasn't +got a very large collection; and the new specimens he gathers day after +day he kept in some place, because he has no time just now to do +anything with them, he says; but come up with me, and I'll show you the +little case he brought with him." + +"Sure we will, and I'm glad of the chance to see what valuable +butterflies look like," Andy went on to remark. + +"He says this little collection is a very rare one, and worth an awfully +large sum of money," Sallie went on to remark, in something of a +confidential tone, as if getting the boys ready to be surprised when +they looked upon the possessions of the industrious professor. "And oh! +if you could only hear all the queer things he's been telling us that +happened to him in foreign lands, when he was spending ever so much +money, and long weary months, finding these very rare specimens. Why, I +just stand there, and look at them, and wonder how people can be so +foolish, when it seems to me I've seen much prettier butterflies right +out there in our fields where the thistles are blooming." + +It seemed that the room they had given the wonderful man of science was +on the ground floor, and opened off the parlor. + +The two boys followed Sallie in, and noted her rather awed manner 5 +evidently the professor, whether he turned out to be a fraud or the +genuine article, had succeeded in arousing both her admiration and +wonder. + +The room was plainly yet comfortably furnished, but evidently the +professor, like so many other learned savants, did not know such a thing +as "order" existed, for things were simply topsy-turvy. + +"He just won't let us sweep in here, or do the least thing," explained +Sallie, as if she feared the boys would blame her for the looks of the +room, "you know, he's so queer, and he says we might lose something that +he valued very highly, thinking it was not worth keeping. But here's the +little case containing those almost priceless specimens he collected +abroad." + +She led them to a table on which a small case rested, leaning against +the wall. Frank took one look. Apparently the sight affected him +strangely, for immediately he bent over closer as though to feast his +eyes on those costly trophies which the college professor had collected +in foreign lands. + +Andy saw that his cousin was evidently having some sort of a silent +laughing fit, for he shook all over though not uttering a single sound. + +"What ails you, Frank?" he whispered, taking advantage of Sallie having +to hurry out of the room, as her mother's voice was heard calling her in +the kitchen. + +"I'm tickled to death to meet an old friend again, that's all," replied +Frank. + +"Do you mean to tell me you've seen this wonderful collection before?" +demanded the other, like a flash, as it were. + +"I most certainly do; and if you stop to think, Andy, I guess you'll say +the same; or perhaps, now, you didn't happen to examine the case as +closely as I did, that day last spring when we crossed over to Cranford, +to pick up a few rare stamps for our collection at Snyder's old curio +store." + +"Why, bless me, I really believe you're right; I seem to remember seeing +it in the show window, now, when we were looking at the little baskets +of coins," Andy hastened to remark. + +"There isn't the least shadow of a doubt about it," added Frank. "Some +time or other, when the notion came to this man to play the part of a +butterfly collector, which perhaps the sight of the things brought to +his mind, he just stepped into Snyder's store, and bought the old +collection. Why, it hasn't got a single specimen that you can't find a +thousand of, any day you look, through August and September." + +"Right around here, you mean, Frank?" + +"Right on this farm, in fact," replied the other, with a wide grin. +"Think of the nerve of this learned scientist bringing this here, and +telling that it represented the results of years of difficult research? +You don't wonder, now, that I just had to snicker, do you, Andy?" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +A CLUE + +"That looks bad, don't it Frank?" Andy went on to remark, as he first +glanced at the bogus collection of rare specimens, and then eyed his +cousin humorously. + +"One thing is sure, no man would go to the trouble and expense of buying +even a dollar case of common butterflies unless he had some deep object +in view, and you know that, Andy. This so-called professor must be a +fraud, even if he doesn't turn out to be the man we think he is. +Perhaps, he wanting to find out whether Hoskins had discovered that +wonderful gold mine. Well, you needn't grin about it because stranger +things have happened, I guess, now." + +Andy ceased laughing and turned to look around the room. + +"I wonder--" he began, and then stopped short. + +"Now I can finish your sentence for you," said Frank. "You wonder if we +could make any important discovery if we looked around here a bit, +while Sallie is helping her ma do up some fruit jars or something like +that?" + +"Perhaps it wouldn't be just the right thing," suggested Andy, in +confusion. + +"Under ordinary conditions it certainly wouldn't," his cousin went on to +say; "but when you've got a pretty good idea that you're dealing with a +slippery hobo, actor, past-aviator, and now a bank burglar and cracksman +in general, why that puts a different face on the matter, don't you see, +my boy?" + +"All right; let's take a look," said Andy, easily convinced that since +they were really working hand in glove with the police authorities, they +had a perfect right to prowl around in anybody's room, and pick up such +valuable information as could be found afloat. + +But after all they found nothing that looked like incriminating +evidence. The fact of the matter was that the professor did not seem to +own any sort of wardrobe whatever, and had nothing belonging to him save +the clothes on his back, the little case of butterflies which Frank +believed he had bought for a dollar over in Cranford at the curio +dealer's shop, and a few bottles holding some strong smelling acids, +which possibly were used to either kill the captured butterflies so they +would not beat their wings out; or else to preserve certain specimens +of bugs he expected to run across in his hunts. + +"Nothing doing," said Andy, with considerable of disgust and +disappointment in his voice. + +"Come here!" remarked his cousin, softly. + +"Hello! don't tell me you've found something?" and Andy crossed the +floor in more or less haste. + +He found Frank bending over a table at which there were writing +materials--pen, envelopes, paper and a blotter. + +"What's doing? Have you found the gentleman's notebook lying carelessly +around, and which we can peep into, eh, Frank?" + +"Not at all," came the reply. "I was only looking at this blotter." + +"Whatever is there funny about that?" demanded the other, in puzzled +tones, as he glanced first at the object in question, and then up at the +face of his chum. + +"It was a new one, or nearly so, you see! and somebody has been writing +heavily, and then pressing the blotter over it," Frank went on. + +"And if you could read backwards now, you might make out what they said; +is that it, Frank?" + +"Oh! that part is as easy as falling off a log. I held it up to the +looking glass here. See if you can make it out, Andy." + +Hardly had the other looked than he started to read, interjecting +remarks of his own as he proceeded. + +"Some words missing, looks like, Frank; let's see; 'Car on +siding----'rive at 11 P.M. Wed. He says keep low, and trust to +him--throw--track. Mum.' That's all I can make out, because he didn't +sign any name, it seems. Whatever do you make of all that stuff, Frank?" + +First of all Frank pulled out a pencil and copied the marks upon a piece +of paper, which he thrust into his pocket. + +"He might miss the blotter if I cribbed it, and take the alarm," he +explained, as he hastened to put the article in question back on the +table, lest Sallie come in at any minute and discover what they were +doing, taking liberties in the room of the boarder; and then she would +have to be told everything, which might work out badly, Frank feared. + +"But I reckon you've got some sort of idea what that writing means, +Frank?" pursued the other Bird boy, who, once he started on a subject +could no more be shaken off than a bulldog. + +"Of course I have, and it's given me something of a shock, too, let me +tell you, Andy. First of all, you may know that this very day is +Wednesday." + +"The day he mentions there; to be sure it is. But Frank, can all this +have some reference to another crime they mean to commit?" + +"I'm afraid it does," came the reluctant reply. + +"Tell me what he means by 'car, siding, track, mum,' and all that. Of +course I can understand that he warns the fellow he's sending the +message to to keep quiet. What car can he mean? Do you think they aim to +steal some one's expensive car now--that they've gone and wrecked +Percy's biplane, and must have another means for getting away?" + +But Frank simply shook his head at that. + +"Oh! you're away off your base there, Andy. He speaks of a car on a +siding, and that can only refer to a railroad car. Now, I happen to know +that they expect the pay-car to be along some time today or tonight, and +it always lies there on that Jeffreys Siding, until they've passed out +thousands of dollars to the men who call Bloomsbury their headquarters. +Do you see now what it must mean, Andy?" + +Andy gasped, and then exclaimed. + +"Once more you've gone and seen through the riddle that knocked me +silly, Frank. That's just what it must mean--the pay-car would offer fat +pickings, all in cash; and they've held up their flight to Canada just +to try and gobble it. Oh! what a slick game, with Todd giving false +information, and perhaps just leading the police further and further +away from Bloomsbury tonight, so as to leave the pay-car next to +unprotected. Yes, and doesn't he go on like this, 'he says keep low, and +trust to him'? That must mean Todd, don't you think?" + +"I read it that way," replied his cousin tersely, as he rubbed his chin +in a reflective fashion; for they were now grappling with a dangerous +problem, and Frank was only too well aware of the fact that a slip might +upset all calculations, as well as possibly endanger their lives; since +they were dealing with reckless men, and no boyish rivals like Percy +Carberry and Sandy Hollingshead. + +"Do you think this was meant for the other one of the bank thieves?" +Andy went on to ask. + +"It could hardly have been for any one else, Andy. There must have been +more to the letter, but the rest dried before he blotted it." + +"And that fellow is in hiding somewhere, perhaps watching the biplane, +and ready to fight before letting it be retaken, because they depend on +it for their get-away to the great lakes and Canada;" Andy further +observed. + +"Yes, just as you say," the other remarked. + +"And now since we've learned this much, Frank, what are we going to do +about it--try and find where the stolen biplane is, and do something so +as to make it no good for their purpose; or just slip away, go round a +little like we were just out for a spin, and getting back to Bloomsbury, +put them wise?" + +"Neither, just yet anyhow," the older Bird boy remarked. "Not the first, +because it would be taking big chances, if, as we believe, one of the +robbers is concealed near where the stolen biplane may happen to be +lying, partly hidden with dead leaves, so it couldn't be noticed from +above; and he would be apt to do something we'd find unpleasant. And as +for going back and telling, we'll have to be mighty careful there." + +"And why, Frank?" + +"Well, to begin with, even the walls have ears, they say; and if the +police were suddenly called back from their hunt to the southwest, the +fact might get to the robbers; and you know what would happen then." + +"Oh!" said Andy, shrugging his shoulders, "I suppose they'd just throw +this second job up, and cut stick for Canada, as fast as they could +make the aeroplane spin, which would be too bad for Chief Waller, and +Joe Green, and the rest of that bunch at Headquarters, who are already +figuring on how they'll spend their reward money they hope to get when +the bank pays for rounding-up the two thieves." + +"But, perhaps, if we just told our fathers, Andy, they might get a few +bold men together and lay a beautiful trap for the fellows so that when +they broke into the pay-car, they would be made prisoners." + +"Bully idea, that, Frank, and I hope you decide to carry it out. Just to +think what a pleasant surprise it would be for our butterfly collector, +expecting that he was going in to gather in another lot of plunder, and +then to hear a voice say to him: 'Hands up! you're our prisoners!' Oh! +wouldn't I like to be Johnny-on-the-spot when that happens. Wonder if +they wouldn't let us have a part in the proceedings, after we brought +the news that upset the plans of the yeggmen?" + +"That will do for just now, Andy, because here comes Sally again. Let's +be gaping at the wonderful collection that almost cost the professor his +very life in all sorts of hot countries, as well as a whole pocket full +of money--if you don't care what you say." + +And when the farmer's daughter did enter the room a minute later, she +saw the two boys standing there, a rapt look of admiration and envy on +their faces, as they stared at the little case of common local +butterflies which possibly some boy had gathered together, and then +disposed of for a song. + +While the young aviators had in this fashion about decided on their plan +of action, they saw no reason for any hurry. The day was still long, and +when they felt like starting toward home it would take them but a very +short time to get there. + +Meanwhile, there seemed to be some sort of fascination holding them to +the neighborhood of the Hoskins' farm. And when they went away a little +later it would be with the idea of hanging about, and seeing if the odd +little professor might not come along. Both of them thought they would +like to look at him. The man who was capable of playing such a clever +game as this must surely be worth seeing. + +Then again, the fact that Casper Blue once upon a time had been a daring +birdman had something to do with this interest on the part of Frank and +his cousin, because there is always a certain fellow feeling between +those who are engaged in the same dangerous pursuits. But possibly Andy +on his part was hoping secretly that by spying around they might be able +in some way to learn where the yeggmen had hidden the plunder they had +taken from the looted Bloomsbury bank. