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diff --git a/old/50323-0.txt b/old/50323-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 5a44983..0000000 --- a/old/50323-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6289 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's Dave Dashaway Around the World, by Roy Rockwood - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: Dave Dashaway Around the World - or A Young Yankee Aviator Among Many Nations - -Author: Roy Rockwood - -Release Date: October 27, 2015 [EBook #50323] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAVE DASHAWAY AROUND THE WORLD *** - - - - -Produced by Rick Morris and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -[Illustration: - - IN ADDITION TO THE ENVELOPING GLOOM OF THE STORM, - IT HAD BEGUN TO GET DUSK. - _Dave Dashaway Around the World_ _Page_ 120 -] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - Dave Dashaway - Around the World - - Or - - A Young Yankee Aviator Among Many - Nations - - - BY - ROY ROCKWOOD - AUTHOR OF “DAVE DASHAWAY THE YOUNG AVIATOR,” “THE - SPEEDWELL BOYS SERIES,” “THE GREAT MARVEL SERIES,” ETC. - - - ILLUSTRATED - - - NEW YORK - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY - PUBLISHERS - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - BOOKS FOR BOYS - - BY ROY ROCKWOOD - - DAVE DASHAWAY SERIES - - 12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. - Price per volume, 40 cents, postpaid. - - DAVE DASHAWAY THE YOUNG AVIATOR - DAVE DASHAWAY AND HIS HYDROPLANE - DAVE DASHAWAY AND HIS GIANT AIRSHIP - DAVE DASHAWAY AROUND THE WORLD - - THE SPEEDWELL BOYS SERIES - - 12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. - Price per volume, 40 cents, postpaid. - - THE SPEEDWELL BOYS AND THEIR MOTORCYCLES - THE SPEEDWELL BOYS AND THEIR RACING AUTO - THE SPEEDWELL BOYS AND THEIR POWER LAUNCH - THE SPEEDWELL BOYS IN A SUBMARINE - - THE GREAT MARVEL SERIES - - 12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. - Price per volume 60 cents, postpaid. - - THROUGH THE AIR TO THE NORTH POLE - UNDER THE OCEAN TO THE SOUTH POLE - FIVE THOUSAND MILES UNDERGROUND - THROUGH SPACE TO MARS - LOST ON THE MOON - - CUPPLES & LEON CO., PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK. - - -------------------------------------------------- - - Copyrighted 1913, by - CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY - - -------------- - - DAVE DASHAWAY AROUND THE WORLD - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - I. THE “COMET” 1 - II. AN INVOLUNTARY PASSENGER 9 - III. ON THE WING 17 - IV. A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR 24 - V. SOMETHING WRONG 32 - VI. THE STOLEN BIPLANE 40 - VII. FOUND 48 - VIII. SOMETHING OF A MYSTERY 54 - IX. THE PATH OF THE EAGLE 61 - X. A MIDNIGHT ALARM 68 - XI. IN PERIL 76 - XII. THE SECRET TOLD 83 - XIII. AN EXCITING MOMENT 91 - XIV. THE TRAMP MONOPLANE 97 - XV. STRICTLY BUSINESS 107 - XVI. A SIBERIAN ADVENTURE 117 - XVII. A GRATEFUL FRIEND 125 - XVIII. IN STRANGE LANDS 134 - XIX. STRANGE COMPANIONS 143 - XX. RESCUED 151 - XXI. WAR 161 - XXII. LOST IN THE AIR 170 - XXIII. THE BLAZING BEACON 178 - XXIV. THE HOME STRETCH 187 - XXV. CONCLUSION 195 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - DAVE DASHAWAY - AROUND THE WORLD - - - - - CHAPTER I - - THE COMET - - -“I wish Dave Dashaway would hurry up here,” said Hiram Dobbs, who was -for the time being in charge of the biplane, the _Comet_. - -“What’s your great anxiety, Hiram?” questioned Elmer Brackett, reclining -comfortably in one of the spacious seats behind the pilot post of the -machine. - -“Do you know that fellow with the long frock coat over yonder—the one -who looks like some cheap sharp lawyer? There,” added Hiram, pointing at -a group near a hangar, “he’s talking now with that fat, porpoise-looking -man with gold braid on his cap and a badge on his coat.” - -“I see them,” nodded young Brackett. “Never saw either before that I can -remember. What of them?” - -“Just this,” replied the young airman, quite seriously. “That lawyer -fellow has been rustling around like a hen on a hot griddle for the last -ten minutes. He seemed to be waiting for someone. Then I saw that man -with the light fuzzy hat, and a moustache and glasses, come in a great -hurry up to him, and direct his attention to the airship here. Just now -the same fellow pointed it out to that constable—policeman—or whatever -he is.” - -“I declare!” exclaimed Elmer, with a start, sitting up and taking -notice. “Why, I know the man with the fuzzy hat.” - -“You do?” - -“I am sure of it, Hiram. He is disguised, but I certainly recognize him. -That fellow is my enemy,” and the speaker shifted around in his seat, -greatly disturbed. “Do you remember that fellow Vernon?” - -“I should say so, and I suspected it to be just that individual all -along,” explained Hiram. “He’s made all of us trouble enough not to be -forgotten.” - -“I wish Dave would come,” said Elmer, anxiously. “It would be a terrible -thing if, after all my hopes and preparations, something should come up -to prevent my going with you on the great airship trip around the -world.” - -Elmer Brackett spoke very earnestly. He might well do so. When he -referred to an exploit that sounded like the scheme of some visionary, -his words had a tangible and sensible business basis. - -His companion was pretty nearly a professional airman, and Elmer himself -knew a great deal about aircraft. His father was practically the owner -of the Interstate Aero Company. The person they were now awaiting, Dave -Dashaway, was a youth who had won fame and fortune in the aviation -field. - -Young as Dave was, this expert had pretty nearly reached the top as a -professional airman. Those who have been introduced to him in the first -book of the present series, named “Dave Dashaway, the Young Aviator,” -will recall with interest his first struggles to earn recognition and a -living in a line to which he was naturally adapted. Dave Dashaway’s -father had been a scientific balloonist, and when Dave met the old -aviator, Robert King, he found a man who was glad to help him on in his -ambition to succeed as a sky sailor. - -Dave steadily and earnestly studied aeronautics as if he was learning a -trade. In the second volume of this series, entitled “Dave Dashaway and -His Hydroplane,” the energetic young airman won marked distinction at an -aero meet by his monoplane and hydroplane work. His ability won the -attention of a friend and former professional associate of his father, -and the latter agreed to finance the most stupendous aerial proposition -ever attempted. - -The result has been told in the preceding volume of this series called, -“Dave Dashaway and His Giant Airship.” The remarkable adventures of Dave -and his friends while sailing the mammoth airship, the _Albatross_, -across the Atlantic Ocean have there been narrated. After the giant -airship had started on its extraordinary trip, a stowaway had been -discovered—Elmer Brackett. - -It seemed that the lad had gotten into bad company. His father was rich -and he had plenty of money, which he spent very foolishly. He had formed -the acquaintance of a clever schemer named Vernon. This man had so -enmeshed Elmer in his toils, that he made the boy believe that he could -send him to prison, and ruin his father’s business. All this was untrue, -but in sheer desperation, believing he had wrecked all his chances in -life, the frightened lad had secretly stolen aboard of the _Albatross_. -In a very heroic way he had saved the crew of the giant airship from -capture by some mountain outlaws in North Carolina, where the -_Albatross_ had descended for repairs. This had made him a welcome -comrade to Dave and Hiram. When the former returned to the United -States, victor in the great race across the Atlantic and the possessor -of a small fortune in prize money, his first task was to hunt up the -schemer, Vernon. Dave gave the rascal to understand that if he annoyed -Elmer any further, he would find himself in serious trouble. - -For all that Dave Dashaway and the powerful friends he had made did, -however, Vernon was slow to abandon his hope of fleecing his victim out -of more money. He tried to blackmail Mr. Brackett, and even brought a -suit against the wealthy manufacturer on some notes he had induced the -son to sign under false pretences. To get rid of him, Mr. Brackett had -finally given Vernon a sum of money to cease his annoying persecutions. -Then Vernon had disappeared, and Dave had supposed that he was “off the -map” for good. - -Elmer had acted like a new being since coming under the healthy -influence of the brisk, high-minded young airman, Dave Dashaway, and his -ardent assistant, Hiram Dobbs. For the first time in his life, the zest -of adventure and the ambition to make something of himself had acted -like a spur on the young fellow. - -For over a month our hero, Dave, and his two loyal comrades had led an -existence of delight. The young airman had become greatly interested in -an exploit in which he had been invited to take part. The National Aero -Association had arranged for a wonderful novelty and a test in the -aviation field. This was nothing less than an aeroplane race around the -world. - -The route had been marked out, the prizes announced and the rules of the -contest adopted. Nearly half a score of contestants had registered. In -the official list there had been published a line or two that the -adventurous Hiram read proudly a dozen times a day: “Entrant VI—the -biplane _Comet_, pilot Dave Dashaway.” - -An aero meet was now in progress near the city of Washington, which was -to be the starting point of the great race. Dave and his young -assistants had fairly lived at the plant of the Interstate Aero Company. -Every facility of the great factory had been placed at the command of -Dave. The result had been the construction of the _Comet_, probably the -most perfect and splendid aircraft ever built. - -There was a permanent aero practice field near the factory, and on the -afternoon when our story opens the _Comet_ was ready to make its daily -trial flight. With the morrow, entirely equipped and its crew aboard, -the model biplane was to sail across the country for Washington, to be -on hand for the start of the race around the world a few days following. - -Other skycraft were in practice or motion about the field. Hiram and -Elmer had gotten their machine in order for a non-stop flight of one -hundred miles. They were waiting for the arrival of Dave, when Hiram -made the discovery that upon the very eve of their grand and stimulating -star exploit, an old enemy had suddenly appeared upon the scene. - -Hiram Dobbs bent a keen, suspicious glance at the three men whom he had -pointed out to his comrade. A worried look came into Elmer’s face as he, -too, watched them. - -“Yes,” said the latter in an uneasy tone, but convincedly, “one of those -men is Vernon.” - -“And the others are a lawyer and an officer of the law,” added Hiram. -“There’s something afoot, Elmer. I guess what it is and—I’ll fool them.” - -“The constable is coming this way!” exclaimed Elmer, apprehensively. - -“He won’t get here quick enough,” declared Hiram. “I see through their -tricks—Vernon is bent on having you arrested on some flimsy charge. The -scoundrel counts on the belief that your father will pay him more money -rather than see the _Comet_ delayed for the race. We’ll disappoint him.” - -The speaker shot out his hand to the wheel. His foot was ready to -depress the self-starter button. - -“All clear?” he called to the field man who stood close by, and the -latter nodded and waved his hand. - -“The constable is running towards us,” said Elmer rapidly. - -Chug! chug! The _Comet_ rose from the ground. Elmer Brackett uttered a -great sigh of relief. Hiram chuckled softly to himself. - -“Hold on! I’ve got a warrant! In the name of the law—ugh!” - -The _Comet_ gave a great sway. Its pilot dared not relax attention to -his duties, but he shot a swift glance at the source of the outcry. - -“The mischief!” uttered Hiram, in surprise and concern. - -The big bulky constable was clinging to the machine body, his feet -dangling, his face white and scared-looking, swaying helplessly except -for his frantic hand-hold fifty feet above the ground! - - - - - CHAPTER II - - AN INVOLUNTARY PASSENGER - - -Dave Dashaway’s assistant knew his business too well to attempt any rash -or reckless change in the course of the biplane. At a glance Hiram had -taken in the situation. In a flash he gave the right order. - -“Help him—pull him in,” he directed. - -“Yes, he’ll smash the wing and we’ll all go down in a heap if he hangs -on there,” declared Elmer, quickly. - -“Let me off! Let me off!” puffed and panted the constable. “Help! I’ll -drop! Murder! I’m a goner!” - -“Easy, officer!” cried out Hiram, in his clear, ringing tones. “Don’t -get rattled or you’ll be gone, indeed.” - -Elmer had grasped the arm of the clinging man. He had strapped himself -into his seat, and this position assisted in giving him a tugging -strength that counted for something. The white, scared face of the -constable came nearer and nearer to him. Through great efforts the -trespasser was hauled up over his center of balance, and he tumbled into -the vacant seat all in a heap. - -“Let down this balloon! I’ve got a warrant,” began the constable, -breathlessly—“oogh!” - -A whirl of the biplane sent the man banging against the side of the seat -till his teeth rattled. - -“Strap him in,” called out Hiram, “if he don’t want to get a spill.” - -“Oh, my! Stop! Please stop! Let me out!” - -Meantime Elmer had snapped the belt in place. It was well that he had -acted speedily. The _Comet_ made a switch just there which caused the -involuntary passenger to tremble with terror, yell outright, and crouch -back in his seat. - -Hiram directed a smooth volplane and made an even spurt of speed on a -set level. This gave the intruder a chance to steady his nerves and -regain his breath. He was still, however, big-eyed and chattering. The -young pilot dared not direct attention from his task of running the -machine, but he managed to turn his face sideways so as to give Elmer a -significant glance. The latter half smiled as he understood what was on -the programme. - -“Now, see here, officer,” spoke Hiram, past his shoulder, “I can’t give -you any further