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +WHEN CASPER CAME BACK + +Although the Bird boys had more than once before proved that they +possessed all the courage and daring a successful aviator must have in +order to accomplish the difficult tasks hourly presented to him for +solution, it must not be thought that they were reckless to any degree. + +Andy might be slightly inclined that way, but Frank was an exceedingly +careful navigator of the air, and by degrees his influence was even +affecting his younger cousin, as example always will. + +When, however, a situation suddenly arose that absolutely required a +display of daring, these young air pilots were "there with the punch," +as Andy termed it. They had learned how to volplane earthward from a +dizzy height with absolute safety, when conditions were just right, and +necessity required a quick descent. On a few occasions Frank had even +been known to hazard what is known as the "death dip;" but it was only +when there happened to be a good reason for taking such chances, and not +merely in a spirit of dare-deviltry, such as many show aviators employ, +just to send a shiver of dread through the spectators, and then laugh +recklessly at the fears their boldness had aroused. + +Of course they might have decided to immediately return to Bloomsbury, +and give information concerning the extent of their discoveries since +coming to the Hoskins' farm. + +Perhaps that would have been the wisest move they could make but both +boys were rather opposed to carrying it out just then. + +The afternoon was wholly before them, and who could tell what change of +plans the two yeggmen might make before the coming of the night? Should +they get wind of the presence of the Bird boys in the vicinity possibly +they would take alarm, and hurrying to their concealed biplane make for +the far North with all haste; and in this way, if no one knew of their +departure the intended ambuscade that night in the vicinity of the +railroad pay-car would be laid in vain. + +That was really what the boys feared the most--that their quarry slip +off in secret, when they were far away. + +Frank was indeed trying to figure out whether it would not be best after +all for him to stay by the hydroplane, on guard as it were, while Andy, +by using a horse, if the Hoskins happened to still possess such an +animal, managed to get to another farm, where they were up-to-date +enough to have a telephone in the house, by means of which he could get +in touch with Dr. Bird or Judge Lawson in Bloomsbury. + +Then again, there was always a slight chance that this pretended +professor might have seen them descend, while he was wandering around. +Once an airman, and just by instinct as it were, the eyes are almost +constantly searching the heavens, perhaps for a glimpse of other +adventurous craft, or it may be, signs that give warning of treacherous +winds, gathering storms, or similar things that must always be of +intense interest to an aviator. + +And so while Casper Blue had long since given up taking hazards in a +flying machine to indulge in even more dangerous business as a bank +robber, still habits would cling tightly, and thus he might have seen +more than the ordinary man could have done. + +Of course, even though he sought the hydroplane, and found it lying +there in the field, he could not very well make any use of it so long as +Frank held the missing part in his possession. + +But he could in a spirit of maliciousness so utterly destroy the planes, +and even injure the powerful little Kinkaid engine that it would be +practically fit only for the scrap-heap afterwards. And that was giving +Frank more or less concern, even while he continued to linger at the +farmhouse because Andy wished to prowl around a little while longer in +hopes of getting some clue to the location of the cache where the +thieves had hidden their plunder. + +Sallie saw nothing strange in this apparent desire of Andy to hang +around. She was rather a pretty little thing, and of course knew it; so +that she may have believed the witchery of her attractions had more or +less to do with the matter. + +Even when Frank asked so many queer questions about the absent boarder, +Sallie was not wise enough to understand that the boys Were much more +concerned about how Professor Whitesides amused himself, where his +favorite lounging places seemed to be, and all that, rather than in her +pretty face and merry laugh. + +Her mother must have counted on having her assistance in carrying on her +task of putting up preserves in the kitchen, for once more she called to +Sallie to come and lend a hand for a few moments. + +This left the two boys alone again, and gave them a chance for +exchanging views, which they were not slow to do. + +"I guess he doesn't keep it around here, in this room, or anywhere close +by," was Andy's first remark. + +Frank chuckled on hearing this. + +"Oh! I see that you've got your mind set on recovering what was taken +from the bank. You're a mercenary fellow, Andy. But, then, since our +fathers have more or less interest in the same bank, which is going to +be mighty badly crippled if the cash and securities are not recovered +sooner or later, why, I can't blame you much. I'd like to run across the +loot myself, more than I can tell you." + +"I'm only afraid that if the men are taken prisoners to night, when they +come to clean out the pay-car after it arrives in Bloomsbury, they'll +not have this other stuff with them, and will refuse to tell where it's +hidden. That will be just as bad for the bank as if they'd got away to +Canada with the swag, as the Chief calls it. I wish I knew how we could +track this Casper Blue to where the other yegg is hiding near the +biplane, and watch them until we saw where they had the cache. After +that we could just hang around, and when they started in a power-boat +perhaps for Bloomsbury, with Todd Pemberton at the wheel, we could do +something to make the biplane useless to them, and then toward evening +put for home ourselves." + +Frank listened while the other ran all of this off, and evidently he was +more or less amused at what he heard. + +"It's plain to be seen that you've been doing some tall thinking and +planning all this while, Andy," he remarked. + +"But you'll admit, I guess, that if there was any way to carry out my +scheme, it would be a jim dandy idea," the other persisted. + +"Of course; but that's where the trouble lies. Even if Casper did come +back, we never could track him through the woods and around the swamps +without his sooner or later discovering that he was being followed, +because we're not clever at that sort of thing. And once he got wind of +our being after him, chances are he'd lay some trap with his mate, into +which both of us would tumble headlong." + +Andy scratched his head, and a look of doubt came upon his face. + +"H'm! I wouldn't like that one little bit, and that's a fact, Frank," he +admitted, candidly. "If we fell into their hands and were kicked around +and then left tied up like a pair of mummies from the pyramids of Egypt, +while they went and cleaned out that pay-car, and sailed away for +Canda--oh! excuse me, if you please. Anything but that. The laugh would +sure be on the Bird boys. I don't mind posing once in a while as a hero; +but it would jar me a whole lot to know that people were pointing me +out, and telling how nicely these wonderful Bird boys had been taken in +and done for by a couple of traveling yeggs. Have it your own way, +Frank, and don't pay any attention to my silly schemes. + +"Your ideas are all right, Andy, but the only trouble is they are too +strong for a couple of boys to carry out. I think we'd be wise to play +safe. More games are won in the long run that way, than by being dashing +and venturesome." + +"Of course you're right, and as I've had my little fling, and got it out +of my system, let's work along the sensible lines you laid out, Frank." + +That was just like Andy. He might occasionally seem to yearn to break +loose, and take a wild flight, but on second sober thought he nearly +always came back to his cousin's way of thinking. + +Sallie still remained in the kitchen, so that they were able to keep on +talking without any fear of being interrupted or overheard. + +"I'm wondering if Percy will ever have the chance to handle his Farman +biplane again," Andy went on to remark. "He seemed to set a great store +by it to offer such a nice fat reward for its return. And it's so brand +new that he hasn't had much of a chance to try it out. Wasn't he mad, +though, when he came racing along in that car looking for Chief Waller. +He looked as red as a turkey gobbler. Just to think that while he was up +there with three of his cronies trying to injure our machine, those +yeggs were fixing it all up so that they could get his biplane, if they +missed ours. It's a rich joke on Perc." + +"Oh! I hope he gets it back again safe and sound," said Frank. "Life +would be rather tame for us around home here, if we didn't have Percy to +think about. For a long time, now, he's kept us guessing, and we'd feel +a little lonely if he gave up flying." + +"Guess you're right there, Frank, it would seem humdrum like if we +didn't have to think of him every little while, and what new schemes he +was planning to get the better of the Bird boys. And say, some of his +games kind of dazzle a fellow, if only there wasn't so much meanness +about 'em. When Perc gets to hating a fellow he doesn't stop half way, +but goes the whole hog. Why, more than a few times he's given us a big +scare, trying to do some stunt that would make us look small; and at the +risk of sending us all down a thousand or two feet. After all, I'm +beginning to believe I'd sleep sounder if Percy Carberry took to some +other play, and let aeroplanes alone." + +"Well, he seems just as wild about them as ever, and so I reckon he'll +just keep on bothering us to the end of the chapter. But what are you +looking at, Andy?" and Frank also turned his eyes down toward the fringe +of quince trees that marked the old lane leading to the barnyard from +the road. + +"I thought I saw some one coming over there, and if it turned out to be +our good friend, the profess, p'raps we'd be wise to skip out before he +sighted us, Frank." + +"Here, let's step back out of sight, anyhow, so as to be ready to slip +away if it is our man," and Frank drew his companion around the corner +of the house, from which point they could still keep watch over the +lane. + +Half a minute later Andy whispered: + +"There, I saw him again, Frank, and as sure as anything it must be +Casper. He's a little man, wearing brown glasses to keep the bright sun +from his eyes, and yes, he's carrying a butterfly catcher's net over his +shoulder. Shall we disappear?" + +"I think that would be our best move, Andy; and lucky enough we've got +the chance to slip around here, and get back of the barn before he comes +along," with which the two boys hastened to follow out the plan +suggested. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +THROWING OFF THE MASK + +"Do you think he saw us, Frank?" asked Andy, after they had found a +place where they could peep around a corner, without being discovered. + +"Well, that's more than I can say," the other replied. "We took every +precaution, and unless he has mighty sharp eyes he couldn't have +glimpsed us." + +"And you think it's safe for us to stay here, eh, Frank?" + +"Certainly," replied the other. "We're in a position to make a move any +old way from here. There isn't one chance in ten of his coming around +the corner; and if he does make a show of doing that, why we can be +sitting here, playing mumble-de-peg, or something like that, just as if +we didn't care whether school kept or not." + +"Bully for that; who cares for expenses? Look, Frank, I was right, you +see, for it was the little profess after all." + +"Yes, sure enough. Careful now, Andy, and don't let him see you +peeping. That'd give the whole thing away quicker than anything else." + +They had both selected positions where they could see without attracting +attention. And it was with considerable eagerness that they fastened +their eyes on the figure of the small, wiry man who was sauntering along +toward the farmhouse, carrying a butterfly-net across one shoulder, +while with his other hand he held a queer-shaped black case, which, as +Sallie said, contained his more recent captures in the way of beautiful +and rare moths and insects. + +"That's his stiff arm, Frank; see how he moves it--the one hanging down, +I mean, with black box--good gracious! now, I wonder--" + +"H'sh!" whispered Frank, "not so loud; he might hear you." + +"Not with the roosters crowing like they are," said Andy confidently. +"But just glimpse the black box would you, Frank?" + +"I am looking," returned the other. + +"He calls it the receiver for his new butterflies, but looks more like a +kodak to me," Andy went on. "But d'ye know what I thought, Frank?" + +"Tell me," whispered the other, still watching the professor, who had +come to a stop at some little distance away, and seemed to be busily +engaged looking back of him, as though laying out plans for an afternoon +campaign among the bright winged butterflies. + +"Why, how easy for him to tear out the inside works of a camera box like +that, and make use of it for a better purpose, see?" Andy went on to +say. + +"Oh! now you've got a bright thought for a fact," Frank sent back, +careful not to raise his voice above that cautious pitch. + +"Well, it could be done; and I guess that little black box'd hold about +all the money and securities that the bank lost. They say the thieves +only picked out the papers they could dispose of, and left all the rest, +which would indicate that the second yegg must have been in the banking +line, some time or other, and knew what was what." + +"H'sh! he's coming on again! Lie low, now; Andy!" + +Accordingly both of them remained perfectly motionless as the professor +advanced toward the house. Had he shown any disposition to head toward +that particular corner Frank was ready to assume an attitude of +indifference and appear to be engaged in some boyish game with his jack +knife, tossing it up in the air, and causing the point of the long +blade to stick upright in the ground. + +But the small man with the brown glasses and the butterfly net made +straight for the front porch of the house, and passed in at the door, +just as though he felt perfectly at home there. + +"Well, what next?" remarked Andy. + +For reply the other beckoned, and started hurriedly to gain the shelter +of the woodshed near by. + +"What's this for?" questioned Andy, when they were once more crouched +down, in a position where they could not be easily seen. + +"Stop and think," answered the other; "if he just happened to look out +of a window on this side of the house he'd see us easily and our +suspicious actions would tell him we were on to his game. Now even if he +looks he won't see anything." + +"Huh! and do we stay here all afternoon just doing nothing; while p'raps +he's taking a nap indoors?" grumbled the other, who wanted to be moving, +and was never satisfied when not in action. + +"Wait!" was all Frank would say. + +Perhaps he could see further ahead than his cousin, and guessed +something of what was likely to occur. They had not taken pains to warn +Sallie or her mother to keep from mentioning the fact of their happening +around; and chances were, that as soon as Casper Blue heard that the +Bird boys had dropped in, he would become immediately suspicious. + +On questioning the girl he would be apt to learn how curious Frank and +Andy had seemed about him; and Sallie might even admit that they had +asked to see his wonderful collection of rare and costly butterflies. + +Well, if such a thing did occur, of course the keen-witted man would +immediately know that the cat was out of the bag. Realizing that there +must be a great hue and cry throughout the entire county just then, with +reference to the yeggs who had looted the bank, he could easily imagine +what had brought these boys here. + +Through association with Todd Pemberton, Casper must have learned a +whole lot with regard