attention than to tell you what to do. If the machine -tips——” - -“Is there danger?” gasped the overcome constable. “Say, please go down! -Easy, you know! P-please-p—please!” - -“You had better show some sense,” retorted Hiram, with pretended -sternness. “There is always danger of a spill. Don’t help it any.” - -“N-no, I won’t,” chattered the officer. “I—I’ll do just what you tell -me.” - -“Then sit still and keep still. Elmer, get him into that airman armor. -He’s pretty bulky, and if we take a flop——” - -“Br-rr-r!” shivered the unfortunate passenger. “Oh, don’t talk about -it!” - -“Get the aerodrome safety helmet on him,” pursued Hiram. “It will save -his head if he tumbles.” - -“Say, I don’t want to! You’ve got to stop! I’m an officer of the law and -I order you to lower this balloon.” - -“You want to drop, do you?” called back Hiram, “All right, if you say -so, only——” - -“No! no! no!” fairly bellowed the constable, as the pilot described a -manœuvre pretty near to accomplishing a “shoot-the-chutes” dive in -aviation. “You know best. I’ll do as you say.” - -He allowed Elmer to fasten on the helmet as the machine steadied. It -made his big shock-haired head look bigger than ever. - -“Now then, the felt safety buffers,” directed Hiram, and his willing -accomplice bundled the passenger in between two thick pads covering -chest and shoulders like a wad of pillows. - -“He’d better have the earflaps and respirators if you’re going up into -the rarefied air,” suggested Elmer, solicitously. - -“Don’t go! Say, I’m not well! This air is good enough for me,” -remonstrated the constable. - -“Now for the non-concussion girdle,” ordered the merciless pilot. - -Elmer was almost bursting with suppressed merriment. He was so sure that -Hiram knew his business and that no real danger was imminent in that -calm air with a perfect head breeze, that he enjoyed the occasion -immensely. - -By this time their frantic fellow passenger resembled a diver, swathed -as he was in thick leather safety devices crowned with steel. Muffled up -and helpless, he squirmed, groaned and closed his eyes with a sickening -shudder every time he glanced over the edge of the machine. The unusual -sight of the earth fading away, the swift passage of the landscape, -fairly chilled him. - -For five or ten minutes the passenger was content to remain mute, trying -to realize and become accustomed to his unexpected condition. The -machine had a duplicate control system. That is, the rudder wires ran to -the right hand second seat as well as to that of the pilot. This made it -possible for Hiram to confine his attention exclusively to spark and -throttle control, while his assistant could cooperate as to the steering -gear whenever the tail trailed heavily. Elmer, too, could cooperate in -the aileron and elevator control, and the flight settled down to a -smooth, perfect rush through the atmosphere. - -“Ahem,” ventured their passenger as he regained his scattered wits. He -spoke in a vague, uncertain tone. “I told you that I had a warrant and I -want to explain—whew!” - -Hiram Dobbs was bound to shut off the passenger from any official -complication of matters. His eye had been fixed to a row of hills ten -miles distant. He had marked out his course and he had a definite -destination in view. Just now he stirred up the officer considerably -with a new joggling twist of the machine, just as he had planned to do. -The fright of the constable was renewed. He forgot what he had started -to say. - -“What’s the programme?” whispered Elmer, bending over close to the ear -of the pilot. - -“I want to get you to a point of safety before that fellow has a chance -to read that warrant of his,” was the low-toned reply. - -“I see; but how are you going to work it?” questioned Elmer, in some -perplexity. - -“Leave that to me,” returned Hiram, in a confident way. - -“Yes, I’m going to.” - -“I want to get beyond the ridge ahead—in fact, as far away from our -starting point as I can.” - -“I want to explain,” here again broke in their passenger. “I’ve got a -document here——” - -There he stopped. Hiram had to laugh and Elmer chuckled. The constable -made several ineffectual efforts to reach a pocket in his coat. The -muffling devices he wore prevented him. He was like a man encased in a -suit of armor. - -“Never mind the document,” said Hiram. “Just tell us what it’s about.” - -“It’s a warrant, and it charges this young man with trespassing on the -property of a farmer with an airship. The complainant has a legal right, -_ipse dixit_, to claim malicious intent, which makes it a criminal -offense.” - -“I thought so. Pretty flimsy,” remarked Hiram. “They’ve raked up some -trifle to give that miserable Vernon an excuse to keep you in court for -a week or more. All right officer,” he added, “read your warrant.” - -“How can I read it when I can’t get my hands with these pesky things on -them anywhere near my pocket?” demanded the constable, wrathily. - -“Very well, then don’t say I obstructed the law by refusing you your -rights.” - -“When you land I’ll read the warrant,” explained the constable. “This -boy has got to come with me. It’s defiance of law to refuse.” - -“We will land very soon now,” promised Hiram. “Whisper, Elmer.” - -The skillful pilot worked the exhaust purposely to cover a quick -undertoned interview with his friend. There was a perfect understanding -between them by the time the colloquy was concluded. - -“All right,” said Elmer simply, and with a satisfied expression on his -face, as he sank back in his seat. - -The young air pilot skirted a great grove of trees and flew the _Comet_ -high above a range of hills beyond. Then, near a little town with a -railroad depot showing in its midst, he prepared to descend. - -Hiram made a thrilling dive that nearly sent the constable into -hysterics. The _Comet_ reached the ground and settled down upon it as -safely and gracefully as a bird sinking to its nest. - -“Jump out,” he said simply, to Elmer. - -The latter unbuckled the seat belt promptly and leaped to the ground -beside the machine. - -“Hold on! Stop!” shouted the constable. - -Elmer showed no disposition to run away. He only walked briskly up and -down, stamping his feet and exercising his arms. - -“That boy is under arrest,” continued the officer, struggling with his -burden of wraps. - -“Not quite yet, officer, I fancy,” retorted Hiram. - -“Well, he will be soon as I get out and read my warrant. I order you to -help me, young man. If you refuse, I shall complain of your aiding and -abetting a criminal to escape.” - -“Bah!” cried Hiram, “you know as well as I do that he is no criminal. -Here,” and he assisted his passenger in getting rid of the hampering -devices. “I’ll help you.” - -With a great snort of relief the bulky officer stepped to the ground. -His first act was to shake his cramped limbs. Then he fished in his -pockets for the warrant. - -“In the name of the law,” he began with assumed dignity, producing a -folded document. - -“Hold on,” challenged Hiram, “what are you up to?” - -“I’m going to arrest one Elmer Brackett.” - -“I think not,” retorted Hiram, coolly. “It seems you’ve forgotten -something rather important, Mr. Officer.” - -“What’s that?” snorted the constable. - -“We have landed just over the state line and your warrant is no good in -this locality.” - - - - - CHAPTER III - - ON THE WING - - -The constable stared at Hiram. He glanced at Elmer with half a scowl. -Then he rubbed his head as if seeking for new ideas. Finally a sort of -sickly grin overspread his flabby face. - -“You’d make a good lawyer,” he observed. “Over the state line I am, sure -enough, with no warrant served. Well, I’m not so sorry as you may -think.” - -“I’m glad to hear you say so,” declared Hiram. “You’ll be glad, too, -when you come to know that the man behind the gun in this case is an -unmitigated rascal.” - -“I didn’t know anything about that, I simply followed orders,” said the -official, in a slightly apologetic tone. - -“Well, good-bye, officer, I suppose I can go?” broke in Elmer. - -“I shan’t hinder you. Only keep out of my territory.” - -Elmer exchanged a look of mutual understanding with Hiram, and walked -slowly away. He soon disappeared beyond a little thicket, heading in the -direction of the town and the railroad station. - -“Well, officer?” spoke up Hiram, moving about the biplane to see that -everything was in order. - -“Well, lad,” returned the constable, “I suppose it’s in order for me to -get back home after this fool’s errand.” - -“I’ll be glad to take you back with me,” said Hiram. - -“Humph!” and the constable shrugged his shoulders in a dubious way. “I’m -safe on the ground once more, thank goodness; and I reckon I’ll stay -here.” - -“Oh, come ahead in the machine,” invited the young pilot. “No capers, -officer, honestly. I had to do some gliding to make you forget business -till my friend was over the safety line, but I’ll take you home steady -as a Pullman, I promise you.” - -“No diver’s suit, though, mind you.” - -“That isn’t necessary,” laughed Hiram. “Just strap yourself in and I’ll -give you a nice ride.” - -By the time they got back to the aero grounds the constable was as -friendly as could be. He shook hands good-bye with Hiram, and winked at -him and chuckled to himself as he walked over to where the lawyer-like -man and the disguised Vernon stood waiting for him. They evidently had -seen the _Comet_ returning and had hastened to the grounds to hear the -news. - -Hiram lingered, watching the group until they disappeared. Dave Dashaway -came out of the hangar as the assistants ran the biplane towards it. - -Bright as a dollar, looking every inch the active, ambitious fellow his -friends called him, the young airman regarded his assistant inquiringly -and expectantly. - -“You didn’t wait for me,” observed Dave. - -“No, I was in a hurry,” laughed Hiram. “I suppose you know what was -doing?” - -“I’ve heard something about a warrant for Elmer. I’ve guessed out the -plot. Mr. Brackett was here, quite worried.” - -“He needn’t be,” declared Hiram, reassuringly. “There he is now. It’s -all right, Mr. Brackett,” added Hiram, advancing to meet the wealthy -manufacturer. “They didn’t get Elmer, and, what’s more, they won’t get -him very soon.” - -Dave Dashaway led the way into the little portable house adjoining the -_Comet_ hangar where the boys slept nights. All sat down on camp stools. - -“I hope this new trouble is not going to disturb your plans,” spoke Mr. -Brackett. - -“Not a bit of it,” replied Hiram. “Elmer is safely out of the way, and -everything is arranged to keep that miscreant, Vernon, from annoying -him.” - -Hiram recounted all that had transpired. The cloud of uneasiness passed -from the brow of the president of the Interstate Aero Company. He smiled -approvingly at the keen-witted narrator. - -“Elmer will take a train and go right on to an arranged rendezvous,” -explained Hiram. “He will be on hand for the start, Mr. Brackett.” - -“I shall start for Washington,” announced the manufacturer. “I want to -see the _Comet_ begin the big race in which I feel Dashaway and his -friends will win new laurels.” - -“Thank you for your confidence in us,” said the young airman. “I expect -to deserve it. There’s a reason—you have given us a biplane that is a -marvel.” - -“Yes,” declared Hiram, enthusiastically, “there will be nothing in the -field that can even begin to compare with the _Comet_.” - -Our hero and his assistant spent some time going over the splendid piece -of mechanism, after Mr. Brackett had gone away. The highest skill had -been employed in the construction of the _Comet_. From barograph to -breeches buoy it was as nearly perfect and thoroughly equipped as money -and intelligence could make it. - -The biplane was of original design. It had a tube mechanism and -universal bearing that were entirely new in the aviation field. The -arrangements for gasoline, oil and water had been the main -consideration. The capacity for carrying extra weight the second. The -coverings were rubberized fabric, the machine had the very newest shock -absorbers, and the double-control system admitted of a manipulation that -not only divided the operation work, but added to the safety of -navigation. - -As to the superb balancing and self-righting powers of the _Comet_, the -boys had demonstrated these merits only the day previous. With a ripping -crash the machine had entered the perimeter of a corkscrew glide. Dave -found the tilt so steep there seemed no chance to come out of the -spiral. Hiram, in the second seat, by a deft, quick operation of the -rudder control, changed the equilibrium. Dave did the rest, and the -_Comet_ passed a hair-breadth ground swoop clean as an acrobat. - -On account of the long flights necessary, probable landings in desert -spots far from civilization, and the menace of supplies giving out, the -_Comet_ had been constructed of a weight, breadth and length that would -admit of the utilization of a so-called ballast pit. This was located -directly behind the seats. It was compactly filled at the present time, -all ready for the start scheduled for a few days later. With every -article cared for, and after a close calculation of the effect of -dislodgment and replacement, the young aviator in command of the machine -felt that he had mastered most of the details of the prospective trip -around the world. - -Before Mr. Brackett had left them, he had made arrangements to join them -at the aero meet at Sylvan Park, near Washington. There were some final -details of the journey to arrange for after they reached the aviation -field. So far as their present situation was concerned, however, the -_Comet_ was all ready for the flight. - -The sky was clear, the stars shone brightly and there was a gentle -breeze entirely favorable to them, as, about ten o’clock the _Comet_ was -quietly rolled out of the hangar. The young airman purposely evaded any -publicity as to their start on account of Elmer and his enemies. The two -assistants waved them a hearty adieu, but stirred up no commotion. -Within five minutes the splendid piece of mechanism was speeding on its -way for a point fifty miles distant. - -“At Fordham, you said,” remarked Dave, as they settled down to an even -course of progress. - -“Yes, just beyond the town. We all know the town, it’s right in our -course—and I thought that the best place to have Elmer wait for us.” - -The _Comet_ passed over half a dozen quaint little villages. Then it -followed the railroad tracks, the signal lights operating as guides. -They knew Fordham, because they had made several trial spurts to and -from the place. They passed its rows of street lights, slowed down, and -the _Comet_ reached _terra firma_ inside of the town baseball grounds. - -“Hello!” at once hailed them, and Elmer came forward from a seat on the -bleachers, where he had been resting. “Everything all right?” - -“As a trivet,” pronounced Hiram. “Been a slow wait; eh?” - -“Oh, I snoozed a little,” replied Elmer; “lunched some, and had a hard -time explaining my being here to a suspicious old watchman who looks -after the grounds.” - -“Get aboard,” directed Dave, and Elmer sank into the seat with a -contented sigh. - -“It’s business now, I suppose,” he remarked. “Say, fellows, it’s a big -thing we hope to do; isn’t it?” - -“Yes,” assented the sprightly Hiram; “and I reckon we’ll have seen some -startling sights before we come this way again.” - - - - - CHAPTER IV - - A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR - - -Dave Dashaway stood at the entrance to the hangar of the _Comet_ at -Sylvan Park. The machine had done nobly on the trial field near the -Capitol city. Now it was housed among the group of competitors in the -great race. The pick of the world’s best airmen was represented at this -international meet, and the scene was one of activity and interest. - -The airship boys were comfortably housed in the living tent just beyond -the hangar. At first upon arriving it had been decided to have Elmer -stay away from the field until the final start was made. This procedure -was actuated by the fear that the troublesome Vernon might put in an -appearance and continue to annoy and hamper the young airman. The next -morning, however, Mr. Brackett arrived. - -“I am here for two reasons,” he had announced. “First, I wish to see our -last word in biplanes, the _Comet_, sail off on the race I know you are -going to win. Next, I want to be on hand if that troublesome Vernon -tries any more of his tricks.” - -“I hardly think he will attempt to follow us this far,” was the -expressed opinion of our hero. “It would cost him some money, and it -would be somewhat dangerous for him to work any trumped-up charge with -so many of our airmen friends around to defeat his plans.” - -“There is still more than that,” remarked the airship manufacturer, in a -confident way. - -“What do you mean, father?” inquired his son. - -“Just this,” answered Mr. Brackett, “as I left home my lawyer, who was -looking up Vernon, put in my possession some documents that will enable -me to baffle this wretch at every turn. I only hope he will appear. It -will be to receive a final quietus, believe me.” - -The big event was now only three days distant. The _Comet_ was in -perfect shape for its long flight. The boys had used prevision and -judgment in all their preparations; and had not really much to do. Dave, -however, was kept pretty busy with a constant stream of visitors. -Professional and otherwise, those who had seen descriptions of their -splendid machine in the public prints were eager to view that work of -mechanical perfection. A group of them were now gathered inside the -shelter building. Experts were examining and admiring the _Comet_. - -It pleased Mr. Brackett to exhibit this last masterpiece from the -Interstate Aero Company’s factory. As a strictly passenger carrying -biplane it had never been equalled. Mr. Brackett showed all its -improvements, from the new chain drive apparatus to the high pitch -revolution screws. The original model of the _Comet_ had represented a -machine weighing over one thousand five hundred pounds with a spread of -thirty-eight by sixty-three and one-half feet, pitch speed five thousand -six hundred feet, average flight record fifty miles. The old style rear -propeller drive had been supplanted by tractor screws. The tubing truss -underneath the center section and skid bracing also in the rib or plane -section was a new feature. A divergence from the popular headless screw -traction design was the use of the Curwell type of outriggers. This did -away with an attachment at the end of a monoplane type of fuselage. - -It was almost dusk when the visitors began to depart. Dave was giving -orders to two of the hangar men to lock up the machine for the night, -when an automobile drew rapidly up to the spot. As the young aviator -glanced casually at the machine, he saw that besides the chauffeur it -contained a veiled, girlish form. - -The chauffeur stopped the machine directly before the living tent. He -leaped from the auto and approached Mr. Brackett, who was standing near -by. - -“Can you direct me to the _Comet_ hangar?” he inquired, touching his cap -politely. - -“This is the place,” explained the manufacturer. - -“And Mr. Dave Dashaway—do you know where I can find him?” - -The young airman overheard this conversation. He stepped forward at once -with the words: - -“I am Dave Dashaway. What can I do for you?” - -The chauffeur moved aside with a movement of his head towards the -automobile. Its occupant leaned slightly forward, and extended a -daintily gloved hand. As Dave advanced and lifted his cap she spoke to -him in a low, tremulous tone. - -“I wish to speak to you for a few moments, Mr. Dashaway,” she said. “In -private,” she added, with a glance at the several persons in view. - -“Certainly,” responded Dave readily, but in some wonderment. “There is -our office, miss. May I assist you?” - -The little lady uttered a fluttering sigh as our hero helped her from -the machine and led the way to the living tent. Hiram had just lighted a -lamp. Both he and Elmer regarded their friend’s companion in some -surprise. They were too well bred, however, to stare at the newcomer, -who seemed timid and uncertain. The boys moved quietly from the tent, -Dave set a stool for his visitor and seated himself at a little -distance, awaiting her pleasure. - -“You must not think it strange that I have come to you, Mr. Dashaway,” -she said. “I—that is, I was directed to you by a very close friend, who -knows you well.” - -“Ah, indeed?” spoke the young airman. - -“Yes, I bring you a letter from a friend of my dear father, who is as -well a close friend of your own—Mr. Robert King.” - -“I am pleased and interested at once, Miss,” said Dave, trying to set -the young lady at her ease under such strange surroundings. “Mr. King -is, indeed, a close friend, and his friends are very welcome.” - -“You are most kind,” said the visitor, nervously searching for the -letter in question, and in her confusion lifting her veil. From her face -Dave saw that she was about his own age. There was an anxious look in -her eyes. She finally found the letter, and handed it to the young -airman with the explanation: - -“We went to Mr. King where he is sick at his home in New York City.” - -“Yes, I know,” said Dave. “He wrote me only last week.” - -“I am Edna Deane,” proceeded the young lady. “My father is himself -something of an invalid and could not come with me to-day. We went to -Mr. King to ask his help in a case where he only, or somebody like him, -could be of any assistance.” - -“You mean in the aviation way?” inquired Dave, getting interested. - -“Yes, Mr. Dashaway,” replied the young girl. “I want my father to -explain to you about it. He has written our address on the -envelope—Hampton Flats. He wishes to have you make an appointment to -meet him, if you will be so kind.” - -“I certainly shall be glad to be of service to any friends of the -gentleman who taught me all I know about sky sailing,” began Dave, and -then he added very heartily: “Surely I will come, Miss Deane. To-morrow -morning, if you wish. Shall we say at ten o’clock? I have some few -things to attend to that will take up my time until then.” - -“My father will be very glad,” murmured the girl, gratefully. - -A glance at the letter from the veteran aviator, Mr. King, had at once -influenced Dave. The old airman wrote briefly, but to the point. He -stated, that were he in shape to do so, he would at once assist Mr. -Deane. He asked his former assistant to act in his place, could he at -all arrange to do so. Mr. King hinted that there was an opportunity for -a great humane act. He said he was sure that when Dave knew its details, -his generous heart would respond to an unusual appeal for help in a -strangely pathetic case. - -Meantime Hiram and Elmer had strolled to a distance. They passed Mr. -Brackett, who was seeing to it that the hangar men safely housed his pet -biplane for the night. Hiram looked curiously at his companion. - -“Well,” he observed, “sort of mysterious, Elmer; eh?” - -“You mean that young lady?” - -“I do. Automobile—mysterious veiled visitor,” said Hiram with a smile. - -“Maybe it’s another of those venturesome college girls wanting to make a -flight for the name of it. Dave will tell us when he sees us. No -nonsense about him. He’s too busy for romance.” - -“That’s so. There she goes, Elmer,” announced Hiram. - -The boys made out Dave, cap in hand, walking beside the automobile as it -started up slowly, and conversing with its occupant. Then, curious and -eager to learn the merits of the interesting episode, they proceeded -towards the living tent, approaching it by a roundabout route so as not -to look as if they were “snooping around,” as Hiram put it. - -Just as they neared it, Elmer grasped the arm of his companion, bringing -him to a halt with a startling: “S—st!” - -“What is it?” demanded Hiram, staring ahead in the direction in which -the glance of his companion was fixed. - -“Look for yourself,” whispered back Elmer, pointing to a crouching -figure just behind the tent. “See—a man, a lurker, a spy! Who do you -suppose he is; and what is he up to?” - - - - - CHAPTER V - - SOMETHING WRONG - - -The boys stood perfectly still. The crouching man had not heard them -coming nor did he see them now. He half rested on one elbow and one -knee, close up to the end of the tent. It looked as if he had been -posted there for some time, as if peering into the tent through some -break in the canvas and listening to what had been spoken inside. - -Just now he was guardedly looking past the corner of the tent and -following Dave and the automobile with his eyes. It was fast getting -dark, but the glint of the headlight of the auto as it turned towards -the entrance to the grounds swept over him, and Elmer gave a great -start. - -“Why,” he spoke suddenly, “Hiram, it’s that man—Vernon!” - -“You don’t say so,” returned Hiram. “Are you sure of it?” - -“Yes, I am,” declared Elmer, in a disturbed way. “He is after me again, -and may make all kinds of new trouble for us.” - -“He won’t,” asserted Hiram, with a quick snap of his lips, and the old -farmer-boy fight and determination in his face. “Get ready to help me.” - -“What are you going to do?” inquired Elmer, as his companion began to -roll up his coat cuffs. - -“I’m going to nail that fellow, good and sure,” pronounced Hiram. “Maybe -your father would like to see him. Now then!” - -Hiram made a spring. He landed on the shoulders of the crouching figure, -Elmer close at his heels. The unsuspecting spy went flat, the nimble -Hiram astride of him. - -“What are you up to, and who are you?” demanded Hiram. “You needn’t -tell,” he added swiftly, as his prisoner squirmed about and his face -came into view. “You’re that mean rascal Vernon, and we’re going to know -what you are plotting this time before we let you go. Grab him, Elmer.” - -Each seized an arm of the squirming captive. Hiram arose to his feet -without letting Vernon go, although the latter struggled fiercely. He -managed to break the grasp of Elmer, but Hiram held on to him—would have -held on to him if he had dragged him all over the field. - -“What’s this?” cried Mr. Brackett, attracted to the spot by the noise of -the struggle. Then he recognized Vernon. “Ah, it’s you is it?” he said, -bending his brows at the prisoner. “I have something to say to you,” and -he seized the man by his coat collar and assisted Hiram in dragging him -around to the front of the tent. - -“Oh, you have?” sneered Vernon, ceasing to struggle as he found his -efforts in that direction vain. “Well, you want to say it quick and -short.” - -“What are you doing around here?” demanded the aeroplane manufacturer, -sternly. - -“What do you suppose?” retorted the schemer boldly, thinking brag and -bluster only would serve him now. “I’m in the market with information, -and you had better buy it.” - -“You sit there,” ordered Mr. Brackett, forcing the miscreant upon a -stool with the gesture of disgust. Then he motioned to Hiram and Elmer -to guard the doorway and sat down facing the captive. “You have gone to -the last length, my man, in persecuting my son. There is not a vestige -of accusation against him that you can press legally.” - -“Oh, I think I can make you a little uneasy,” boasted the conscienceless -one. - -“We shall see. It is only a few days since my lawyer reported to me the -facts of an investigation into your career. I have a few questions to -ask you. After that, I fancy you will be glad to get away from us and -stay away in the future.” - -“Oh, is that so?” said Vernon, coldly. - -“My lawyer has placed certain documents and information in my hands,” -continued Mr. Brackett. “One of them,” and he reached into his pocket -and produced a photograph, “is a picture of a man who served a prison -term. Do you recognize it?” and the speaker held up the photograph full -in the lamp light. - -Vernon changed color. He quaked and wriggled about, but he was silent, -for it was his own portrait, in prison garb. - -“How far the word of a convict will go against that of my son, whom you -duped into signing notes he could not pay, and which I will never pay, -for no consideration was involved, I do not know,” proceeded the -aeroplane manufacturer. “I do know, however, that you dare not make -another move. This document,” and he showed a folded paper, “describes -you as the man who is wanted in Boston for forfeiting a bail bond. I -have only to send word to the authorities there of your whereabouts to -have you shut up for some time to come. Now go. If I so much as hear of -your hanging around this vicinity, I will telegraph to the people who -are searching for you.” - -Mr. Brackett