to Frank and his cousin. Being an aviator himself +he would naturally take an immediate interest in boys who had given such +a good account of themselves in the field of aeronautics. The attempt to +steal the hydroplane in the first place before they turned to Percy +Carberry's biplane proved that they knew all about the Bird boys. And +so, learning of their presence would immediately give Casper warning +that his hideout was no longer a secret, but that the net of the law +must be closing around him. + +What then? + +Would he, like a desperate man, attempt to capture these venturesome +lads, so as to keep them from informing the authorities at Bloomsbury? +Either that, or else he would think that, since the game was up, and +they could no longer loiter in the neighborhood of the aroused district +in order to carry out the second part of the great scheme, they had +better take to the aeroplane and vanish from view, leaving no trail +behind by means of which they could be followed. + +Frank had said all this in his mind when he lay there and waited to see +what would turn up. He felt that they could surely afford to linger for +some time, if there was any chance of learning whether the yeggmen meant +to change their plans, or proceed to carry out their original scheme. + +All seemed quiet at the farmhouse. + +Sallie had come out on the porch, and looked rather disappointed to find +that the two boys had strangely vanished. She stood there glancing +around in a puzzled manner for several minutes, and then with a pretty +shrug of her shoulders, and a pout of her lips whirled about and went +back into the house again. + +"Wow!" said Andy in a low tone, "she's got it in for you, Frank, because +you dropped out of sight without even so much as saying goodbye." + +But the other was thinking of weightier matters than the humor of a +little coquette. He wondered whether Sallie would run across the +professor and ask him if he had met two boys down the lane; which remark +would excite his suspicions, and lead to other questions, now on his +part. + +If nothing happened inside of half an hour. Frank was of a mind to try +the plan that had come to him--sending Andy off to try and reach some +other farm where they would have a telephone; while he himself remained +to keep watch. + +That might necessitate taking Sallie into their confidence, for they +would need to ask questions, and perhaps borrow a horse. On second +thought Frank was now a little sorry he had not seen fit to tell the +girl all. She seemed to be fairly clever, and could possibly keep a +secret. At any rate, the chances of discovery would not be nearly so +serious as now, when in her ignorance she was likely to blurt out all +about the boys having been there, without knowing that in so doing she +might be assisting clever yeggmen to avoid arrest. + +The seconds moved along and changed into minutes. + +If the professor had come to a window on that side of the house to look +anxiously around, he must have been careful not to expose himself, for +though Frank had kept a keen lookout he had failed to see anything of +him. + +It was getting very much of a bore to Andy. He changed his position +restlessly several times, as though he wished Frank would make some sort +of a move, he hardly cared what its nature so long as it meant action. + +But although Andy could not see it at that moment, there were lively +enough times ahead of them to please even his impetuous nature. And the +passage of every minute brought the crisis closer and closer. + +Once Frank believed he heard loud voices inside the farmhouse; and at +the same time some one was certainly hurrying back and forth. But then +possibly that might be only Sallie, obeying another call from the +kitchen, where the good woman was so busily engaged with her canning +operations. + +Something like twenty minutes must have passed since the boys made +their change of base. To Andy it was much longer, for he felt the time +pass as though it had leaden wings. + +Then Frank, watching, saw some one come hastily out of the front door, +pass quickly down to the path, and move away in the direction of the +lane. + +"He's going off, Frank!" exclaimed Andy, all excitement, just as though +he half expected that his companion would give the word that meant an +immediate pursuit. + +"Yes; keep quiet, Andy!" + +"But he'll give us the slip, don't you see?" persisted the other. + +"Let him, then; we can't help it. You can see that he's made quite a +change in his looks, as though he's thrown the mask off, and doesn't +expect to play the part of a collegeman and a bug collector any more," +Frank whispered. + +"That's so, he hasn't got the brown glasses on, and that old butterfly +net is missing; but Frank, just notice, won't you, how he hangs to that +little camera-like black box. Say, perhaps I was right after all; +perhaps Casper Blue is carrying all that stuff cribbed from the +Bloomsbury bank, inside the same." + +The two boys crouched there behind the woodshed and by cautiously +peeping around the corner could watch the late boarder of the Hoskins +hurrying down the lane, as though he had received a hasty summons from +the president of his college demanding an immediate return. + +He seemed uneasy and suspicious, for several times he turned his head +and looked this way and that, as though half expecting to discover some +person ready to dispute his departure. And Frank also noted the way one +of his hands had of keeping in the pocket of his short coat; just for +all the world as though he might be grasping some sort of pistol that +was concealed there. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + +SALLIE RIDES BAREBACK + +"And now what's our next move?" demanded Andy, who generally found it +very nice to let Frank do all the planning, though capable of taking +hold himself when forced to do it. + +Fortunately Frank had a great way of figuring out what he would do under +certain conditions. This gave some sort of assurance when difficulties +arose; for there was little time lost in fixing things up so as to have +a programme. + +"No use trying to follow after him, to begin with," he declared. + +"Why do you say that?" his cousin wanted to know. + +"First of all, it would be a bad business, because he's on his guard, +and a desperate man," Frank went on to explain. "You can see that he's +ready to pull out a weapon of some sort at the first warning. And we +settled that we didn't want to fall into the hands of these two bad men. +So we'll have to arrange things along a different line. And anyhow +there's no terrible hurry, because I rather guess they've got the +biplane hidden some distance away from here. It would take half an hour, +perhaps much more, before they could get out. And we can reach our craft +in a few minutes, if pushed." + +"Yes, that's all so, Frank; but go on, and tell me the rest." + +"I was thinking that we ought to try and let our folks know how things +are going with us, so that if we have to cut out after these yegg +aviators they'll know where we've gone. Suppose, now, you hunt Sallie +up, and try to explain it all to her just as fast as you can." + +"Who, me? Oh! well, I guess I can do it, if I have to. But what will you +be doing all that time, Frank?" + +"I want to write a message to either your father, or else Judge Lawson, +whichever she can get on the phone," replied the other, immediately +hunting in his pockets for pencil and paper, which he made it a habit to +carry around with him always. + +"She--say, do you mean Sallie, Frank?" + +"No other. You must coax her to saddle up a horse, and make for the +nearest neighbor where they've got a phone; get that, Andy?" + +"But do you think she will?" asked the other, dubiously. + +"I'm dead sure of it," came the confident reply. "Sallie has a touch of +romance in her make-up; and besides, shell be so mad to think of that +man deceiving her mother that she'll want to have him caught. Get along +with you, now, Andy, and fix it all up inside of ten minutes. I'll have +the message written out by that time, so she can start, if there's such +a thing as any kind of a horse around this wreck of a farm." + +And so Andy, glad at least to have something to do, hurried toward the +house to look for the country girl. + +Left alone, Frank continued to write as plainly as he could what he +wanted those in Bloomsbury to know about matters in general. He used as +few words to cover the case as possible, but gave the leading points, +even to stating his fear that the scoundrels who had robbed the bank, +and were plotting to also make a descent on the pay-car of the railroad +that night, had now taken the alarm, and would be off in the stolen +biplane. + +In that event Frank wanted the police in Bloomsbury to know that he and +Andy had started in pursuit; though what they could do to apprehend the +rogues of course he was in no position to declare. + +By the time he had this finished to his satisfaction he heard voices +near by, and was glad to see his cousin coming, accompanied by Sallie. + +The girl looked duly excited, just as Frank had expected. There were a +thousand questions in her eyes, but he cut all this short. + +"We can't stop to tell you any more now, Sallie, but we promise to drop +in again after it's over, and explain all that seems queer to you now. +Here's the message that we want to get to Bloomsbury the worst kind, and +as quick as you could get on a horse and ride to the nearest neighbor +who has a phone in the house. You'll do this for us, won't you, Sallie?" + +Few people could say no to Frank once he wore that winning smile, and +Sallie immediately declared that she was ready to do anything he +suggested. + +"To think of that little scoundrel fooling us all, and pretending to be +a college professor!" she remarked, indignation flashing from her black +eyes. + +"I hope you've got a horse," said Frank, sticking to the business in +hand. + +"Oh! yes; we have one left that might do," Sallie answered. + +"Then let's get him saddled right away," Frank went on. + +"Can't," she snapped back, "ain't such a thing as a saddle around here +any more. But I'm a country girl, you know, and I can ride bareback all +right. A halter's the only bridle I want, Frank. Give me the message, +and I'll see that it gets to somebody in Bloomsbury." + +"And here's some money, Sallie," the other went on. + +"What! do you think--" + +"There might be something to pay, you know, and we can't afford to take +chances when there's so much at stake. Thank you a thousand times for +helping us out, Sallie. Now, please get the horse. I'd like to see you +started before we pull out, because we may have to chase after these +fellows in our aeroplane, if they take a notion to fly away." + +The girl hastened to lead the way into the stable where they did find +an apology for a horse, which she immediately unhitched, and led +outside. + +"Hope she doesn't happen to run across that man on the way, because he +might wonder what was taking her off like that, and do something to turn +her back. What if he found your message on her, Frank?" and Andy, as he +said this, turned an anxious gaze upon his cousin. + +But Frank shook his head. + +"I saw him dodge out of the lane and take to the woods," he remarked, +"as though he knew of a short-cut across lots to the place where his +friend and the biplane were hidden. No danger of his seeing Sallie, so +don't mention it to her. Wait, I'll give you my hand to help you up, +Sallie!" + +But the country girl had led the horse alongside the drinking trough, +and was on his back in a jiffy, long before Frank could come across. + +"Goodbye, and good luck, boys!" she called back, as she gave the horse a +switch with the end of the halter, and was off at a lumbering pace. + +They stood there a minute or so watching the girl flying down the lane. +She turned around once, and waved her hand at them, while her long hair +blew behind in a cloud. Frank would not soon forget the sight of Sallie +Hoskins going to carry the news to a point where it could be telephoned +in to town--news that would cause a tremendous wave of excitement to +pass over the whole of Bloomsbury. + +"Hurrah! that's done, and well done too, Frank, I say!" exclaimed Andy, +turning on his cousin with a face that plainly said, "What's next on our +programme?" + +"Before we pull out I guess we owe it to the good woman to tell her +something of the truth, for I don't believe she knows a single thing +about it from Sallie or the professor. So come along to the kitchen with +me, Andy. Then we'll chase off to where we left our aeroplane, and stand +ready for anything that may happen." + +The two of them quickly reached the kitchen door. Inside they found Mrs. +Hoskins, tired looking and red of face, still busily engaged with her +canning operations; for peaches were ripe, and tomatoes needing +immediate attention if she hoped to lay away her customary stock for the +coming winter. + +She came to the door where it was cooler, a look of rising curiosity on +her patient face. And Frank started in to tell what he thought +necessary. She was at first much worried to learn that she had been +innocently harboring a criminal under her humble roof; but Frank soon +allayed her fears on that account. + +He also told her how Sallie had consented to ride over to a neighbor to +send a telephone message for him, so that the good woman might not be +worried over her absence. + +And now, having done what he considered his duty, Frank began to think +it might be the part of wisdom for himself and his cousin to consider +their own affairs, and make for the spot where their hydro-aeroplane +lay in the field. + +"Oh! I do hope they are caught," said the farmer's wife. "Just to think +of that easy talking little man being a desperate criminal! I shall be +afraid to stay all alone in the house after this." + +"Listen, Frank; somebody's shouting out there. What if both of those +yeggs are coming back to get us?" + +Andy had clutched the sleeve of his cousin's coat when saying this; but +Frank did not need to be told that something like excitement was bearing +down upon them. + +"Oh! it's Jerry, my husband!" exclaimed Mrs. Hoskins just then, "and he +seems to be dreadfully excited, too. Listen to him calling to me! I +wonder what could have happened. What if he's gone and cut himself +badly, always digging and making holes in the ground, since that silly +old fortune teller said he would find a mine on the farm. And here he +comes too!" + +Just then a figure came staggering around the corner of the house. It +was the old farmer, plainly tremendously excited, and although weak and +almost out of breath from running, trying to tell her something. + +"It's there, Jennie--found it, wife--ain't had all my work for nothin' +I tell you! A vein of hard coal, think, enough to make us all rich! D'ye +hear that, Jennie, girl, rich! Gimme a drink of water, for I'm nigh dead +from runnin' to tell you the great news. Who's these boys, wife? Where's +Sallie at?" + +Frank would have liked very much to remain and hear the particulars of +the farmer's good luck in locating a vein of coal on his property; but +time would not permit. He only hoped Hoskins was not mistaken, for +traces of coal had been known to exist around that neighborhood for some +time, though up to now none had been found in paying quantities for +mining purposes. + +"Come on, Andy, we'll have to be skipping out. Please tell your husband +all you know about what's happened, Mrs. Hoskins. Hope you have struck +it rich, sir." + +With that Frank hurried off, Andy trailing behind. The farmer stared +after them as though hardly knowing what to make of it all; but they +could hear the good woman begin to explain, and had no doubt she would +be able to satisfy his reasonable curiosity. + +For the time being the Bird boys must forget all about what lay in the +past, because it was the future that should interest them wholly. They +had reached a point in the hunt where perhaps a sudden change of plans +would be necessary; particularly if those they followed had taken the +alarm, and were ready to shake the dust of this section of the country +from their shoes. + +Away from the farmhouse hurried the two young aviators, making as near a +bee line for the field where they had left their aeroplane as they could +possibly manage, and all the while searching the sky for signs of the +other flying machine. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + +AN AEROPLANE CHASE + +"Here it is, and everything seems all right!" remarked Andy as they +reached the field, and found the hydro-aeroplane just where they had +left it. + +"Yes, no one has disturbed a thing, which I think is lucky for us," +Frank went on to say, as he proceeded to put back the small part he had +taken away with him, and thus place the machine in perfect condition for +business. + +Andy moved about, looking to see that all obstacles threatening to +interfere with a successful launching were removed from in front of the +waiting aeroplane. + +So minutes passed, until at least ten had crept by since their coming. +Frank had everything tuned up, and knew of not the least chance where he +could improve the conditions of planes or motor, for all seemed to be as +nearly perfect as they could be made. + +Both boys cast frequent glances aloft, and as a rule toward that +particular quarter where they presently expected to see something +moving. They were keyed up to a pretty lively pitch of excitement, +though Frank did not show it half as much as his younger cousin, who was +always affected this way. + +Then suddenly Andy called out: + +"There she rises, Frank! Oh! look at them boring up, will you, in that +corkscrew spiral way! Tell me that Casper Blue doesn't know his +business; Perc will never get as much out of his biplane as that old and +experienced aviator means to. Are we going to follow suit, Frank?" + +"Get aboard!" came the prompt answer; and it was almost laughable to see +how nimbly Andy obeyed this order. + +Frank lost no time in starting, and they went away with a rush, passing +over the abandoned field that was now given up pretty much to thistles +and burdocks, with a sprinkling of iron-weeds. + +It was rather rough sledding, to be sure, and as the bicycle wheels +pounded over the turf the boys had to hold on to keep their seats. + +But when sufficient momentum had been acquired, Frank elevated the fore +plane, and immediately there was the greatest relief felt; for they +began to rise in the air, and all that terrible bumping stopped for +good. The change was wonderful, and it felt as though they were gliding +on velvet. + +"We're off!" exclaimed Andy, exultantly. + +Frank said nothing. He did not possess quite the same sanguine nature +that his cousin had. Andy seldom allowed thoughts of possible disaster +to annoy him, but on the other hand Frank was always trying to head off +trouble. + +He realized that with this launching of their new hydro-aeroplane they +would be entering upon an extra hazardous game, the outcome of which no +one could foresee. The two men whom they expected to follow must be +desperate fellows, who would resort to almost any hazard rather than +allow themselves to be caught. + +And it was not an amateur aviator like Percy Carberry who was opposed +to them now, but one who had had long experience in the art of +harnessing a flying machine to do his bidding. + +Once they left the ground behind them, Frank started to spiral upward +much in the same way the others had done. One thing he was glad of, and +this was the presence of Andy alongside. Casper Blue might be a daring +air pilot, but with his companion a perfect greenhorn in all that +pertained to the art, he would be more or less handicapped. A sudden +incautious movement on the part of the novice might prove the undoing of +the precious pair. + +Once they had risen to a certain height, and the aeroplane was turned so +as to follow the other air craft, which was speeding away, headed +directly into the north. Of course, those aboard must know that they +were being chased. They could not have failed to see the hydroplane, (as +it is generally called, though the true word to cover it would be +hydro-aeroplane) even before it left the field, once they started to +ascend. + +"Well, we're off at last!" commented Andy, in a satisfied tone, when the +course had been taken, and they were following directly after the +fugitive air craft. + +"And let's hope we'll come out of this adventure as luckily as we have +on other occasions," remarked sober Frank. + +"Wonder if Perc happens to be looking this way right now," Andy went on +to say. "Chances are, that he's got his old field glass leveled, and is +searching the heavens right along, in hopes of locating his lost +machine. And say, if he does glimpse this fine parade right now, can't +you see him turning green with envy to think of another glorious chance +coming to the hated Bird boys. Oh! my, oh! me! but it would be gall and +wormwood to Perc. Just as like as not he'd take a fit!" + +But Frank was not giving any time to such thoughts as these. More +serious affairs engaged his attention. When once he left the firm +footing of the solid earth, and invaded the upper currents where up to +lately man had never traveled, save in a drifting balloon, he always put +levity aside, and paid strict attention to business. + +The panorama below them was constantly changing, and the boys could not +but admire the pictures thus presented to their gaze. No matter how +often one may go up a thousand feet or more above the earth, it is next +to impossible to weary of the wonderful scenes that keep passing +constantly in review as the buzzing motor keeps carrying the aeroplane +along over plain, valley, hills, forests, rivers, and villages or towns +that chance to lie in the route. + +To Andy it was all somewhat in the nature of a grand picnic, for his +nature was not one to contemplate peril at a distance. Had he and Frank +just come out for an hour's spin he could not have shown more delight, +as they went whirling through space, with that rival flier a mile or two +ahead. + +"Do you think we're gaining on them?" asked Andy, after some time had +elapsed, and the country below began to get unfamiliar, proving that +they had now come beyond the range of any previous trip taken to the +northward of Bloomsbury. + +"I don't know for sure," replied his cousin. "Sometimes I think we are, +and then again I'm a little in doubt. Suppose you get the glass out, and +see what they're doing, Andy?" + +"Well, I'm a great one, forgetting all about that bully marine glass." +As he said this Andy hastened to feel for the article in question, which +was always kept handy, because there never could be any telling when +they might want to use it in a hurry. + +"Go slow; no use rocking the boat," sang out the pilot, who was forever +cautioning his companion with regard to quick motions when seated in +such a delicately balanced contraption as a biplane. "It's a good thing +that we've got that new fool-proof contrivance that Mr. Wright invented, +on this machine right now, because only for that you'd be giving me more +than a few scares when you swing from one side to the other so quickly." + +A minute later, and Andy, who had been looking through the glasses, +spoke again. + +"It's a little hard to cover them steadily, because they keep rising +and dipping just like we are; but I can see that little Casper Blue, and +the man alongside of him is a much larger chap." + +"Of course it's Casper who's piloting the biplane?" remarked Frank. + +"Yes, and he knows the ropes, let me tell you. I don't believe there are +many professional birdmen today who can go ahead of that man. I only +wish you could take a squint through here, and watch how he manipulates +the levers, in spite of that stiff arm of his. Only for that, and he'd +still be in the harness, and doing stunts that'd have Beachy left far +behind." + +"Either that, or else he'd be buried," remarked Frank, drily. + +"Oh! well, the less we have to say about that the better I'll feel, +Frank. If you're going in for aviation at all you've just got to forget +all about being in constant danger; though I hope I'll never get so I'll +be reckless like Perc Carberry. But Frank, sure we seem to be picking up +a little on that crowd. And from the way they keep looking back all the +while, I guess they know it too." + +"Perhaps we are," Frank went on to say, "but if I really thought so I'd +cut down a peg or two in our speed." + +At that Andy set up a howl; at least he voiced his objection. + +"Well, that's a queer stunt for you to do, I must say, Frank. Here we +are chasing after our game, and the very first time we believe we're +gaining some, you inform me you mean to cut down our speed. Is that the +way to win the game, tell me?" + +"But we don't want to come up with them while we're booming along like +this, you understand," ventured Frank, as he gently moved a lever just a +trifle; "this sort of racing is a lot different from what you'd do on +the ground down there. Suppose we did come abreast of that biplane right +now, what good would that do us? Could we put out a hand and arrest the +yeggmen? Wouldn't it be more likely that such desperate men as these +must be, would try some sort of game looking to disable our craft, and +sending us tumbling down to our death? No, excuse me from coming to +close quarters up here with such hard cases. Honest now, Andy, if they +began to circle around as if they meant to turn on us, I'd think it my +duty to run!" + +"Oh!" exclaimed Andy, "you mean you'd coax 'em to follow us back to +Bloomsbury, and then give themselves up, is that it, Frank? Oh! but +you're a cunning chap, sure you are. But on the level now, what is our +game, if it doesn't mean we're going to overtake 'em?" + +"I'll tell you, Andy. We ought to keep following after them as far as we +can, and in that way learn where they drop. If we get a chance to send +down an occasional message to be sent on to Bloomsbury so much the +better. I've written several such out, and have the cord to tie them to +weights. Given a chance, when we're passing over some town perhaps we +can get one such message sent on home. Even that would tell them where +we were, and what the chances are." + +"Great game, Frank! Suppose you let me have those messages, and I'll be +amusing myself getting the same ready to heave, when you say the word. +We c'n play that this is a war game, and we've been sent out to drop +bombs on the fortifications of the enemy. We've done it with rocks, and +we can throw pretty straight; so it seems to me we ought to get some +sort of fun out of it all around." + +Frank told him where he could find the written messages in his outer +pocket; and for some time Andy was quiet, busying himself in fastening +some sort of anchor to each piece of paper, sufficient to carry it +earthward, despite the breeze that at the time might be blowing. + +All at once Andy noticed that they were going quite slowly in comparison +with the pace they had lately been "hitting up." + +"What's happening, Frank?" he exclaimed, almost alarmed lest some +accident had befallen the reliable little motor, which up to now had +never failed them, no matter how great the call upon its resources. "Why +are we slowing up? Is there something gone wrong, and must we own up to +being beaten?" + +"Look ahead at the biplane!" was all that Frank replied. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + + +DROPPING A "BOMB!" + +"Oh! we've started to swoop down on them! Honest to goodness, I don't +believe they're more 'n half as far ahead as they were, Frank!" cried +Andy, thrilled by the sight of the other biplane being so near. + +"Just about that," said Frank, quietly, the busy motor having decreased +its merry hum, so that they could talk without raising their voices very +much. + +"Then you must have let out an extra kink, did you, Frank, when I was +busy with my bombs?" demanded the other. + +"Oh! no," came the answer, "the fact of the matter is, Andy, they have +dropped off a lot of their speed, and that's how we covered space +quicker." + +"Something gone wrong with Percy's new Gnome engine, then, has it; and +he blew his horn so about what wonders it was going to do? Huh!" and +Andy chuckled in his boyish delight. + +"No, I don't believe that is the reason they've slackened their speed, +Andy." + +"Trying to save gasolene, then?" pursued the other. + +"Hardly that, either, Andy." + +"Oh! now I see what you mean, Frank; the poor old greenhorn's got cold +feet, and is making Casper slow down. He thinks that there's less chance +of a tumble if the speed is reduced; just as if that could make any +particular difference." + +"I reckon you're away off yet," persisted Frank. + +"Then, for goodness' sake won't you tell me what they have cut notches +out of their speed for; because I'm all balled up, and blessed if I can +think of another thing! Oh! look at that, Frank! Sure as anything I saw +a puff of smoke then. There must be something the matter with their +engine, and they're getting scared. I wouldn't be surprised a mite to +see them settle right away, and try to land." + +"Well, you saw smoke all right, and if you'd listened sharp, you'd have +heard a sassy little bark at the same time, Andy." + +"A what, Frank?" + +"Call it a snarl, then. Take up your glasses, Andy, and look; while I +drop out even a little more of our speed, so we'll fall back further." + +Hardly had Andy clapped the glasses to his eyes than he gave vent to an +exclamation of mingled amazement and alarm. + +"That greenhorn is looking this way, Frank, and as sure as goodness he's +pointing at us right now. Oh! he did something then, for I saw another +puff of smoke, and it came right from his hand. Why, he's shooting at +us, Frank! That must be a gun he's got in his hand, and he's trying to +hit us! If our motor didn't keep up such a constant whirl we might have +heard the whine of that lead when it went singing past us!" + +"Yes, perhaps we might," Frank went on to say, composedly. + +"But what can we do?" demanded the other, nervously. + +"Nothing more than decrease our own speed as often as they do, and play +the game of tag backwards. If they get going it too strong, why, just as +I said before, I'll turn tail, and head back toward Bloomsbury, daring +them to follow, which you can be sure they won't, because our town is a +mighty unhealthy place just now for Casper Blue and his pal. There! he +fired again." + +"That makes three times he's tried it, Frank!" + +"And I guess he can try the other three without doing us any damage, +Andy." + +"You believe that, do you?" asked the one spoken to. + +"Sure thing," Frank replied positively. "Why, it would be one chance in +ten thousand that he could strike any part of our aeroplane at that +distance, going as both of us are, and with only a revolver. I'd be +willing to let him blaze away all day, without being a bit afraid. But +I'm bound that the two air crafts must keep at least this distance +apart." + +The man in the other airship did fire three more times, but without any +success whatever. And as though the rival navigator realized that +Frank's tactics would effectually prevent his coming into closer contact +with the pursuing craft, he no longer tried to close in, but increasing +his speed, was quickly about the old distance away. + +Whereupon Frank Bird also hit up the pace cautiously. + +"That's the ticket!" cried out Andy, presently. "I guess we're holding +our own again now. For a little while I began to be afraid that they +were going to just make us take their dust, and give us the merry ha-ha, +vanishing in the distance. But now I know you've got the twist of the +thing down fine, Frank, and can haul up on the biplane, or drop back, +just as you feel like." + +For a long time they kept on, neither saying anything, for talking is +always more or less of an effort when speeding along in an aeroplane, +with the wind striking one in the face. + +Frank had had no time to fully adjust the muffler which he usually wore +about his neck when about to soar to a dizzy height, so he would have to +do the best he could; and besides, there was little chance of the other +aeroplane venturing to bore upward to any unusual degree, all the +efforts of the bank thieves being directed toward making their escape. + +He did have his goggles adjusted, however, which was a good thing, since +his eyes must have watered very much from the cold air; and this is +considered an ever present source of danger to one who manipulates the +levers of a mile-a-minute aeroplane. + +"We seem to have dropped a good deal lower, Frank," remarked Andy, after +another space of time had elapsed. + +"Yes," remarked the pilot, tersely. + +"And I'm looking now for a good chance to make use of one of my bombs; +don't you think it's about time to try the scheme out?" Andy continued. + +"Just as you feel like," replied Frank. + +"Then at the very next town, or place that looks like it had telephone +connection with the outside world, I'm going to have a try. Might have +done it when we passed over that last place where the people were all +waving things up at us, and we could just hear a confused shouting. I +bet you, Frank, they just thought this was a regular air contest, with a +prize offered to the winner." + +"Well, it is," observed the other. "If we win, we take back our +prisoners; and on the other hand, if they come out first best they get +away to Canada with their liberty and their plunder. Yes, it's a race, +all right, Andy, a test of skill and endurance; and perhaps the best man +will win." + +"Then I know who that will be," declared Andy, enthusiastically. + +"Don't be too sure," warned Frank, though it must have pleased him to +know that he possessed the fullest confidence of his cousin and chum, +who had been his constant companion on so many expeditions, and must +understand him like a book. + +"What if they keep everlastingly at it, and night comes on?" asked +Andy, presently. + +"Well, there's the moon, though I don't like chasing along this way +after sundown; and if we're put to it, we've got our fine search-light, +you must remember," Frank replied. + +"There, I believe we're going to pass right over another town, Frank!" + +"It does look that way, for a fact," admitted the other. "Casper doesn't +see any reason why he should bother changing his set course due north +because he happens to pass a few towns away up here in the northern end +of the State. Let the people stare all they want to. He's been used to +having crowds gape at him, you know, and rather likes it. Besides, if he +gets away, what does it matter?" + +Andy prepared himself for the little job he had on hand. + +As he had practiced throwing stones from the aeroplane while at a great +height, just to see how near he could come to hitting a certain place +far below, so as to ascertain what chance aviators would have of making +bombs tell in war times, the boy believed he would be able to drop his +message pretty accurately in some open place, close to where the +townspeople were clustered. And seeing it fall, some one would be sure +to hurry over to secure the mysterious object. + +"Here goes our old broken wrench, which has been hanging around so +long!" declared Andy, as, leaning carefully over, he measured distances +with his eye, and suddenly let the object slip, taking care to make all +allowances for their speed. + +This is more of a trick than most boys would suppose. The next time you +are on a speeding electric car throw a stone at a telegraph pole just as +you are passing it, and see how much beyond the missile will alight, +because of the momentum it received because of the fact of its starting +from the moving car. + +Andy had this pretty well figured out, and knew just when to launch his +weighted message. He turned his head, and tried to follow it downward as +well as he was able because of the fluttering white paper. + +"It's going straight there, Frank, I do believe!" he exclaimed, as he +managed to get the powerful glasses up to his eyes, and fairly followed +the progress of the message, though quickly losing it again. "Yes, and +the crowd there on the green must see it coming, because already a bunch +of boys has started to jump that way. They'll find it easy enough, +Frank. Now, what d'ye think of that for a successful bomb throw?" + +"Good enough for you, Andy," was the hearty response. "And we'll have to +take it as a sign that we're going to come out of this scrape as we +generally do, with our colors flying." + +Frank usually allowed himself to feel the fullest belief in his own +abilities; at the same time he always wished to avoid over-confidence. + +Again time passed on, and the hum of the busy motor was the only sound +that came to the ears of the two young aviators. They were again making +nearly full speed; though Andy felt pretty confident that, had it been +necessary for Frank to coax an additional unit or two of "hurry" from +the gallant little Kinkaid engine, it would respond to his efforts. + +"My! but we must have covered a lot of distance since we started," was +the next remark from Andy. "How long do you suppose we've been going, +Frank?" + +"Look and see. It was just five minutes after one when we left the field +on the Hoskins farm, Andy." + +"Two hours, Frank; now, what d'ye think of that? Why, I never would have +believed it if you'd told me. Do you think my watch has jumped on +ahead? + +"No, because we've been hustling right along all of that time, I guess, +Andy." + +"Keeping everlastingly at it, and headed due north all the while," said +Andy. + +"As straight as a die; they never varied their course even a little bit, +as far as I could see," the pilot declared. + +"But we've covered an awful lot of apace, Frank!" + +"I guess you're right there," admitted the one addressed. + +"And, Frank, if we keep on this way, and nothing happens, we ought to +sight the big lake away; ahead there inside of 'half an hour more, I +should think?" Andy ventured to say, and he was thrilled when his +companion, turning toward him just at that moment, went on to say: + +"Perhaps in less time than that, Andy; with the glasses you might +glimpse it even now!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX + + +OVER LAND AND SEA + +"Are you joshing me, Frank?" demanded the other Bird boy, as he swung +eagerly around, so as to fix his glasses upon the far off horizon ahead +of them. + +"I certainly am not, Andy; but please be more careful how you move. You +gave me a punch in the ribs just then that sent a cold shiver all over +me. Don't forget that we're not stretched out on the ground under an +apple tree taking an afternoon doze. Well, what do you see?" + +"Frank, I do believe you're right about that lake business!" exclaimed +Andy. + +"Then you can see it?" asked the other, himself more than anxious, +because of the fact that the fleeing bank robbers who had stolen the +biplane of Percy Carberry apparently intended to escape over the line +into Canada, even if to accomplish their purpose they had to daringly +cross Lake Ontario, many miles wide, a feat as yet only successfully +done by one or two bold fliers of national repute. + +"I sure can; and the way we're heading it's a dead open-and-shut thing +that we're just going to swing out over the water before another hour +passes. Whew!" + +Andy finished his sentence with this significant exclamation. It was as +though not only the novelty of the thing but its thrilling nature +staggered him. The Bird boys had flown under many strange conditions, +but as yet they had not made a water flight. + +There is and always must be a vast difference between passing over the +land, with its forests, hills, valleys, plains, cities and villages, to +starting out over a wide stretch of inland sea, with only the tumbling +waves far below, and new as well as untried currents of air to meet and +conquer. + +More than a few times Andy Bird had expressed a wish to have just such +an experience. It would be a novelty, something entirely new in their +line, and which would give them possibly delightful thrills. + +But now that the chance seemed opening up before them, he found himself +viewing it with considerable apprehension, as well as delight. + +Of course it made considerable difference that they should be chasing +after a desperate pair of rascals, rather than simply trying to +accomplish a flight from United States territory to that belonging to +Canada. There was always the chance that these men might turn upon them, +and succeed in doing something to injure the hydroplane, causing it to +drop into the midst of that inland sea. + +Strange how small things often insist upon thrusting themselves forward +when some sort of peril threatens. The very first thing Andy seemed to +think about was the fact that they did not happen to have any life +preservers aboard the craft. Not that there was one chance in a thousand +they would ever need such things around Bloomsbury, though there was +Lake Sunrise to be reckoned with; but just then it struck the boy that +every well equipped aeroplane ought always to carry a couple of rubber +rings along, which, in moments of dire necessity could be blown full of +air, and would serve to sustain wrecked aviators until help came. + +He even decided to mention this fact to his cousin, after this voyage +was concluded. It loomed up as large as the Rock of Gibralter just then, +even as a dream may at the moment of awaking, but which later on begins +to lose its realistic effect until it seems next door to silly. + +"They don't show the least sign of changing their course, do they, +Frank?" Andy remarked after another spell of time had passed. + +"Not that you could notice," replied the other, composedly. + +Andy derived more or less comfort from this way his chum had of keeping +his head even under the most trying conditions. When his own nerves were +fairly quivering with excitement, it always steadied Andy to turn and +see that Frank was as cool and calm as though nothing were amiss. More +than a few times in the past it had caused the more hot-headed Bird boy +to conquer his own weakness, and do himself credit in some difficult +feat that became necessary. Example is a splendid thing to lead any boy +along safe roads. Words may be forgotten in the trying moment; but when +he actually sees the thing done before his very eyes, it is indelibly +impressed upon his mind. + +"About how long will it be before we get there?" Andy asked again; for +he was forever wanting to know, when he had any misgivings about his own +capacity for reaching a reasonable conclusion. + +"Do you mean before we leave the land, and commence our voyage across +the lake?" Frank inquired. + +"Yes, that's it--more than half an hour, at the speed we're going now?" +continued the other. + +"Just about, I should say," Frank replied, after carefully measuring +distances with his eye. "We are up pretty high, and can cover a +tremendous range, you know, so we first glimpsed the lake when we were a +long ways off. It may be all of forty miles away right now; and as we +must be clipping along at the rate of eighty, with the breeze favorable +behind us, why, half an hour ought to see us there." + +Andy fell silent again. + +Many times did his eyes travel from the distant water to the earth below +them; and then follow this up with an uneasy stare at the other +aeroplane that was flying along far ahead of them. The whole solution of +the problem of course lay in the hands of the man who controlled the +destinies of that stolen biplane. Would he really have the nerve to +attempt a flight across that great body of fresh water, aiming to land +on foreign shores, from which he could not easily be extradited? + +Frank seemed to think that such was undoubtedly the intention of Casper +Blue, the little man who had been actor, aviator, and yeggman in turn, +during the course of his adventurous life. + +He had already proven beyond any doubt that he was a capable airman, +even though he did have a crippled arm. Never had the Bird boys seen an +aeroplane handled with more extraordinary skill and dash than was the +one that had been stolen from the hangar of Percy Carberry. + +No, unless something unexpected happened to disturb the plans of the +fugitive yeggmen inside the next half hour, they plainly meant to launch +out on a voyage across the lake, possibly thousands of feet above its +surface, and perhaps among the very clouds. + +Not once did Andy dream of asking his cousin whether in this event he +considered it the part of wisdom for them to follow the men who were +doubly risking their lives in this mad effort to escape with their +booty. + +He knew Frank only too well to doubt his willingness to undertake such a +trip as this. In times gone by, and especially when they were down in +South America with their aeroplane, seeking Professor Bird, who had been +lost, with the balloon in which he was conducting experiments on the +isthmus, they had bravely faced just as serious perils as this promised +to be; yes, and wrenched victory from the jaws of apparent defeat more +than once. + +Hence, it was a foregone conclusion that if Casper Blue attempted the +difficult feat of flying across the lake, after being in the air several +long hours, the two Bird boys were determined to keep following after +him. It seemed like a game of "conquer," which Andy remembered so well; +where the rival aviator dared to go they must follow, or acknowledge his +superiority as a bold airman, something neither of them felt like doing. + +Frank had figured it all out while he was speeding along so smoothly. + +So far as he could see everything was working as easily as could be; the +motor never missed, and was running like a charm, just as though it +could keep this up everlastingly in an endurance test. And besides, the +wind, what there was of it at present, seemed to favor them most +positively, because it was at their backs. + +So far as appearances went the conditions were ideal for the crossing of +the great lake that was now showing up ahead most grandly. + +Andy drew in big breaths, and tried to keep from quivering with delight, +mingled with just a little nervousness. Here was a new experience about +to come to them; and one that they were not apt to soon forget. As a