pointed to the doorway. Vernon arose and like a whipped cur -slunk through it. An expression of relief crossed Elmer Brackett’s face. - -“I only hope we are rid of him for good,” he said, fervently. - -“There seems to be no doubt of that,” declared Hiram, with a satisfied -smile. “Say, though, I wonder why he was sneaking around the hangar -here?” - -“To pick up what information he could about our plans, to disturb them -if he could, I suppose,” said Elmer. - -Just then Dave appeared. His friends noticed that he was somewhat -thoughtful. No one alluded to the visit of the girl whom the young -aviator had just escorted to the automobile. Dave did not seem to have -any explanations to make. The others told him about the discovery of -Vernon and his summary disappearance. Then the incident was dismissed -from their minds as they all went over to the restaurant at the other -end of the big aviation grounds for supper. - -Dave told his young assistants that he had an engagement in the city the -next morning. There were some little purchases to make for the _Comet_, -and he took Hiram along with him. - -“I am going to call upon the friends of the young lady you saw last -evening, Hiram,” he confided to his friend. “They live at the Hampton -Flats,” and he gave Hiram the location. “If you like, after you get -through with your shopping you can call there for me. Then we can go -back to the park together.” - -“All right,” assented Hiram, “I shan’t be busy for more than an hour.” - -It was about eleven o’clock when Hiram started for the Hampton Flats. He -finally turned into the street where the building was located. As he -neared it, a man came hurriedly down its steps, passed down the street, -and disappeared from view around the corner. - -“Well, I’ll be bumped!” exclaimed Hiram, forcibly. - -He came to a dead stop, irresolute as to the course he ought to pursue. -Hiram had recognized the man as Vernon. He wondered how the rascal came -to be in the building where his airman friend was. - -“Why, he’s nagging Dave, that’s sure,” declared Hiram. “But why? It -won’t do any good to run after him. I must tell Dave about it, though, -and—there he is now.” - -The young aviator appeared at just that moment. He looked up and down -the street and then advanced towards Hiram as he made him out. The -latter fancied he had never seen Dave look so grave and thoughtful, but -our hero roused up into instant interest as Hiram said: - -“I saw Vernon come out of that building just before you did.” - -“What’s that!” challenged Dave. “Out of that building?” - -“Yes, he did, Dave. Now what do you suppose he was doing there?” - -The young airman did not reply. He walked along in silence. Hiram saw -that he was a good deal stirred up, but all Dave said about the incident -was: - -“I’m glad you discovered this, Hiram, and told me about it. We want to -look out for that fellow.” - -All that day, Hiram noticed that the pilot of the _Comet_ seemed to be -preoccupied. The hum and bustle of the approaching event, however, took -up the attention of all hands. They had a busy day of it, and Hiram was -so tired out by nightfall that he had well-nigh forgotten all about the -unexplained incident of the earlier hours of the day. - -Just after daylight the next morning Elmer stirred on his sleeping cot -and drowsily cried out: - -“What’s up? I thought I heard some one call for Dave.” - -“You did,” replied Hiram, jumping from under the bedclothes. “I just -roused up to see one of the hangar men scurrying out of here, and Dave, -half dressed, rushing after him. Hurry up, get your clothes on.” - -“What for?” inquired Elmer, sitting up in his cot and rubbing his eyes -sleepily. - -“Because I caught a remark the hangar man made.” - -“What was it?” - -“‘Something wrong with the _Comet_!’” - - - - - CHAPTER VI - - THE STOLEN BIPLANE - - -The alarming words spoken by Hiram were sufficient to at once bring -Elmer out of bed and onto his feet. Speedy as Elmer was, however, Hiram -was outside, shoeless and hatless, almost before his drowsy companion -had drawn on his sweater. - -“What’s the trouble?” panted Elmer, trailing after his companion a -minute later. - -His eyes grew big with wonder and suspense as he noticed Dave and the -hangar man running around to the rear of the portable biplane shelter. -In front he saw Hiram posed like a statue and staring hard. - -“The _Comet_ is gone!” announced Hiram. “Look there—gone!” - -He spoke in a tone of voice as if the whole world was slipping away from -them. Elmer, gaining his side, saw that the hangar was empty. - -“Oh, say!” he gasped, “you don’t mean to say——” - -“Stolen? Yes! That is sure,” came in Dave’s tones, and the young aviator -hurried around to the spot. - -“You see, whoever took it drew the steel frames and canvas out of the -whole back,” the hangar man was explaining. “The wheel marks yonder run -about twenty feet. Whoever did it knew his business. There was no wasted -fooling around—up and away was the programme.” - -Dave stood silent, thinking hard. Elmer came up to him, worried and -anxious. By this time Hiram had got full steam of excitement on. - -“See here, Dave,” he cried, “what is this—a trick, or something -serious?” - -“It’s pretty serious,” answered the young airman. “Whoever ran away with -the _Comet_ had a bad motive in view—I feel certain of that.” - -“You mean, to keep us from making the start in the race?” inquired -Elmer, anxiously. - -“Just that,” assented Dave, positively. “No ordinary thief would steal -the biplane, for he couldn’t sell it. Professionals do not meddle with -other people’s machines. I’ve got a lot of suspicions about this -mysterious piece of business, but there’s no time to lose in -theorizing.” - -“No, we must get on the track of the _Comet_ right away,” declared -Hiram, adding, “but how?” - -Dave gave a few rapid, undertoned directions to the hangar man. Then he -hurried back to the living tent, followed by his friends, and all -completed dressing. Then, Dave piloting the way, they made a brisk run -for the office building of the club in control of the meet. - -The young airman was lucky in running across the manager, a man who knew -his business thoroughly. Inside of an hour, with his perfect knowledge -of details, he had telegraphed every aviator and practice station in the -East to be on the watch for the stolen machine. Dave was leaving the -office building when they met Mr. Brackett. - -“Oh, father!” exclaimed his son, in distress, “the _Comet_ has been -stolen!” - -The aeroplane manufacturer was stunned by the announcement. Dave -motioned him instantly to one side. Hiram’s heart took hope as he noted -the business-like look on Dave’s face. - -“He’s got some plan worked out already,” announced Hiram to Elmer. “Dave -isn’t telling us all he has guessed out.” - -Whatever information the young airman was imparting to Mr. Brackett, the -latter seemed greatly interested, and his troubled face cleared somewhat -as Dave proceeded. Soon the manufacturer hurried away. Dave consulted -his watch and came briskly up to his young fellow aviators. - -“There’s just time to get our breakfast,” he announced. - -The boys had about completed the meal, when an automobile drove up in -front of the restaurant and the aeroplane manufacturer got out. Dave -hurried to his side. There was a brief consultation, and our hero -beckoned to his friends. - -“You had better come with me, Hiram,” said the young aviator; “I shall -need you. If you will keep track of things around the hangar, Elmer, it -will help out.” - -Dave waved his hand to the manufacturer and his son, and told Hiram to -jump into the seat beside him. They made a quick spin for the office of -the manager. The young airman came out with several telegrams in his -hand. He read these over carefully while his companion was cranking the -machine. Then he thrust them into his pocket and took charge of the -wheel. - -“Say,” began Hiram, as they left the aero grounds and started down a -lonely country road; “tell me are you going on a hunt for the _Comet_?” - -“Yes,” replied the young airman. “I don’t know that there is much chance -of running down the people who stole the biplane, but they can’t sail -far without being reported.” - -“What is their object in stealing it, anyhow?” asked Hiram. - -“If you want my honest opinion, I think they are trying to keep us out -of the race,” replied Dave. - -“Oh!” exclaimed his companion, “then you think it’s professionals who -are at the bottom of this mischief?” - -“It was certainly an expert airman who piloted the _Comet_ away so -snugly,” declared Dave. “I believe, though, that he was hired by -others.” - -“Why, Dave, what do you mean?” inquired the puzzled Hiram. - -“I can’t explain everything to you just now,” replied Dave. “I am not -trying to throw any air of mystery about this strange disappearance of -the _Comet_, but you remember telling me about seeing that schemer, -Vernon, come out of the Hampton Flats in the city?” - -“Why, yes,” assented Hiram, with a start of enlightenment. - -“Well, I have reason to believe that he is mixed up with this affair.” - -“You don’t say so! Bound to bother the Bracketts to the last limit, is -he?” - -“No, I believe his motives lead in an entirely different direction this -time,” replied Dave, but he would say no more on the topic just then. He -resumed: “Of course, we must find the _Comet_ by this time to-morrow, or -start in the race with another machine.” - -“Oh, then we’ll go anyway?” asked Hiram, brightening up. “Say, that’s -great!” and he uttered an immense sigh of relief. - -“Mr. Brackett has telegraphed for the _Zephyr_, which is at Baltimore,” -explained Dave. “It will be on the grounds before night.” - -“Have you any clue as to what has become of the _Comet_?” asked Hiram. - -“I have a very strong theory,” replied the young aviator. “Whoever made -away with the _Comet_ did not venture to fly north—too many machines -were on their way to the meet, and they would be seen. The manager wired -in every direction. An unknown airship was sighted twice, early this -morning, both times about fifty miles from Washington, going southwest -and making for the mountain districts.” - -“What do you guess from that, Dave?” inquired Hiram, eagerly. - -“I think they are trying to hide or lose the _Comet_ until it is too -late to start in the race. Of course, hopeless as it may seem, we must -try and recover the machine.” - -“Yes, the _Zephyr_ cannot begin to compare with our special machine,” -said Hiram. - -“Besides that,” added Dave, “I hope to find out who ran away with the -biplane. If Vernon is indeed back of it, that discovery would throw a -good deal of light on a certain subject in which I am greatly interested -at the present time.” - -Hiram was prudently silent. He wondered to himself, however, if the -subject at which his companion hinted had anything to do with the young -lady in the automobile and Dave’s visit to the Hampton Flats. - -It was about eleven o’clock when the young airman stopped at a town -named Wayne. He made a second stop at a little settlement ten miles -beyond. The automobile had now gotten well in among the hills, and the -scenery had grown wilder and wilder. - -“Some airship passed over here just before daylight this morning,” Dave -finally reported to Hiram. - -“Do you know the direction it went in?” asked the latter. - -“Yes. We will keep on and make Tarryford. If we get no information -there, I guess we will have to give up the hunt.” - -It was shortly after noon when they passed an old farmhouse. As they -whizzed by, Hiram remarked some sheds in ruins, and smoking yet as if -recently consumed by fire. He called the attention of his comrade to the -fact. They sped on. Less than half a mile accomplished, they saw ahead a -steep, high hill. By the side of the road, seated on a level rock, was a -man holding a rifle between his knees. - -Something about the grim, watchful manner of the farmer attracted the -curious attention of both of the boys. Dave brought the machine to a -halt at the side of the road. - -“Say, my man,” he called out, pleasantly, “have you seen or heard of an -airship anywhere around here this morning?” - -It was quite startling the way the farmer came to his feet. His eyes -flashed and he handled his weapon in a menacing way. - -“Have I?” he cried, fiercely. “I reckon so, and I’m ready to riddle the -troublesome old contraption the minute she shows herself again!” - - - - - CHAPTER VII - - FOUND - - -“We’re going to find out something sure,” declared Hiram. “Say, Dave, -that man knows something about our machine.” - -The young airman leaped from the auto and approached the farmer. The -latter stood viewing the newcomers in a surly, suspicious way. - -“You say you have seen an airship,” observed Dave. “Where? when?” - -The farmer eyed our hero and his companion shrewdly. - -“What do you want to know for?” he questioned. - -“Well,” answered Dave, bluntly, “someone stole a biplane from the aero -field, near Washington, last night, and we are looking for it.” - -“Oh, you are?” muttered the man. “Belongs to you, maybe?” - -“To a company which we represent.” - -“Responsible for damages?” insinuated the farmer, with a shrewd glint in -his calculating eyes. - -“Is there some damage to account for?” inquired Dave. - -“I reckon,” pronounced the man seriously. “Did you happen to notice the -last farm down the road?” - -“We saw it, mister,” nodded Hiram, impatient to hurry up the man with -his disclosures. - -“I suppose you saw them smoking ruins. Them was a shed, a pigsty and a -stack of hay. I don’t reckon fifty dollars would replace them.” - -“What has an airship to do with them?” inquired Hiram. - -“Everything. See here, just at daylight this morning I came to the back -door. I heard a whir and a ping overhead, and I saw an airship going -licketty-switch. Just as it passed over the house, some one in it must -have thrown a lighted cigar overboard. I didn’t see it fall, but after I -had gone into the house and finished dressing and came out again, I saw -the airship dropping into the basin on top of Pike Hill up yonder. Then -I smelled smoke. I ran around towards the sheds. The stack was blazing. -I know it was a cigar that started it, for I found one on the ground -where the fire started, and we smoke nothing but corncob pipes around -these diggings.” - -“And you say the airship landed on top of Pike Hill, as you call it?” -inquired Dave. “How do you know that?” - -“Say, get up on this rock with me. That’s it. Now then, take a squint -past the spur of rock way up near the crest of the hill. See it?” - -“Hello!” instantly exclaimed Hiram, in a state of great excitement. - -“Why, sure as you live it’s the end of a wing,” declared Dave. “Have you -seen anything of the persons running it, mister?” - -“No, I haven’t. The way I figure it out is that they ran out of steam. -Mebbe they thought no one saw them when they flew over the farm. Mebbe -they’re hiding. Mebbe, when they saw me start on guard down here with my -rifle, after we’d tried to put the fire out, they were afraid to budge.” - -“It is very likely they alighted on account of the lack of gasoline,” -Dave said to Hiram. “We didn’t leave much in the tanks last night.” - -“That’s so,” assented Hiram. “What are you going to do?” - -The young aviator reflected for a moment. Then he turned to the man -again. - -“See here, mister,” he said, “I must find out the condition of that -biplane up there. It may not be ours. If it is, I promise you one -thing.” - -“And what’s that?” demanded the farmer. - -“Your bill will be paid, and as much more on top of it for directing us -to the machine. Is the ascent of the hill hard?” - -“A stranger might find it so,” replied the man. “Very few ever go there, -and there’s no regular path to the top. If you’ll wait till some -neighbors I’ve sent for to help rout out those fellows up there come, -we’ll make an attack on them.” - -“I don’t think you will find anybody up there,” said Dave. “No, I -don’t,” he reiterated, as Hiram regarded him inquiringly. “I reason it -out just as I said at the first, that whoever stole the _Comet_ planned -to hide it where we couldn’t find it. That is a capital place up there -to fit into their scheme. I’ll tell you, mister, you stay down here if -you want to, and we will go up and see what we can find out.” - -“I don’t know about that,” demurred the farmer, suspiciously. - -“Why not?” inquired Dave. - -“How do I know but what you belong to the crowd and have been telling me -a fool story all along? Easiest thing in the world for you to start up -in the airship and leave me to whistle for my damages.” - -“What, with the automobile here for security?” asked Dave, with a laugh. - -“That’s so,” remarked the farmer, thoughtfully. “All right, go ahead. -You’ll find it no easy job, though. I can tell you another thing—if I -see that airship rising, I’ll plug it.” - -“We will report to you before we go away,” promised the young aviator. -“Come on, Hiram.” - -The farmer had not misstated the ascent of Pike Hill. Country bred as he -was, Hiram grumbled heartily at the brambles, and Dave got tangled -several times in a network of hampering vines. - -“Whew! the last climb,” announced Hiram, finally, as they gained a -topmost ridge of rocks. - -“No one here,” cried the young airman. “See, Hiram, they have let the -_Comet_ sink down into this natural basin here, thinking it was a safe -hiding place.” - -“It would have been a famous one if that old farmer hadn’t caught sight -of the machine,” said Hiram. “No one would ever think of looking for an -airship in this out of the way place.” - -The _Comet_ lay slightly tipped to one side, unharmed. Dave examined the -machine casually. - -“Everything is all right,” he reported to his companion. “I was correct -about the gasoline. There isn’t enough juice left to run the machine a -mile.” - -“But where are the people who stole it?” asked Hiram. - -“Went down the other side of the hill, I suppose. They had accomplished -what they were hired to do. Now then, Hiram, this is a great piece of -good luck.” - -“I should say so,” enthused Hiram. - -“You go back down the hill—it will be easier than climbing up.” - -“I should hope so,” grimaced Hiram, rubbing his bruised knees. - -“Tell the man down there about the situation, and that I am going to fly -the machine over onto his farm and fix things up with him.” - -Dave waited till his handy assistant had reached the bottom of the hill. -In a few moments, on the watch for some signal from below, he noticed -Hiram conversing with the farmer. There were apparent explanations and -discussions. Then Hiram waved his hand as had been agreed on with the -young aviator, and Dave knew that the coast was clear for a run with the -biplane. - - - - - CHAPTER VIII - - SOMETHING OF A MYSTERY - - -Our hero found the gasoline tanks pretty well emptied of oil. He -realized that the “juice” on hand would not admit of a long flight. -Satisfied, however, that there was sufficient fuel to fly the _Comet_ -out of its resting place and down to level ground, Dave got to the pilot -post and operated the self-starter. - -The biplane arose promptly to the occasion. A little deft guiding -cleared the hill. The machine and its occupant came safely and gently to -a new landing place in a field nearby. Hiram and the farmer hastened to -the spot as Dave alighted. - -“I call that purty cute,” announced the farmer, a good deal interested. -“Now then, stranger, what about them damages?” - -“Just what I said,” replied Dave. “You have done us a great service and -we appreciate it. There is your money.” - -“Say, you’re square and white,” declared the farmer, overjoyed at the -possession of so much cash. - -“We try to be,” answered Dave, pleasantly. “Just sign that receipt, will -you? The aeroplane company will pay for this, and I want my voucher all -straight and regular.” - -Dave wrote out a receipt on the back of a card and the man signed it. -Then the young aviator proceeded to the automobile. - -“Can’t I help you some?” inquired the farmer, accommodatingly. - -“If you will loan us a tin pail for a bit it will be of service to us,” -replied Dave. “There is plenty of spare gasoline in the auto tank, -Hiram,” he explained. - -It did not take the boys long to transfer enough of the gasoline to last -the _Comet_ for a home flight. Dave arranged to fly the machine and -directed Hiram to take charge of the automobile. - -It was about two o’clock in the afternoon when the adventurers reported -on the aero grounds. Mr. Brackett was delighted at their success and -Elmer was fairly overjoyed. No damage whatever had been done to the -biplane, it was found, after a careful inspection of the machine. - -“I say, Dave,” spoke Hiram, as he and his chief sat eating a fine dinner -sent by Mr. Brackett from the restaurant; “there’s a good deal about -this business that puzzles me.” - -“I suppose that is true,” responded the young aviator, with a slight -smile. “What principally is troubling you, Hiram?” - -“Why, the whole proceeding. If somebody wanted to put us out of -business, why didn’t they sink the airship somewhere or burn it up?” - -“I think they counted on the _Comet_ remaining undiscovered until long -after the other entries had started,” said Dave. - -“Spite, then?” suggested Hiram. - -“No, I don’t think that.” - -“Then if that Vernon had anything to do with it——” - -“I am satisfied that he did,” declared Dave. “His object was not to keep -Elmer from getting out of the country, though.” - -“Why, what else could it be?” questioned Hiram in wonderment. - -“I shall tell you later, Hiram,” replied Dave in quite a serious way. -“The fact is, there are some things about stealing the airship that I do -not entirely understand myself. When I have posted myself on those -details, I fancy I shall have a decidedly interesting story to tell you -and Elmer.” - -“Say, can I ask you one question?” propounded Hiram, and then, as Dave -nodded in assent, he added: “Has that girl, and your visit to the city -and the appearance of Vernon at the Hampton Flats got anything to do -with it?” - -“Everything, in my opinion,” answered the young airman, gravely. - -“Humph!” commented Hiram. “A romance and a mystery, eh?” - -“Hardly, Hiram,” responded Dave gravely. “It is business, pure and -simple. I will say this much to you at the present time: whatever -dealings I am having with Mr. Deane, the father of the girl you saw, may -involve all the skill and nerve the crew of the _Comet_ have at their -command.” - -The young airman had given his interested assistant a good deal to think -over. Hiram, however, and in fact everybody about the place, were soon -immersed in things strictly professional. At noon the following day the -race around the world was to start. There were not a large number of -entries, but every individual contestant had his own pet machine and his -coterie of friends and admirers. - -The field was a lively scene all day. The various machines made trial -flights. Then there was the packing of supplies, which necessarily had -to be of limited volume. All of the contestants in turn visited the -office of the Aero Association to receive definite route instructions. -There was a good deal of red tape to go through, credentials to secure, -and arrangements made for reporting progress to headquarters from set -points along the route. - -The young aviator and his assistants spent nearly an hour over a blue -print map which had been furnished each of the contestants by the -management of the event. Hiram got out a geography and studied out the -situation in a more detailed way. Elmer, at the suggestions of Dave, -made two copies of the list of points from which the _Comet_ was to -report progress. - -The boys were interrupted in this congenial work by the appearance of -one of the hangar men at the door of the living tent. He beckoned to -Dave, who at once went outside, received some message, and called back -to his friends: - -“I’ve got to go to the city, fellows. Won’t be over two hours. Keep a -close watch on everything until I get back.” - -“Wonder what’s up now?” remarked Hiram, speculatively. Then he went to -the door and looked out. “H’m,” he observed, “Dave has a good deal of -mysterious business on hand, it seems to me.” - -“Where has he gone?” asked Elmer only casually, for he was deeply -absorbed in his work. - -“To the city he said, and say, in that same automobile that brought the -young lady here day before yesterday.” - -“Well, it must be something important to take Dave away from here at -just this time,” commented Elmer. - -The young aviator reappeared about two hours later. The chauffeur who -had come for him brought him back. Dave came into the living tent all -briskness and cheery as usual. The watchful Hiram, however, whispered -cautiously to Elmer that “he acted as if he had something heavy on his -mind.” - -The boys made frequent visits to the _Comet_ during the evening. Hiram -noticed that Dave seemed very solicitous that a double watch should be -kept over the machine during the night. He hired two extra men to spell -the regular watchmen, and gave them close directions as to their care of -the biplane. - -A band of music woke up the three young airmen early in the morning. It -announced a reception to some French experts who had arrived to take -part in the international flights. Dave was out of bed first, as usual, -and bolted out of the place, anxious to see if all was well with the -_Comet_. - -Hiram and Elmer began to dress. They felt buoyant and eager for the work -of the day. In sport, as Elmer finished dressing first, he made a grab -for the pillow on the cot Dave had occupied and sent it hurtling at the -head of his companion. - -“That’s the last pillow you’ll see for a long time to come,” he -announced. “Hello! Why, Hiram, look here!” - -The speaker stood stock still, gazing spellbound at the head of the cot -whence he had taken the pillow. Hiram, joining him, looked down like -himself in sheer, startled wonder. - - - - - CHAPTER IX - - THE PATH OF THE EAGLE - - -“Well, I declare!” almost shouted Hiram Dobbs. - -“I should say so,” vociferated Elmer. “You see, Dave in his hurry forgot -that package under his pillow. There’s a photograph——” - -“Of the girl who came in the automobile! What is it Dave calls her? Oh, -yes—Edna Deane.” - -“And that pile of bank bills, Hiram!” cried the astounded Elmer, as he -gingerly flicked over the edge of a heap of bills surrounded by an -elastic band. “Big bills! See, look! Why, there must be hundreds there!” - -“Hundreds?” repeated Hiram, equally dumbfounded, like his comrade. “See -the printed figures on that paper band—‘$5,000.’ Don’t touch them, cover -them up. It’s Dave’s business, and we have no right to spy into his -affairs. All the same—thunder!” - -Elmer replaced the pillow. Then both boys sat down on stools and stared -at the cot and then at each other. - -“It’s a mystery,” broke out Elmer, after a tantalizing spell of silence. -“What’s Dave doing with all that money? It puzzles me.” - -“No, it’s what is he going to do with it,” corrected Hiram. “You can -make up your mind, it’s business. The girl’s picture I can’t exactly -figure out. Dave will explain it all when the right minute comes. Here -he is now.” - -Somewhat flushed, the young aviator came hurrying into the tent. Hiram -pretended to be arranging his necktie and Elmer was lacing a shoe. Dave -proceeded to the bed and threw aside the pillow. He stored the package -he found there in an inside pocket. - -“You want to hurry, fellows,” he said. “There’s a lot to do this -morning, you know.” - -There was so much to do, that after a hurried breakfast the crew of the -_Comet_ found every minute occupied for the ensuing two hours. The -_Comet_ was in perfect trim for the start. There were a hundred little -things to think of in the way of supplies and duplicate parts of -machinery. Mr. Brackett appeared on the scene early, and went over the -biplane he understood so well with the care and anxiety of an automobile -owner entering his pet car for a race. - -All the time bands were playing, banners flying, and a vast concourse of -people had gathered. There was a speech from the president of the -National Aero Association, with the contestants to the fore. The young -airman and his friends went down the line, looking over the various -machines that were to take part in the event. Each one bore a numeral, -and had some distinctive mark that gave it a clear identity. - -“We are number three,” said Hiram. “That was always my lucky number. I -went to school three years, got licked three times before I left and -worked three years on the farm. This is the third big event I’ve had -anything to do with, there are three of us——” - -“Three cheers for number three!” cried Elmer. “There’s father beckoning -to me. No, he wants us all, fellows.” - -Our hero and the aero manufacturer had talked over all business details -earlier in the morning. The kind-hearted Mr. Brackett, however, could -not see his proteges start out on a long and perilous flight without a -few words of fatherly counsel. He gave them some sensible advice, and -Dave fancied he looked with considerable pride at Elmer. It was with -satisfaction that the indulgent father compared the present courageous -ambitions of his son with the useless life the prodigal had once led. - -A bell was rung at the grandstand. This was the half-hour preparation -signal. The airmen now proceeded to their machines. The scene became one -of lively activity and gay colors. The _Comet_, neat, compact and -perfect, showed up for the beautiful piece of mechanism it was in the -clear, dazzling sunlight. Its crew, nattily attired, seemed to fit into -a pleasing natural picture. - -There was no expectation of a general uniform start when the second bell -rang. With the long perilous journey before them, it was a matter of -small consequence starting on the moment. Some of the aeroplanes, in -fact, would not be in line for some hours to come. Ever ready at the -business call, however; always on time as a matter of principle, the -young pilot of the _Comet_ wasted no time. Number three was the first to -leave the field, and got all the first overflow of cheers and -enthusiasm. Until a course due northwest was attained, Elmer and Hiram -sat waving to the little group outside of their abandoned hangar. Mr. -Brackett kept them in sight until the _Comet_ was a fading blur, a mere -speck in the far distance. The splendid machine struck its best gait -staunchly, steadily, leaving a gasoline trail behind. - -The boys had talked so much over the trip—they understood the _Comet_ so -well, that everything went like clockwork. Elmer had charge of the maps -and charts. Hiram insisted on being purser extraordinary. All hands were -prepared for any emergency that might arise. - -The Aero Association had mapped out the general route the contestants -were to pursue. None was tied to rigid rules, however, outside of -reporting at certain stations. All this had been arranged by letter and -cable. The first reporting stop was to be made at Chicago, the next at -Winnipeg. Between all reporting points, the contestants could follow -their own route. They could land when they chose. Each one, however, -must report at the stations designated and secure the credentials -necessary to prove that he was still in the race. - -The route chart showed towns and cities where an aero club or interested -airman could be located. These would also answer as repair and supply -stations. Even in foreign countries, so far as could be arranged, the -contestants would be able to locate friends and receive succor or -assistance as needed. - -“We are going to blaze a great international trail,” observed Hiram, -proudly. - -“That is, if we get through all right,” remarked Elmer. - -“Oh, we’ve got to do that,” proclaimed his light and airy comrade. “The -_Comet_ was made to do it. I wonder how many of the others will even -reach Canada?” - -“There were twelve entries,” spoke their pilot. “I will say, a finer lot -of machines never started a flight. Of course they won’t all get -through.” - -“It will be kind of lonesome when we get pretty well scattered, and -trailing over some desert or water waste, way out of range of -civilization; eh, fellows?” suggested Elmer. - -The _Comet_ made a non-stop run of nearly two hundred miles. It was -mid-afternoon when they descended half-way across a high mountain range. -Dave went all over the machine and Elmer oiled and cleaned up the -bearings. Hiram gathered some scraps for a little fire, and they had hot -coffee, as well as ham broiled on long forks, and the rest of a really -good meal. - -Then there was a pleasant chat, some exercise, and they were all aboard -again and driving through a brief mountain rainstorm, coming into clear -weather beyond. - -Before dusk Hiram reported four competitors visible through his field -glass. Two of them came pretty near to the _Comet_, and one signalled -them. Then their routes deviated, and after a second landing the boys -got ready for a six-hour steady night run. - -About two o’clock in the morning they landed in a convenient field. The -register showed four hundred and ninety-two miles accomplished in a -little less than fourteen hours, almost straight flying. - -It was late in the afternoon of the day following that the _Comet_ came -to a stop on the aero grounds just outside of Chicago. From having been -there before and from their description chart, Dave was able to locate -the place readily. - -No meet was on at the time, but enthusiastic brother airmen were on hand -expecting an arrival. Amid cheers and warm hand clasps, the tired crew -of the _Comet_ were greeted royally. - -There was a blackboard outside the office building of the course. As -they neared it Hiram uttered a triumphant chuckle. Its surface was -unmarked until a man approached it, and chalked on its line the first -arrival from starting point. - -“_No. Three—the Comet._” - - - - - CHAPTER X - - A MIDNIGHT ALARM - - -“Why, hello, Hiram Dobbs!” - -The young sub-pilot of the _Comet_ turned quickly at the hail. It was -half an hour after the arrival at the Chicago aero grounds. Hiram felt -pretty important over the royal reception his comrades and himself had -received from the aviation officials. Never too proud to greet a friend -of humbler pretensions, however, he turned with his usual broad smile of -good nature. Then he shot out his hand heartily. - -A pale, thin lad, somewhat poorly dressed, had accosted him. Pleased and -eager, he clasped the hand Hiram extended. - -“Well,” exclaimed the latter, “if it isn’t Will Mason! How in the world -do you come to be here?” - -“You,” answered the lad promptly—“you’re to blame for my getting a -splendid outdoor job, fine pay and jolly good people to work for,” and -the speaker’s eyes twinkled. - -“Let’s see,” said Hiram, ruminating. “It was at Columbus I met you; -wasn’t it?” - -“Yes, too sick to keep drudging my life away in the poison air of the -zinc works,” nodded Will. “The doctor said I’d last a month longer, -maybe. But there was mother, and I had to stick at my post till you -kindly interested yourself in me.” - -“And Dave Dashaway did the rest by getting you placed with the Chicago -crowd; eh?” added Hiram. “It worked out? Good!” - -“It worked out because you started the machinery,” declared the grateful -Will. “Oh, it’s fine, Mr. Dobbs.” - -“Hey! what? Wow! O-oh, my!” and, forgetting all dignity, Hiram fell -against a hangar rope and almost roared. “‘Mister!’” he gasped. “First -time in my life I was called that. It will be ‘Professor’ next. Oh, but -I’m getting on in the world. I suppose it may come to ‘Sir Hiram Dobbs,’ -unless we fall down somewhere along the line. Then it will be back to -plain Hiram, or just ‘Hi.’ I’m Hiram to my friends, though, always; so -call me that and I’ll think you are really a friend.” - -Will Mason was bubbling over with delight at his vastly improved -condition and heartfelt gratitude towards the true friends who had -helped him attain it. He was full of the subject and Hiram had to listen -to the details. - -Will told how he had a position clear up to the end of the year and a -dozen prospects for the next season. - -“It’s only helping around the hangars for the present,” he explained; -“but Mr. King sent word that as soon as he gets well he will give me a -regular place among his assistants. I’ve been able to send quite a bit -of money to mother. This week there are some amateur airmen here who -want special care for their machines, and I’m making a heap of extras.” - -“Grand!” commended Hiram. “You’ll make it. You’re the kind that will.” - -“And I feel so much better in health,” added Will. “I’ve gained ten -pounds, and I feel just like a bird let out of its cage. That’s your -machine over yonder; isn’t it?” asked Will, indicating the _Comet_, -which was surrounded by interested investigating airmen. - -“That’s the winner of the international race around the world, yes,” -proclaimed Hiram grandly. - -“She looks it,” enthused Will. “I wanted to ask you about the biplane. -You’re going to stay here till morning, aren’t you?” - -“Yes, I guess that is the programme,” replied Hiram. - -“Then you want to house the machine. I heard that some one stole the -_Comet_. It was talked around here that some wanted to put the _Comet_ -out of the race because of her good chances.” - -“Oh, is that so?” remarked Hiram. - -“So, if you want the machine well taken care of,” proceeded Will, “give -me the pleasure of doing it. You see that hangar over yonder—the one -built of light cement blocks? It’s a remodeled storehouse. Belongs to -Mr. Givins, a rich amateur. I take care of his machine when it’s here. -He took a run up to Milwaukee this morning, and won’t be back until -to-morrow, he said. There isn’t a safer, cleaner, more roomy place on -the grounds. You see the windows are barred and there is a great big -lock on the doors.” - -“Why, say, that’s just famous,” said Hiram. “Dave will be glad to know -of such good accommodations as you offer, Will.” - -“Besides,” continued the hangar lad, “I’ll sleep in the place all night. -Nobody will run away with the _Comet_ while I am on watch.” - -“I believe you,” cried Hiram buoyantly. “Come on, I want you to meet -Dave. He will be mighty glad to see you.” - -Number eight of the contestant group came in at dusk. Number eleven, a -high power machine, reported an hour later. A wire had come from -Pittsburgh announcing the smash—up of number five, nobody hurt, but -machine totally disabled and permanently out of commission. - -The young pilot of the _Comet_ had some very pleasant words for Will -Mason. The offer of the hangar lad to take charge of the _Comet_ for the -night was entirely satisfactory. The local airmen vied in showing -attention to their guests, and the eight hours stop was an enlivening -break in the long expedition before them. - -“What’s that you’ve got in that box, Hiram?” asked our hero, as they -left the association building. - -“Some of those fine dainties they set before us at that reception -lunch,” reported Hiram. “I tipped the waiter to put it up for me. For -Will Mason, you see.” - -“That’s good,” commended Dave, “Will is a fine-going fellow.” - -“Yes, and proud as can be to think you’ll trust him to keep any -stragglers away from the _Comet_.” - -The boys decided to look in on the machine before returning. A knock at -the door of the hangar brought a sharp mandatory challenge from the -vigilant guardian inside. - -“Who is there?” demanded Will, approaching the portal. - -“Midnight lunch for the watchman!” cried Hiram, in a jolly tone. - -“Enter midnight lunch,” ordered Will, unlocking and swinging open the -door. - -“You are pretty fine and cozy here,” remarked Dave. - -A lantern burned on a shelf. Will had made a comfortable bed on a tilted -board. He smacked his lips as Hiram disclosed the contents of the box. - -“Why, it is a regular banquet,” declared the pleased lad. “What with -that and my reading there’s no danger of my going to sleep.” - -Hiram picked up a book lying on the shelf and read its title. - -“H’m,” he remarked, “‘Advanced Aeronautics—1850.’ Say, this must seem -queer along with the flying machines of to-day.” - -“It’s almost funny in places,” explained Will. “I wonder what those old -fellows with their big awkward gas bags would think of the nifty machine -here, and a trip around the world in it, easy as a Pullman sleeper.” - -“We don’t know that yet,” observed Dave. “There are probably some very -unusual experiences ahead of us.” - -“Oh, well, we’ll take it as it comes, a section at a time,” said Hiram. -“With Dave Dashaway at the helm, we simply can’t fail.” - -They were a sanguine, light-hearted group. The crew of the _Comet_ -chatted in a friendly way with Will for a few minutes. Then the trio -repaired to a little hotel just outside the grounds. The association had -made arrangements for them there. The young airman left word to be -called at daylight and the comrades were shown to a doubled-bedded room. - -“This is pretty fine,” observed Hiram, bunking in with Elmer and -stretching himself luxuriously. “There won’t be a lot more of it for -some time to come, so let’s see who can sleep soundest.” - -Our hero was certainly the expert aviator of the group. He did not carry -off the laurels in the slumber field, however. His comrades wrapped in -profound sleep, Dave awoke and with a shock. - -It must have been about three o’clock. It seemed to the young airman as -though a cannon had gone off near by. His ears still rang with the -echoes. Dave found the window frames of the room were still rattling. - -“Wonder what that was?” he mused. He glanced towards the windows, but -there was no glare of fire. Perfect stillness reigned outside. About to -leave the solution of the question until daybreak, our hero listened -intently as he heard someone in the next room spring from bed, cross the -room hurriedly and apparently pick up a telephone receiver. - -“Hello. This the hotel office?” fell upon Dave’s hearing. “All right. -Say, what was that just went off? Wait a minute? All right.” - -There was a brief lapse of silence. Then the bell in the next apartment -rang out sharply. A message seemed to come over the wire, the young -airman could catch its crackling echoes. - -“What’s that!” exclaimed the man at the ’phone. “Explosion at the aero -grounds? Is that so? Hangar and machine blown to pieces! What was it? -Oh, dynamite! Well! well!” - -With a start and a thrill the young aviator sprang out of bed. - - - - - CHAPTER XI - - IN PERIL - - -“Wake up, Hiram,” shouted our hero, seizing the arm of his sleeping -assistant, who, rolling against Elmer, jogged him into wakefulness also. - -“Ah, what did you say?” droned Hiram. “I was just dreaming that we were -on the last home stretch with the _Comet_ and——” - -“Hurry up and dress, fellows,” ordered the young airman, rapidly. - -“Why, it isn’t daylight yet,” remonstrated Elmer, with a drowsy stare. - -“No,” answered Dave, seriously. “But there is some trouble over on the -aero grounds, and we may be interested.” - -“Say,” cried