boy +Andy delighted in novel sensations; and as an ambitious aviator he +yearned to experience all the glorious possibilities that open up to the +one who has the pluck and the nerve to attempt them. + +They could see a town in plain sight, though they had gradually ascended +since Andy cast his bomb so successfully. Perhaps his little game of +opening communications with the earth below had been observed by one of +those in the leading airship; and in order to prevent another attempt, +this gradual ascent had been immediately carried out. + +But Frank fully expected to see the rival aeroplane begin to drop as +they drew near the border of the fresh water sea. Since just then there +was no squally wind near the surface of the water, which they wished to +avoid by remaining thousands of feet high, the chances were that Casper +Blue would soon commence to use his deflecting rudder, and begin to +descend in wide spirals; or else, with the daring of an old and skilled +air navigator, shut off power, and volplane down in a slant that would +thrill any spectator as nothing else could, until the required distance +had been covered, when he would again bring the shooting aeroplane on a +level basis, and resume his forward progress. + +Whatever he did Frank was ready to imitate. + +He had the fullest confidence in his own ability to accomplish the most +difficult feat that would be required. + +"Steady yourself, now, Andy," he cautioned; "because they're going to +change the going pretty soon, I take it. Better put that glass away, and +be ready to give me a lift if I need it. Watch and see if they don't +drop down closer to the water. It would be a wise thing to do, I take +it; for in case of accident the spill wouldn't be so bad." + +"All right, Frank, just as you say," replied the other, accustomed to +looking to his cousin for the words of command when an emergency or a +crisis came along. + +He fastened the precious glasses in their rigid case, where they would +be safe so long as the aeroplane remained above the surface of the +water, or did not fall to the ground in a serious wreck. + +Then Andy paid attention to a number of small but very important matters +that had always been given over into his charge at times like this. The +Bird boys had been comrades so long that they worked together like a +well oiled machine. The ball team that has played in company for a +season can accomplish feats that would be utterly impossible to a nine +that had been brought from various clubs, even though each player might +have been a star in his respective team. + +So it was with Frank and Andy; they had grown to know each other's +points so well that when the moment came it often seemed as though they +instinctively formed a single unit, with that exceedingly bright brain +possessed by Frank doing all the piloting of the combination. + +They were all ready for the business in hand long before the border of +the big water was reached. Frank had looked around him several times, +and his cousin seemed to know instinctively that he was endeavoring to +decide as to whether the wind was apt to hold as it chanced to be at the +time; or increase in velocity, should they drop to lower levels. + +It was rather awe inspiring to see that vast gulf of glistening water +stretching as far as the eye could reach in three directions, north, +east and west. From the high altitude which they still occupied, they +could not tell whether the lake was calm, or waves rolling along its +surface. The westering sun glittered from its bosom as though it might +be streaked with gold, and altogether it was a sight that neither of the +boys would soon forget. + +To Andy in particular it appealed with vigor. His nature was more +inclined to worship at the shrine of the romantic than would be the case +with the practical Frank. To Andy that vast sheet of water seemed +mysterious, profound, filled with secrets of argosies that were launched +on its breast centuries ago, when only the bark canoes of the red men +had ever been wedded to its waters. In imagination the boy could even +then see the barques of the early explorers, those bold men who had +pushed thither from across the ocean, and risked their lives in order to +learn what the New Country held for brave hearts. + +Perhaps, had he still gripped the glass in his hands, and cared to look +earthward before leaving the shore for that adventurous cruise, Andy +might have seen many a group of wondering people all watching the flight +of those hurrying ships of the upper air currents, and even waving hats +and handkerchiefs in the endeavor to attract the attention of the bold +navigators, whom they supposed to be engaged in a race for a wager. + +But there was now no longer time for anything like this, and all their +attention must be concentrated upon the one thing that meant so much to +them--the safety of the delicate craft in which they were now about to +entrust their very lives for a voyage, the like of which few airmen had +ever entered before. + +Already had the other aeroplane sailed away, and was even now hanging +over the inland sea, that lay fully four thousand feet below, its +further shore hidden in what seemed to be a cloud, though it might prove +to be a rising fog, fated to engulf both pursuing and pursued air craft +in its baffling folds, and turn the comedy of the race into a tragedy. + +"Goodbye old land!" sang out Andy, when they seemed to suddenly pass out +over the water, leaving the shore of New York behind. + +Frank said not a word, but no doubt his feelings were just as strong as +those of his companion. And so they had now embarked on what seemed to +be the last leg of the strange chase, with the future lying before them +as mystifying as that fog bank lying far away to the north. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + + +OVER THE BOUNDARY LINE + +It was with the queerest possible feeling that Andy saw the land +slipping away, and realized that they were at last launched upon the +water part of the voyage. + +It seemed as though they had cast loose from their safe moorings, and +were adrift upon an uncharted sea. When comparing his feelings with +other aviators in later times, he learned that every one of them had +experienced exactly similar sensations the first time they passed out of +touch of land, and found the heaving sea alone beneath them. It was a +sort of air intoxication; Andy even called it sea-sickness, though +doubtless most of it came from imagination alone. + +"There they go, Frank!" he called out, not ten minutes later. + +The land was far behind them now, and still in the other three +directions they saw only the level surface of the great lake. + +His exclamation was called out by a sudden change in the method of +advance adopted by those in the leading aeroplane. Instead of keeping +along in a direct line the biplane had uptilted and was now shooting +downward in what seemed a terribly perilous way; just as though the pair +of precious scoundrels had taken a notion to end the pursuit by seeking +a plunge into the water. + +But both boys knew differently, and that this was only a volplane, +adopted by experienced and rash aviators as a means of reaching the +lower air currents more rapidly than by slow spirals; or else undertaken +when having engine trouble that threatens destruction. + +Frank was ready to follow suit. It would not be the first time by long +odds that the Bird boys had accomplished this speedy method of +descending from high altitudes. There was always an exhilaration about +the clever trick that appealed irresistibly to their natures; though +Frank would never have attempted it unless reasonably sure that the +conditions were favorable for success. + +"Hold fast, Andy!" he remarked, quietly. + +The hum of the motor suddenly ceased, and with its cessation the +hydroplane was turned head-on toward the surface of the lake, four +thousand feet below. + +Down they went, plunging toward what seemed to be instant destruction; +but a steady hand was at the wheel, and the pilot knew just what was +necessary to do at the proper instant in order to bring this rapid +descent to a stop, and right the airship on a level keel. + +But there was no time just then to note what the rival aeroplane might +be doing. Whether the experienced airman in charge managed to stop that +downward plunge before reaching the surface of the lake; or failing went +to his death, was a matter that did not concern them now, since they had +their own affairs to look after. + +To tell the truth, Andy's heart seemed to be in his throat as they made +the drop. As yet they had never tried out the new hydroplane in a trick +of this sort; and hence really did not know just how it might act; +though Frank must have been pretty confident, else he would never have +attempted it. + +Given the choice the Bird boys would easily have decided to descend from +their lofty height by means of the much safer if slower "spirals," each +circle seeing the aeroplane lower than before. But since the reckless +man in the other air craft led the way, Frank had chosen to follow. He +believed that he could accomplish any feat that was possible to Casper +Blue, especially now that the old air navigator had a handicap in the +way of a crippled arm. + +The water seemed rushing up to meet them; so it looked to Andy, whose +anxious gaze was fastened upon the lower depths, as they dipped down in +that terrific swoop. But then, he had seen the same thing when over the +land, so that in itself this did not daunt him. + +"Oh!" + +That exclamation seemed to be forced from Andy's lips when he felt Frank +give a quick turn to the lever that caused the deflecting rudder to +again resume a normal position. The drop of the aeroplane was brought to +a gradual stop, and when immediately afterwards the buzz of the motor +announced that the propelling power was again at work, it was no wonder +that the nervous boy expressed his relief by giving vent to that cry. +There was a world of gratitude back of that word, it can be set down as +certain; for no matter how confident Andy might have been concerning his +cousin's ability to accomplish wonders, the new hydroplane was as yet +untried in many things. + +Now he even dared take his awed gaze from the heaving waters beneath the +framework of the aeroplane, and give a thought to those whom they had +chased overland and water for nearly three hours. + +"Bully for Casper Blue! He made the riffle too! he's all to the good!" +was the way the impulsive Andy announced his discovery to Frank, who +just then could not spare even a second to take his attention off the +working of the motor. + +After all, it was not so very strange that the boy should express +himself in this way. True, the man he was praising was now a criminal, +and they sought to effect his arrest in some manner as yet vague and +uncertain; but it was not in this light Andy viewed him just then. As a +birdsman Casper Blue had proved that he still possessed the nerve and +skill to direct a daring flight, and that all the tricks known to +celebrated fliers were at his finger's ends. + +Any one who has risked his life up among the clouds must always respect +such a valiant spirit, even though aware that the object of his +admiration has in other ways forfeited the esteem of all honorable men. + +There was the biplane moving along on a level keel, and not more than +two hundred feet above the water. And still the course held due north, +showing that the desperate men who were thus fleeing from arrest had +not the slightest intention of changing their plans. + +"What do you think of her now, Andy?" asked the pilot, with a quiver of +pride in his voice. + +"You must mean our new craft, I take it, Frank; and I want to say that +she's a real peach, if ever there was one. We never volplaned as easy as +that in our lives, and that's a fact. Why, it was like sliding downhill +on a sled, with never a single bump on the way. I could do that all day, +and never get enough." + +"Dangerous business, all the same," remarked Frank; "and doubly so when +you don't happen to be well acquainted with your machine. A single +hitch, and we would have struck the water at a terrible rate." + +"But all the same we didn't, Frank," the other went on, jubilantly; for +now that this peril was of the past Andy could be his old self again. + +"And they did just as well," remarked Frank, always ready to give +credit, even though it might be to a rival, for his nature was generous +to a fault. + +"Well, that biplane was easier to manage than our hydroplane, with the +pontoons underneath," Andy went on to say, grudgingly; for no one could +ever convince him that Frank had his superior as an air pilot; and he +would sooner go up to a record height of fifteen thousand feet in +company with his cousin, than accompany the most famous man living. + +"It looks like we might be booked for Canada, Frank," he went on to say, +a minute later, after they had fallen into the new "stride" comfortably, +and were rushing forward on a level stretch, with the surface of the +lake close at hand. + +"I shouldn't wonder," came the noncommital reply. + +Now, Andy knew his cousin like a book. Perhaps it was something in the +words; or on the other hand there may have been an undercurrent of doubt +in the way Frank spoke, that aroused the other's suspicion. + +"What is it, Frank?" he demanded, "for I reckon you see something that +is all a blank to me? Take me in, won't you?" + +"Oh! I was wondering what would happen if they had an accident away out +on the lake, that's all," admitted the other. + +"Well, in that event I guess it'd be up to the Bird boys to play the +rescuer act for all it was worth. But Frank, do you think this new +machine of ours could climb up off the water with four aboard? Wouldn't +that be the limit?" + +"To tell you the truth, Andy, I don't know, because we've never had the +chance to try it out. With only two of us aboard you know how easy she +climbed; three passengers she could hoist, but four might faze her. We +can only wait and see, if ever the chance comes to make the test." + +"But you wouldn't hesitate about trying the same, I know, Frank?" + +"Of course not," the other remarked, confidently, "and especially when +it might mean life or death to a poor fellow away out here on the lake +miles from land. If we couldn't rise, we might still be able to float +like a duck, and hope that some boat would come to the rescue. In the +end that would be just the same." + +"Do you know," said Andy, "I saw a tug pulling out at full speed from +the little city on the shore of the lake, close to where we left land; +and somehow I seem to have an idea they know all about us, and mean to +keep in touch with us as long as they can, to be handy in case of +accident. Perhaps, now, my message was phoned to Bloomsbury; and seeing +about where we must be heading if we kept on a northerly course, they +have wired up here to watch out for us. How about that, Frank; am I +silly to figure that way?" + +"I don't see why you should be, Andy. In fact, just as soon as you +mentioned about the tug I began wondering if somehow these good people +didn't know who we were, and what we were chasing after the biplane +for." + +They had to speak unusually loud in order to hear, even though their +heads were close together at the time; for the propellers were whirling +with a hiss, and the hum of the motor added to the noise. But then, it +was all a merry