Hiram, fully aroused at the announcement, “you don’t mean -trouble for the _Comet_?” - -“I don’t know,” replied Dave. “There was an explosion. The man in the -next room heard it, too. He called up the hotel clerk, and he told him -that a hangar and its machine had been blown to pieces. Take everything -with you, fellows,” advised the young airman. “We won’t come back here, -even if this affair doesn’t affect us.” - -“Do you think it does?” inquired Elmer anxiously. “How could there be an -explosion of an airship? Yes, I’m ready.” - -The boys hurried down the stairs. Dave, in the lead, found two men who -had machines on the aero grounds. They, too, had been aroused and were -questioning the clerk. - -“All I got over the ’phone from the office on the grounds was what I -told you,” the clerk was saying—“building and machine blown to pieces.” - -“Let’s hurry,” said Hiram anxiously, as they reached the street. The two -men from the hotel ran along with them. They overtook others, aroused by -the explosion, and discussing it and trying to figure out what it might -mean. - -The guard at the gate of the grounds knew no more than what the boys had -already learned. He said, however, that several from the office building -had gone to the scene of the trouble. Half way across the field, a -hangar man running to the office building with information, met them. - -“What’s the trouble?” inquired one of the hurrying group. - -“One of the hangars blown up—dynamite, I guess,” was the reply. - -“Accident?” - -“No, looks more like malicious spitework. The superintendent and his men -are trying to find out.” - -Our hero and his comrades could see lanterns moving about over at the -row of hangars where the _Comet_ was housed. Another man from the scene -was halted by them, and Dave asked quickly: - -“Which one of the hangars was blown up?” - -“The concrete one—the one the _Comet_ was in.” - -Hiram uttered a groan. Dave grew pale with anxiety and distress. Elmer -grasped hold of his arm as if the blow had made him reel. - -“Dave,” spoke Hiram, in a trembling tone, “they stole our machine back -at Washington. They’ve destroyed it, now!” - -The young airman did not reply. His lips tightly compressed to hide his -emotion, he hurried on. Then they all came to a stop. In dismay they -stood staring at a mass of ruins—what was left of the wrecked hangar. - -Pieces of concrete blocks littered the ground in all directions. Parts -of an airship mechanism showed in the glare of the lanterns. The young -aviator felt sick all over. He had known all along what there was to -fear. His mind was quickly decided as to the motive and source of the -vandal act. - -“Dave,” suddenly whispered Hiram, in a shaking tone, “the _Comet_ is -gone! That may not matter, for we might get another machine, but—what -about Will Mason?” - -Dave thrilled at the question. He steadied himself as he best could, and -touched the superintendent of the grounds, who was standing nearby, on -the arm. - -“There was somebody in the hangar,” he said. - -“We suppose so,” replied the official, gravely. “Young Mason slept there -nights and——” - -“I’m all right,” interrupted an excited but clear voice, and the person -under discussion came into view pulling on his sweater. “Just woke up, -and they told me about this.” - -“Will! Will!” spoke Dave, grasping the hand of the hangar lad fervently. -Elmer was crying for joy. Hiram threw an arm about the young fellow and -fairly hugged him. - -“Oh, nothing matters so long as you wasn’t blown to pieces along with -the machine,” almost sobbed the loyal Hiram. “How was it—how did you get -out?” - -“I wasn’t in,” replied Will. “When I moved the _Comet_ out——” - -“When you what?” shouted Hiram, in a frenzy of suspense. - -“Why, I guess you’re thinking your machine was blown up,” said Will. - -“Of course we do,” answered Elmer. - -“Well, the _Comet_ is all snug and safe in that fourth hangar down the -row. The man who owns the wrecked hangar came in with his machine -shortly after midnight. He routed me up, and I got the _Comet_ out and -his biplane in. I promised you I would keep an all-night watch over your -biplane, and stayed with it.” - -“Oh, Dave, I’m so glad!” cried Hiram, in a tone of immense relief. - -The young pilot of the _Comet_ left the group and drew the -superintendent to one side. - -“This is a pretty mysterious happening,” that official had just -remarked. - -“I may be able to throw some light upon it,” said Dave, in a very -serious way. “I feel certain that the explosion was intended to destroy -the _Comet_.” - -“Is that so!” exclaimed the superintendent. “Then it was done by -design?” - -“Yes,” affirmed Dave, positively. “I think the Association people should -know about it. Perhaps some search can be made for the persons who did -the work. You know, the _Comet_ was stolen from the grounds near -Washington.” - -“It seems to me I did hear something about that,” replied the official. - -“We did not say much about it at the time,” went on Dave; “but I had my -suspicions.” - -“What were they?” - -“Someone was very much interested in keeping us out of the race,” -explained the young airman. - -“You mean professional rivals?” - -“I won’t say that positively,” responded Dave, “although expert airmen -certainly shared in the Washington end of the plot. I cannot doubt that -instructions were sent to confederates here at Chicago to catch the -_Comet_ and finish the work.” - -“You can’t name any one in this outrage; can you, Dashaway?” inquired -the superintendent, roused up to a high pitch of excitement and -indignation. - -“I have a suspicion as to the person at the bottom of the scheme,” -answered Dave. “I have a further idea as to the men who are carrying out -instructions, but I have no positive proof as to their guilt. Neither of -them is probably here. No, they must have wired accomplices at this -point. All I can say is, that hired emissaries in a big plot to keep us -out of this race are probably posted and instructed all along the line, -determined to carry out their plan to prevent our making the -world-circling flight.” - -“I must report this to the officers of the association at once, -Dashaway,” said the superintendent. - -Hiram had sidled up to Dave. He seized the arm of the latter in a -detaining grip as he was about to move nearer to the ruins of the -hangar. - -“See here, Dave Dashaway,” he said, earnestly, “there’s a lot you are -keeping to yourself, and I’ve a right to know what it is.” - -“I think so, too,” replied the young airman at once. “I saw no good -accomplished by worrying you with that I only guessed, until this -explosion occurred. Now I feel it a duty to share my knowledge with you -and Elmer, just as you are sharing the risk and danger of this journey. -As soon as we get started again, I will have an interesting story to -tell you.” - -“All right, Dave,” agreed Hiram, “only I’m terribly anxious and curious. -Can I ask you just one question?” - -“Yes, if you choose,” replied Dave. - -“Is the man behind all this trouble the fellow I have all along -guessed—that fellow, Vernon?” - -“You needn’t guess it,” answered Dave. “You have hit it just right. It -is Vernon.” - - - - - CHAPTER XII - - THE SECRET TOLD - - -“Now then, Dave, we are all ready to hear that promised story of yours,” -said Hiram Dobbs. - -“Yes,” added Elmer Brackett, “there’s no danger of any spies or -eavesdroppers in this lonely place.” - -It was a lonely place, indeed. Half a week in time and over a thousand -miles in distance removed from the Chicago aero grounds, the three young -airmen were taking a rest in the midst of a far-spreading Canadian -forest. - -Right at the spot where they were camping was a knob, or hill. At its -bottom, a level stretch of some extent, there spread about a vast, wild -swamp. This afforded a good anchor spot for the biplane. The _Comet_ -rested on its base somewhat travel-stained, but staunch and reliable as -at the start. The crew of the machine looked as if they had never felt -better in their lives. Wind, rain and sun had begun to brown them up -like gipsies. Energy showed in their clear, vigilant eyes, and -confidence and ambition in every movement they made. They had just -dispatched what Elmer had described as “a royal feast,” which sharp -appetites had fully enjoyed. Then, each of the trio outstretched on the -grass, they luxuriated in a restful position that a rigid posture in the -_Comet_ during a day of hard traveling had not allowed. - -“All right, fellows,” said the young airman, “I guess the time has come -when it is safe for you to know what you have called a great secret.” - -“Yes, out with it, Dave,” urged Hiram, “I’ve been dying with curiosity -ever since I got a hint that some big mystery was afoot.” - -“It is less of a mystery than an important piece of professional work,” -explained our hero. “I didn’t tell you about it at Washington, because I -was in doubt myself. When we escaped that explosion at Chicago, I was -afraid it would unnerve and worry you to have a dread and uncertainty on -your mind. I really thought something was going to happen to us at -Winnipeg. It didn’t. We’re ahead or out of range of the enemy now, I -feel pretty certain. To sum it all up, I hardly think we will be -interfered with again—at least this side of the first Coast station, -Sitka.” - -“No, it doesn’t look as if anybody would try to chase us through three -thousand miles of wilderness,” remarked Elmer. - -“Anyway, there has been no sign of it so far,” said Dave. - -“Provided that tramp monoplane we noticed at Winnipeg isn’t sneaking -around somewhere,” put in Hiram, quite seriously. - -Dave smiled, and Elmer laughed outright, with the words: - -“That was all fancy.” - -“Was it?” protested Hiram, getting excited. “I tell you, that -black-looking machine was after something. You two didn’t see it as many -times as I did. There wasn’t an airman I questioned who recognized the -machine. It was a tramp, a pirate, and you won’t convince me that it -wasn’t hanging around purposely to make somebody trouble.” - -“Well, we missed it, if it was the _Comet_ they were after,” said Dave. -“Now then, fellows.” - -With a business like air Dave took from his pocket a box-like envelope. -He proceeded to undo its flap. Then he drew out its contents. Just as -his peering comrades expected, the young aviator revealed a heap of bank -notes and a photograph. - -“Hold on, Dave,” interrupted Hiram, as his friend was about to speak; -“we don’t want to hide anything from you. We have seen that money and -picture before.” - -“Oh, is that so?” asked Dave, in some surprise. - -“Yes,” and Hiram related when and where. - -“No harm done,” said Dave lightly. “You are good, true chums, I see -that. About this packet: Its story leads back to the day that a young -lady in an automobile came up to our hangar near Washington. Her name is -Edna Deane, and her father is General Deane, a man of some means. His -son, Morris Deane, was a noted traveler and explorer. For over two years -he has been missing. It was not until quite recently that his devoted -father and sister learned that he was either dead or a prisoner.” - -“A prisoner?” exclaimed the interested Hiram. “A prisoner? Tell me how -and where, Dave?” - -“In the heart of Thibet, thousands and thousands of miles away from -here. It is a strange story, fellows, and a serious one. It seems that -young Deane in his travels ventured to enter the great sacred city of -Lhassa. It meant death or permanent imprisonment, but he risked it. -There he disappeared. His anxious father and sister know this, but -nothing further. They tried to hire detectives and daring adventurers -outside of that profession to penetrate to his place of captivity. -Knowing the peril, none would go. It appears that it is almost -impossible to reach Lhassa by land or water. Every road is guarded to -keep out intruders. General Deane knew Mr. King. The thought came to him -that an airship might accomplish what ordinary vehicles of travel could -not.” - -“I see,” said Hiram. “That might be all right, if it was simply a dive -and a quick rescue.” - -“Which it will not be,” replied Dave, “for the information General Deane -has gathered up as to the exact fate or whereabouts of his son is very -vague. Well, as I said, the General went to Mr. King. Our old friend is -laid up, as you know. He directed the general to us, knowing about the -intended trip around the world. That little business lady, Miss Deane, -came to see me. Then I went to her father.” - -“And he gave you all that money to undertake the search for his missing -son?” guessed Elmer. - -“Not at all,” replied Dave. “He told me a story that not only interested -me, but excited my sympathy greatly. A year ago an uncle of Morris Deane -died, leaving an enormous estate. The relative left the estate to a man -who had been his nurse and private secretary for years. His name is -Arnold Wise. It seems he is a perfect villain, and that is not putting -it one bit too strong, I think.” - -“What about him?” pressed the curious Elmer. - -“According to the terms of the will, Wise was to inherit the estate, -unless within two years Morris Deane appeared and claimed it. At the -time he made his will, the uncle had about made up his mind that his -nephew was dead.” - -“Suppose he turns up or is found?” inquired Hiram. - -“Then Wise is to deliver the estate over to him minus one hundred -thousand dollars, which will be his rightful share. The uncle left a -note urging Wise to seek for his missing nephew.” - -“Did he do it?” asked Elmer. - -“Yes, he did, and found out something, the general and his daughter -believe, although he reported to them that young Deane was surely dead -long since. They finally got to believing that Wise was wicked enough to -think of having the rival heir put out of the way. Later events proved -that he is a cruel, soulless man. This brings us to our old-time enemy, -Vernon.” - -“Aha! he’s mixed up with it, too?” cried Hiram. - -“You remember that you discovered Vernon lurking around the hangars that -night near Washington?” - -“Yes, and later coming out of the house where the Deane family lived,” -added Hiram. - -“Well, I am now satisfied that Vernon overheard my entire first -conversation with Miss Edna Deane. Also that later he sneaked into -Hampton Flats, and probably overheard enough more to suggest a new -scheme to that crafty