racket that chimed in well with the spirit of the young +aviators; and which gave them much the same pleasure that the splash +through the foaming water of a ninety-foot racing yacht must awaken in +the heart of an enthusiastic skipper, when he knows that every sail is +drawing to the limit, and all things are working well. + +"Have you figured out what we ought to do if by good luck we all get +over to the other side, safe and sound?" went on Andy. + +"We'll have to leave that," was the reply Frank made. "No use crossing a +bridge till you come to it, you know, Andy." + +"But they'll be safe then, Frank?" "I'm afraid so, even if I don't +pretend to be up in all the international law connected with the +passing of a thief from United States territory to Canada." + +"But ain't that a measly shame?" ejaculated the indignant Andy, "to +think of a robber being able to turn, and put his fingers to his nose +and wiggle 'em at us, just because he happens to cross the boundary +line. It oughtn't to be that way, Frank!" + +"Of course not; and I guess lots of abler chaps than you and me have +thought the same; but there it stands, and the two countries won't get +together to change the law even a little bit. Every year dozens of +embezzlers light out across the border for Canada, where they can spend +their money, and start for Europe if they feel like it." + +"Then perhaps it's the money they take with 'em that the Canadians like; +though I wouldn't like to believe such a thing," ventured Andy. + +"Hardly that; but both countries are jealous about bringing back +political offenders, I've heard Judge Lawson say more than once. But +don't let's talk any more'n we can help, Andy. We've got our hands full +as it is watching those fellows, and keeping ready to match any trick +they try." + +This served to give Andy a new cause for concentrating his attention on +the fleeing biplane once more. As yet the pilot of the leading airship +had not diverted from his set course; but if he was as tricky as they +had reason to believe, there was always a chance that he might engineer +some scheme, sooner or later, looking to shaking off his pursuers here +in the middle of the great lake, where possibly no mortal eye could +witness the deed, so as to appear against him later on. + +With the wind aft, of course the further they advanced the larger grew +the waves; and Andy noticed that they were now of quite respectable +size; though being directly above, he could not tell much about it, only +that in many spots he saw the white caps breaking, and this served as a +pointer. + +Would the hydroplane be able to ride such a sea in safety, in case +necessity compelled them to alight upon its swelling bosom? + +Frank did not seem to doubt it, for he had the utmost confidence in the +ability of those aluminum pontoons to sustain a great weight without +sinking. What they would possibly have to fear more than anything else, +was the chance of a capsize; and of course this would spell disaster as +much as anything else. + +Once they overtook a sailing schooner that was speeding along with a +fair breeze. Possibly those aboard thought they were making most +excellent time, with everything in their favor, but the aeroplanes sped +past the vessel almost as though it were a toy craft. + +A faint cheer was heard from those aboard who could be seen wildly +waving head-gear, or red handkerchiefs; just as though what they +considered a novel air race had been engineered especially for their +amusement. + +When Andy took occasion to look backward again in a short time he was +amazed to discover how far distant the sails of the schooner seemed. And +it was this incident more than anything else that gave him to understand +just what amazing speed the aeroplanes were putting in their mad race +across the inland sea. + +But while up to now the voyage had been without incident worthy of +mention, or accident of any kind, it could hardly be expected that this +immunity would continue to the very end. The splendid good fortune that +had hovered over both airships was apt to be brought to a sudden +termination at any moment, as Frank well knew. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + + +A HYDROPLANE RESCUE + +All this while Andy's nerves had been strained to a high pitch. And it +was not at all singular, therefore, that when the anticipated event came +to pass he gave vent to a loud cry. + +"Looky! Frank; they're going to drop! Something must have happened to +the motor or else a plane guy broke to cripple them!" was what he almost +shrieked. + +Frank was watching, though he had not uttered a single sound. He knew +that the half expected crisis was now upon them. At least his heart +found cause for rejoicing that if an accident had to happen, it affected +the other aeroplane rather than their own. It is much easier to bear +watching another's troubles than to bear your own. + +What Andy had said was the truth, for the craft they were chasing after +had taken a sudden dip, and was fluttering downward. + +If you have ever seen a crippled bird trying hard to keep afloat, you +can have a pretty good conception of how that biplane dropped lower and +lower toward the water. + +That it did not fall like a lump of lead spoke volumes for the +magnificent management of the pilot who controlled the levers, and whose +long experience had taught him just what to do in such a dreadful +emergency as this. + +Frank had instantly cut off much of their power, though they still +continued to sweep onward toward the place of the catastrophe, and were +rapidly drawing near the falling aeroplane. + +Both boys stared at the terrible picture of the descending biplane +nearing the heaving surface of the lake. It seemed very serious indeed, +for any one to drop in this way; and yet how much more dangerous to fall +upon land, where the wrecked aviators would stand a good chance of +broken limbs, even though they saved their necks. + +Then a cry from the impulsive Andy told that the biplane was in the +water. If the engine had broken loose there was a pretty fair chance +that the craft with its long extended planes would float, and even bear +up the two aviators. Perhaps the quick-witted Casper Blue had looked out +for just such a contingency, and found a way to free the framework from +the dead weight of the motor. + +Frank had all he could do to manipulate his own craft, for in order to +alight successfully, even as a wild duck does, he must make a turn, and +head up into the wind. + +That meant the passage of a certain length of time; and meanwhile who +could say what might not be happening to the imperiled men? + +On the other hand, Andy could not tear his horrified gaze away from the +wreck of the fallen biplane; and it was really upon him that the +navigator must depend for his information as to how things were going. + +Fortunately Andy could talk as well as look; no matter if his tongue did +show a decided inclination to cleave to the roof of his mouth with +horror, he managed to find a way to make it wag. + +"It floats, Frank, sure it floats!" he ejaculated, presently, even as +the other was in the act of making a sweeping curve, and skilfully +ducking a squally puff of wind, turn back over the course they had just +covered, to sink down upon the heaving waters when he found the chance. +"Yes, they must have kicked the engine overboard. That makes three poor +old Perc has lost, don't it? There they are, both of 'em, squattin' in +the middle of the wreck, just as cool as you please, awaitin' for us to +call in and take 'em off. Hope it don't sink before we c'n get back. If +either one can't swim they'd go down like a stone. Now you're around, +Frank; and we're heading straight for the place. Hurrah! Hold hard there +and we'll lend you a helpin' hand!" + +He even waved toward the two men by now pretty well submerged in the +water, but who seemed to be still clinging to the floating aeroplane, as +though recognizing that their position might be much more desperate +should they cut loose from that buoy. + +Frank was watching closely, to pick out a favorable opportunity to +alight. Well did he know the chances he and his chum were taking in thus +dropping upon the heaving surface of such a tremendous body of water as +Lake Ontario. It was true that they had successfully performed this +operation many times with their other hydroplane, but that was upon the +much calmer waters of little Sunrise Lake, where the sea never arose +heavy enough to imperil the floating aircraft. It would be much more +perilous now, under these conditions; but Frank had made up his mind to +attempt the rescue of those in the water, and was not to be easily +daunted. + +When the right opening came he allowed the hydroplane to dip gently +down, making sure that there was as little violence as possible in the +drop, because of the chance of burying the forward propeller under; or +losing his balance, upon which so much depended. + +Andy knew what he was expected to do, and was nimbly endeavoring to +swing his weight this way or that after they had launched on the waves, +so as to keep the pontoons on an even keel, and prevent a disastrous +spill. For once this occurred, the hydroplane would be of little more +advantage than the wrecked biplane, which barely upheld the two clinging +men, and was evidently sinking lower under the strain, with each passing +second, until the end must be in sight. + +At least they had dropped safely. The pontoons had been cleverly +adjusted so as to bear a just proportion of the weight, and they did +their duty faithfully and well in this great crisis. + +Of course, the next thing was to try and work closer to the sinking +biplane, and take the men aboard, one at a time. That would be a risky +proceeding, requiring all the skill that Frank could bring to the front. + +In the first place he had chosen to drop beyond the wreck of Percy's +biplane. This he had purposely done, in the hope that the wind might +drift them down upon the other aircraft. + +A minute's observation convinced Frank, however, that if they waited for +this to happen, the frail support which was buoying Casper Blue and his +mate up would have gone under long long before they could get within +touch. + +Already the second man was shrieking for them to hurry, because he could +feel himself slowly but surely sinking; and he let them know that he +could not swim a stroke. + +Plainly, then, they must do something to quicken things, if they meant +to be of any service to the two rogues, thus brought to a sudden halt +just when escape had seemed most bright. + +Frank remembered his engine. But would it work under such strange +conditions as this? He quickly saw that the rear propeller was half +buried in the water; and if it turned at all would have to churn things +just as though they were in truth a queerly fashioned boat, instead of +an airship, intended to mount to lofty heights, and vie with the eagle +in his circling above the clouds. + +Quickly, then, he started to make the trial; and Andy, seeing his +movement, comprehended what he must have in mind; for he swung out in +such fashion as to preserve a balance, and thus help things along as far +as lay in his power. + +What a sensation of relief that hum of the faithful little Kincaid +engine brought in its train, as it once more took up the burden of its +busy song. Why, it seemed to Andy as though he could almost shout in +sudden relief, when he heard it first, and saw the water flying from the +partly submerged propeller. + +But Frank was wise enough not to turn on full speed, knowing what a +terrific strain this condition of affairs must be upon the entire +fabric, flimsy at best; and if anything gave way it was all over with +them; for if a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, a +heavier-than-air flying machine certainly comes under the same category. + +"We're going it, Frank!" shouted Andy, when he saw that their speed had +increased several hundred per cent, and that they were now heading +straight for the partly submerged air navigators. + +It never occurred to Andy that either of the men might offer the +slightest objection to being rescued. Frank looked a little further +ahead; but even he could hardly believe that Casper Blue would prefer +to drown rather than be saved. + +What Frank was really concerning himself about more than anything else +was how he could stow away the two fellows, once they found a chance to +climb aboard the hydroplane; and whether he could get enough impetus +from the engine with such an unusual load, to rise from the water, once +he elevated his planes. + +"Hurry! oh! Hurry! I'm going down!" cried the larger man. + +Casper never said a word. Possibly, being a swimmer, he did not feel the +same degree of terror that his companion experienced. Then again, he may +have been coolly figuring on how he might turn the rescue to his own +advantage in some way; for he seemed to have that little black box slung +over his back by means of the strap; and it was easy to understand that +it must, as Andy had guessed, contain something of considerable more +value than a mere camera. + +Now they were closing in. The hydroplane round-up was being carried out +in what seemed to be a successful manner; and if all went well during +the next few minutes the drifting fugitives would be hauled aboard by +Andy, who stood ready to act the part of gallant rescuer to the king's +taste. + +It happened by mere accident that they were on that side of the sinking +wreck where the larger man clung; and this was just as it should have +been, since he seemed more in need of help, at least in far greater +distress of mind, than the smaller man. + +"Get ready, Andy!" warned the pilot; "I'll shut off the power if it +seems best; but it may keep us on a more even keel if we move along." + +"I'm going to try and get hold, and then pull him aboard; hope we don't +have a spill, though!" the other sent back, as he braced himself as best +the conditions allowed. + +Frank gave one little turn to the rudder, for he was afraid that they +might get past without coming in reach. Then the gap was completed, and +Andy, leaning over, managed to get hold of the sinking man by the collar +of his coat. + +There was where the greatest danger lay. + +When a man or a boy has the terror of drowning pressed in upon his +heart, he is usually a most unreasonable being; and will even clasp his +intended rescuer about the neck, and prevent him from carrying out his +plans that might have worked well only for this blundering. + +"Take it easy, you!" yelled Andy, as he saw the man clutch hold of the +framework of the hydroplane, and struggle desperately to work his way +along to where the others were. "If you give us half a chance we'll save +you, all right; but upset us and well all like as not go down together. +Slower, I tell you, or I'll give you this to teach you something. This +ain't an ocean liner, d'ye understand. Let up!" + +Whether it was the excited words of the boy, the manner in which he +flourished that short steel bar, or his ferocious looks, that brought +the excited man to his senses no one could ever say; but he did relax +some of his frantic movements and began to act more within reason. + +This presently gave Andy the opportunity he wanted to stretch out a +helping hand, and get a firm grip of the other's coat collar; after +which he exerted himself to the utmost to assist him to climb aboard. + +What with his own weight, and the fact that his clothes were dripping +with water, the addition of the new passenger caused the delicately +constructed and already heavily freighted hydroplane to sink more +deeply. + +Frank, in that supreme moment realized that it would be almost a +hopeless task to think of once more flying, with such a cargo aboard. +Possibly the best they could do would be to keep afloat, and hope that +the pursuing tug might come up with them before the darkness set in; +and they could all be rescued. + +Now that the first of the imperiled airmen had been hauled aboard, there +remained but Casper Blue himself. The wreck had not as yet sunk wholly, +since, relieved from the weight of the heavy man, it seemed to possess +enough buoyancy to remain on the surface of the water. But this could be +only for a short time; the planes would soon be thoroughly soaked, and +then the end must come, when the clinging man would find himself +deprived of all support, and must swim or go down. + +He had something of a half defiant look on his small sunburned face, as +he saw Andy trying to draw the wreck toward him, with the evident +intention of giving him the next opening. Perhaps he was half inclined +to take his chances as he was, rather than allow these two boys to make +him a prisoner. + +Frank had his mind made up. He figured that both men had been long +enough in the water to have their weapons well soaked, so that they +would be in no condition to threaten their rescuers. + +"The box, make him pass it up first, or we leave him here!" he called +out to Andy, as the latter was about to reach out and lay hold of the +smaller man. + +Casper Blue glared almost savagely at Frank. For the moment the Bird +boys even thought the enraged man would hurl defiance back at them, and +declare that he preferred taking his chances with the wreck rather than +give up the spoils. + +But just then it happened, fortunately, that the remnant of the biplane +began to settle more positively than before, warning him that it was +folly to pin any hope on its buoying him up more than a few minutes at +most. + +"Here, take it!" he snarled, handing up the box; which Andy immediately +passed over to his cousin before he would stretch out his hand again to +render the defeated yeggman any assistance. + +Then Casper Blue was drawn aboard, and lower still sank the buoyant +hydroplane, until both propellers were almost wholly submerged beneath +the surface of the heaving billows that came rolling on, steadily and +remorselessly. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + + +BROUGHT TO BOOK--CONCLUSION + +"What time is it, Frank?" asked Andy, who w as breathing very hard after +his recent exertions in helping both men to get a footing on the +hydroplane. + +"I think pretty close to four o'clock," replied the other, though he +made no attempt to take out the little nickel watch, he always carried +nowadays. + +The fact of the matter was that Frank did not dare trust Casper Blue. He +could see that the little man was a desperate character, and that he did +not view the prospect of being made a prisoner, and taken back to +Bloomsbury with any great show of enthusiasm. In fact, it was a most +unpleasant proposition for the bank thief to contemplate at all. + +And so Frank was watching him closely. He had, before starting on this +dangerous air flight that had ended so far from home, and under such +singular conditions placed a little pistol in his pocket, though hardly +under the belief that he would have any occasion to make use of it. + +But he was now determined not to let this man get the upper hand. He +could see that various desperate plans must be forming in that scheming +brain of the one-time aviator, and now yeggman; and Frank was constantly +on the watch so that he might not be caught napping. + +"Four o'clock!" repeated Andy; "that would mean at least two more hours +before the sun set, wouldn't it; and even after that it might stay light +enough another hour for them to see us if they steamed along?" + +"You mean the people aboard that tug, don't you?" asked Casper Blue, +sneeringly. + +"Yes, they seemed to be chasing after us, and I only hope they do keep +moving," replied Andy, "because they must have seen the accident, that +is if they had any sort of a marine glass aboard, which I reckon they +did." + +"And I suppose, now, you think there might be officers aboard that same +tug?" the other went on to say. + +"Oh! we don't know anything about that," Andy remarked, carelessly. "But +if they came along after a while it'd save us from a lot of worrying. +Just think, if the night set in, and the four of us weighing this poor +old hydroplane down like we are what a time we'd have before another +morning came around." + +"It would like as not rise, if there was only two aboard, wouldn't it?" +Casper asked quickly, and before Andy could understand what his question +meant he had replied to it. + +"Sure thing, Frank and myself have left the water many a time in a less +powerful hydroplane than this, haven't we, Frank?" + +"Well, turn about is only fair," said Casper, fiercely. + +"Why, I don't understand what you mean by that," complained Andy. + +"Two's company, four a crowd; so please skip out of this, both of you +boys. My pal and me can run this shebang, and just take my word for it, +we mean to do the same. Get that straight, both of you? Now, jump, I +tell you, and lively, or I might be tempted to let her go; and that +would be a shame after the way you rescued the two of us. Overboard with +you!" + +Andy gaped when he saw that the man had actually drawn out a revolver, +and was aiming the same directly at him. + +"Here, quit that, will you?" he demanded, feeling a flush of alarm, for +even a seasoned veteran of many battles does not fancy having such a +threatening weapon thrust under his nose. + +"Jump, then, d'ye hear, consarn you?" shouted the man, menacingly waving +his pistol; "take a header, and over you go, both of you! I'm a +desperate man, and not to be fooled with. P'raps you c'n keep afloat on +that wreckage long enough for the tug to come up, and pull you in. But +no matter, over you go, one way or the other!" + +"Just wait a bit, Casper," said a quiet voice, and turning his head the +man saw that Frank had him covered very neatly, "you must know that your +weapon has been soaked, and wouldn't go off, the chances are. Besides, I +don't believe there's a single cartridge in the chambers. Throw it +overboard, do you hear, Casper, or I may be tempted to cripple that +other arm of yours!" + +No doubt Frank was speaking the exact truth when he declared his belief +that the revolver had not been charged since the time when Casper +emptied it at the pursuing airship, in the hope of either frightening +the boy aviators; or else doing some sort of damage. + +He stared hard at Frank for half a minute; then with some muttered +words, as if he realized the folly of butting up against fate, threw +the useless weapon far out on the heaving surface of the lake. + +After that a dense silence fell upon them. The men were too down-hearted +to want to talk; and there was little that the boys had to communicate, +because they were now in a position where they could do absolutely +nothing to help themselves; and must depend entirely upon the coming of +the tug. + +An hour passed, and it seemed very long. All of them were more or less +wet because of the splashing waves; but as the air was balmy, they cared +little for such a thing as that, if only the tug would show up. + +Innumerable times did Andy stretch his neck, and look toward the quarter +in which it must appear, if it came at all; but the hour began to extend +far into a second one, and as yet there was nothing seen that brought +with it a ray of hope. + +Worse still the sea was gradually getting more and more tempestuous, it +seemed to Andy, though the sky remained absolutely clear, and, there was +not a sign of a storm. + +If that had been a fog in the far distance which Frank had sighted, the +breeze must have long ago dissipated it entirely. + +Lower sank the sun, until it was now not more than half an hour above +the horizon, if its stay could be measured in the way of minutes and +seconds. Oh! if only the friendly tug would come in sight amidst the +foam-crested waves! It was really getting to be too much of a good +thing, trying to keep the hydroplane from keeling over, with those waves +breaking against the frail planes. If this kept up much longer, Frank +was very much afraid that Percy Carberry would not be the only boy in +Bloomsbury to mourn the loss of an airship. + +When, therefore, Andy gave a sudden shout, and announced that he +believed he had seen the smoke of the tug wreathing above the waves, all +of them looked considerably relieved, even Casper himself; for on second +thoughts the yeggman must have decided that it was better to be alive +and in prison, than dead, and under the waters of Lake Ontario. + +In five minutes they could all see the smokestack of the powerful tug, +and for fear lest it should pass by and not do them any good they +shouted hoarsely in unison. + +"They hear us!" exclaimed Andy, whose position, somehow, allowed him to +see better than any of the others, "yes, they've changed their course, +and are heading this way now. It's all right, Frank; we've won out, I +guess!" + +But Frank was keeping an eye on the two men. He did not mean to give +them even the slightest chance to play a trick in the eleventh hour. +Frank Bird was a pretty hard fellow to catch napping, he usually had his +eyes open, and especially when he knew there was danger around. + +The tug came booming on, and they could see that there were quite a +number of people aboard. + +"What if some of them are from Bloomsbury?" suggested Andy. At which his +cousin laughed. + +"You didn't stop to think twice before you made that break, Andy," he +remarked. "Tell me, by what conveyance could they have got to the lake +ahead of us, when we came through by lightning express at the rate of +nearly a hundred miles an hour at times? But I can see they are +expecting to take charge of our friends here, because there's an officer +aboard. Just keep where you are, Casper; your goose is cooked, and +there's no need of making matters worse." + +The man settled back again with a growl, and then burst out into a +reckless laugh. + +"Small difference it makes, I guess, boys, how the thing's done, so +long as we've got to go to the lock-up. You might just as well have the +credit for the job as anybody; and man to man, now I want to say that +I'm full of admiration for the fine way you handled that hydroplane of +yours. If so be you're the Bird boys I've been hearing so much about, +you've got the making of crack-a-jack aviators in you. That's about all +from me now." + +The tug came alongside, and the two men were assisted aboard, where the +police officer saw that they were promptly ironed. + +"We got the word from Bloomsbury, and your father hired this tug right +away, Andy Bird, to follow you out on the lake, if so be you kept after +the rascals," said a tall gentleman with a white mustache, who, they +afterwards learned, was the mayor of the city on the lake shore. "Now +what can we do for you?" + +"Please stand by, and let's see if we can get away," answered Frank, "if +not we'll have to go on board, and tow the hydroplane behind, but since +relieved of so much extra weight the pontoons have risen again; and I +expect she'll go." + +And she did, with the very first effort, beginning to move over the +surface of the water in the lee of the tug; then, as Frank hastened to +elevate the planes, the airship started to mount and when free from the +lake a mighty cheer broke from the lips of those aboard the small +vessel, even Casper Blue joining in giving the brave lads their just +dues. + +Frank carefully started back toward the American side of the lake. He +did not know whether the capture had been made on the Canadian side or +not, and as the question was never raised, even in the trail of the bank +robbers it was never wholly clear in his mind. + +When they reached land it was early night; and save that the wind had +lulled considerably, they would not have been able to get in for a long +time after that. As there was no need of their hurrying homeward, Frank +and Andy consented to stay over as the guests of the mayor, who was more +than pleased to have the famous Bird boys stop under his roof. + +But first Frank made sure to send a message to each of their homes; as +well as to Chief Waller, who would have to come on and get the two bold +men who had broken into the Bloomsbury bank and about cleaned out the +vault; and not content with one haul, were planning to rob the pay-car +when it stopped in Bloomsbury to settle with a large number of employees +centering there. + +Doubtless that must have been a season of considerable excitement in +the home town; and the names of Frank and Andy Bird were cheered to the +echo by the crowds of town boys Larry and Elephant would lead around, +burning red lights and firing off Roman candles purchased with money +supplied by Dr. and Professor Bird, the happy fathers of the two young +heroes. + +On the following day Chief Waller was on hand with one of his men to +escort the prisoners back to the town where their latest crime had been +committed. Frank had already sent the little camera box with its +valuable contents, just as he had received it from Casper Blue, to the +president of the bank by express, not caring to hold it any longer in +his hands than was absolutely necessary. + +About noon, the conditions being favorable, the Bird boys sailed away +amidst the cheers of half the little city, and headed directly south on +a bee line for home. + +Fortunately enough no further adventures overtook them on their way +there, and as their coming had been announced they found the whole town +in an uproar, and came near being mobbed, such was the desire of every +man, woman, boy and girl to have the honor of shaking hands with them. + +Percy was on hand too, with a thousand questions concerning the fate of +his precious biplane, and bemoaning the fact that he seemed to be the +most unlucky fellow who had ever attempted to bring honors to +Bloomsbury. But there were precious few who sympathized with him; and +everybody knew that all he had to do was to demand that his mother +advance the ready cash to buy another flier, and it was sure to be +forthcoming. + +But there were other lively times in store for Frank and Andy Bird, +although neither of them suspected it just then, and believed that a +period of calm would likely follow their hydroplane round-up. What the +nature of these exploits were the reader who has accompanied us in our +voyage through the pages of this book, will learn when he purchases the +next story in this series, now on sale under the title of "The Bird +Boys' Aeroplane Wonder or, Young Aviators On a Cattle Ranch." + + +The End. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Aeroplane Boys Flight +by John Luther Langworthy + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE AEROPLANE BOYS FLIGHT *** + +***** This file should be named 10576.txt or 10576.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/5/7/10576/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Dave Morgan and PG Distributed +Proofreaders + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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