mind of his. At all events, there was a faithful -old servant of the dead uncle who had been retained by Wise. She came to -the Deanes and told them that a man named Vernon had come to Wise and -told him that the general was sending an airship expedition to find his -missing son.” - -“I begin to see the light,” remarked Hiram. - -“From what happened later,” proceeded the young airman, “I am satisfied -that some bargain was made between Wise and Vernon. I believe that Wise -hired our old-time enemy to outwit us. I feel sure it was Vernon who got -somebody to run away with the _Comet_. Failing to stop us he wired -accomplices in Chicago to blow up the machine. We have gone so fast that -he probably was not able to reach us at Winnipeg. He is undoubtedly -supplied with plenty of money. I should not be surprised if he kept up -his game of trying to block us all along the route. That, fellows, is -the story. The money you see here is the sum of five thousand dollars, -supplied by General Deane to use if necessary to secure the release of -his son.” - -“And the photograph, Dave?” inquired Hiram. “Keepsake, eh?” - -“Not at all,” replied the young aviator. “That, shown to young Deane, if -we once find him, is a token that will convince him that we are sent by -friends. Fellows, I know you are like me—willing to do all you can for a -fellow being in trouble. It would be a grand, humane act if we -succeeded. The general places no limit to the reward, but I wouldn’t -listen to that kind of talk.” - -“Good for you,” applauded Elmer. “Say, I only hope we can find Morris -Deane.” - -“We are going to try to,” announced our hero, quietly, but in a -determined way. “Get out the chart, Hiram, and I’ll show you how I -believe we can take in Thibet without seriously losing time in the -race.” - -Hiram arose to his feet to obey this direction, when Elmer got up and -began sniffing. - -“I say, Dave,” he observed, “do you smell it? Smoke! There’s fire -somewhere!” - - - - - CHAPTER XIII - - AN EXCITING MOMENT - - -“Yes, there is smoke—and fire behind it!” cried Hiram. “And see—the wind -is changing—whew!” - -The biplane boys had been so engrossed in their own affairs that they -had not noticed until now that a dense, high-up vapor had gradually -clouded the sun. All of a sudden, however, some new current of wind -drove the smoke downwards. As it struck the hill it wound around it like -a veil. It came so thick and fast that it began to choke and blind them. -Filmy cinders and a growing heat in the air were to be observed. - -“See here, Dave,” spoke Hiram, “hadn’t we better get aloft?” - -“Look at that now,” chimed in Elmer, pointing across the broad surface -of the hill. - -The three young aviators stood quite spellbound for a moment, witnessing -a new and novel spectacle. The top of the knob was covered with a great -growth of dried-up weeds, fine and fibrous. From time to time, as the -branches dropped away from the parent stem, they had rolled or were -blown part way down the hill. - -Great masses in the aggregate had lodged on shelves and crevices among -the rocks. Now the sweep of the strong breeze had suddenly arisen and -the suction of the hot, swirling air moved these accumulations. They -blew over each other and together. Gaining a momentum, here and there -rounded masses began to wad up and grow as they progressed in their mad -course. - -“I have heard of those,” said the young airman. “They are called -tumbleweeds.” - -“Snowballs!” shouted the excitable Hiram. “Look at that now!” - -A blast of hot air sent a perfect shower of sparks and smoking filaments -over the brow of the hill. These ignited the rolling spheres, some of -which had become gigantic globes. At one time over a hundred of the -strange, rolling balls were set aflare. - -“Fireworks!” added Elmer. “It’s a pretty sight, but—whoof!” - -A great sphere, all ablaze, landed against the speaker, burst like -fluffy thistle down, and scorched him slightly. - -“All aboard!” ordered Dave, sharply. “Don’t waste a second, fellows!” - -“Yes, high time, I’m thinking,” declared Hiram, making a run for some -cooking utensils he had been using in preparing their lunch. - -The _Comet_ as usual was in perfect shape for a speedy flight. Dave, at -the pilot post, his assistants in their accustomed places, a touch of -the self-starter sent them off on a sharp tangent away from the hill and -across the tinder-like fields of weeds. - -“Just in time,” spoke Hiram, as they arose to a higher level, above the -crest of the hill. “There’s a grand sight for a fellow, if there ever -was one.” - -Each of the aviators was enwrapt in the vivid panorama beneath them. Far -as they could look—south, north, and west—acres and miles of flame-swept -surface greeted their vision. By this time the sparks had ignited the -swamp. A solid wall of flame seized upon the dry stalks with a roar. The -hill was now the center of a glowing caldron of fire. - -“That was pretty quick,” remarked Dave. “We were lucky to get warning in -time.” - -In places where little thickets beneath them were burning, entire sight -of the ground was shut out for the heat or smoke. They were now too high -for the heat or smoke to reach them. The fire, however, was of -considerable extent, and even on the distant horizon there seemed no end -or beginning to the great conflagration. - -They passed over a long lake. It was shallow, but at that spot the body -of water had presented a barrier to the immediate forward progress of -the flames. - -“See,” spoke Hiram, “the fire is eating around the edges of the lake to -the other side. Dave,” he suddenly shouted, “there’s a house!” - -“Yes, and it’s on fire, too,” echoed Elmer. - -The lake was about half a mile wide. Its beach was lined with clumps of -flags and reeds. These had fed the flames around the body of water in -two directions. At the south end of the opposite shore of the lake, the -fire had entirely surrounded a small, cultivated patch with a rude log -cabin in its center. This structure was blazing fiercely. To the west -and the far north the fire was sweeping in giant strides, licking up -everything that came in its path. - -There was just one space between the onrushing and the backing up -section of the conflagration. This was a little stretch of beach. As -they approached it, the young aviator made a veer with the biplane that -told his companions of a sudden change of purpose. - -“What is it, Dave?” asked Elmer, quickly. - -“Don’t you see?” replied Dave. “There are a woman and child down there.” - -“Gracious!” shouted Hiram—“why, so there are! She’s running for her -life! No, she’s stopped. Now she’s stepped into the water. She’s wading -in. Dave, Dave, do something!” - -It was truly an exciting situation. All three of the boys now saw in -plain view the forlorn fugitives of the fire. A woman, terrified and -frantic, was visible. She carried a young child in her arms. Apparently -she had just come from the burning cabin. - -Behind her a rushing wall of fire pursued. West and north a half-circle -of solid flame told her of impending doom. She ran out into the lake, -but there she faltered, not ten feet from shore. It seemed that she -realized that she could not get far enough beyond the fringe of flags to -escape the fire, and she stood rooted to the spot in helpless despair. - -“We have a bare five minutes before the flames reach her,” said Dave, -his tone a trifle strained and unsteady, but determined. “Fellows, we -must take her aboard.” - -“Can we land all right?” questioned Elmer. - -“We’ve got to, even at a risk,” replied Dave. - -“It means a big added weight,” suggested Hiram. “Something has got to go -out.” - -“Lighten up the best you know how,” directed Dave rapidly. - -It was no careless trick to land. Dave strained every sense and nerve to -carry out the projected rescue safely. Hiram and Elmer knew the part -expected of them. The former reached back in the pocket, or compartment, -containing their equipment and supplies. - -“Help me, Elmer,” he said hastily. “Toss it out,” and he dragged a can -of water within reach, and his companion sent it whirling over the edge -of the machine. - -Two out of four heavy rods, duplicates of a part of the steering outfit, -followed, then a large bag of sugar. Hiram selected from the food supply -articles that could be readily replaced at the first town they might -reach. - -“That will do,” he announced, just as the _Comet_ sailed downward, -struck the ground, and glided to a stop. - - - - - CHAPTER XIV - - THE TRAMP MONOPLANE - - -Instantly Hiram leaped from the machine, Elmer following him. The woman -had waded to a rocky reef coming up out of the water. There she had -sunk, throwing her apron over her head and clasping her babe close to -her breast. - -She had not seen the airship. In fact, it was all the boys could do to -keep their eyes clear from smoke and cinders. Hiram ran straight out -into the water. - -“Get up, lady, quick,” he cried, touching her arm. “We have come to get -you out of here.” - -The woman shrieked in alarm, but dropped the covering from her face. Her -brain was reeling, it seemed, and her senses were benumbed by all the -strange happenings about her. - -“Help me, Elmer,” directed Hiram, and together they drew her out of the -water and led her up to the biplane. She stared at it blankly. - -“I—I don’t understand,” she said, and swayed in a lost manner, as if she -was about to swoon. - -“Get her in, quick!” ordered Dave, with a glance ahead of them as a rain -of sparks flew over and past the machine. - -The woman was now almost passive in the hands of her helpers. They got -her into the seat Elmer usually occupied, while he climbed over into the -space to its rear. Hiram got aboard. Then the _Comet_ shot up into the -air. - -The woman turned pale and shrank back. She clung to her little child and -stared wildly about her. - -“Don’t be afraid, lady,” spoke Hiram, soothingly. “It’s all right. There -is no one else around here; is there?” - -“Not a soul,” gasped the woman, faintly. “I was alone—all alone,” she -continued in a dreary tone. “Oh, it was awful, awful! I feared I would -never see my husband again.” - -“May I ask where he is?” pressed Hiram. - -“He went to Doubleday to get some winter supplies,” explained the woman. -“It takes three days. I hope he got there safely.” - -The pilot of the _Comet_ and Elmer were able to hear all that was said -as their comrade patiently drew out her story. The burned cabin was the -only habitation in the wilderness district. - -“How far away is this Doubleday?” inquired Hiram. - -“It is about a hundred miles,” she explained; “nearly south of here. -There’s a sort of trail to follow through the valleys, but I guess it’s -all burned over.” - -“Of course we will take the lady to Doubleday, Dave?” suggested Hiram. - -“Yes, we must do that,” replied the young airman. - -Twenty miles covered, the _Comet_ passed the extreme southern limit of -the fire. There was a full moon, and as darkness came on Dave was able -to still keep track of the landscape. - -It was not quite nine o’clock in the evening when some scattering land -lights showed in the distance. - -“That must be Doubleday,” spoke Hiram. - -“I think it is,” said the woman. “I have been there only once or twice -with my husband. That little cluster of lights, I think, is the town -tavern.” - -It was in the center of a vacant square back of this rambling old -frontier building, that Dave brought the _Comet_ to a halt. He left -Hiram and Elmer with the machine. The woman took leave of them with -grateful tears in her eyes. - -“I hope my husband has not started back for home,” she said, -anxiously—“I hope he wasn’t caught in the fire.” - -When they got around to the front of the inn, Dave inquired for her of -the landlord as to her husband. Abel Lyme, she said, his name was. The -tavern keeper said he was stopping there, but was probably just then at -the general store. His wife was so anxious, she could not wait for his -return. The young airman wished to secure some supplies to make up for -what they had been obliged to throw out of the _Comet_. Both went over -to the store. - -It took Dave half an hour to get through with his business, ordering the -goods he bought sent at once up to the tavern. It took him half an hour -longer to get rid of the husband of the woman they had rescued. The -grateful fellow, poor as he was, paid hardly any attention to the loss -of his home. He was so thankful that the lives of his wife and child -were saved, so overcome with admiration of the daring exploit of Dave -and his comrades, that he overwhelmed the young aviator with offers of -reward clear down to his last dollar. On his return to the inn Dave -found his faithful assistants guarding the biplane and waiting for -orders. - -“What’s the programme?” inquired Hiram briskly, but stretching himself -as if a good nap would not be unwelcome. - -“It’s a fine night for traveling,” remarked the pilot of the _Comet_; -“but it has been rather a hard day for us. Every hour counts, of course, -but I think we may do all the better work for a little rest. Three or -four hours sleep will make us fresh for a non-stop moonlight run about -midnight.” - -“That haymow over there strikes my fancy,” announced Elmer. - -“All right,” replied our hero. “Take your turn. You, too, Hiram. I’ll -stay on guard duty till you spell me. I expect some supplies from the -general store here.” - -“I reckon they’re coming now,” said Hiram. “I’ll stay and help you get -them aboard.” - -A man with a loaded pushcart came into view from the front of the -tavern. He was noticed by the landlord, who talked with him and then -kept up with him until they neared the two young aviators. - -“Why,” exclaimed the tavern keeper, with a stare at the _Comet_, “came -back, did you?” - -“Eh?” spoke Hiram—“came back from where?” - -“S-st!” warned Dave, in an instant making a broad guess, at least -canvassing a quick suspicion that came into his mind. Then he addressed -the landlord with the words: “We need some store supplies, and we’ll be -very much obliged if you will allow us to anchor here for a few hours.” - -“Sure, sure,” answered the man readily. “This is an airship, really and -true; isn’t it now?” and the speaker walked clear around the machine, -inspecting it in open-mouthed wonder. “Well, well, what a contrivance. -I’ve seen pictures of these affairs. That’s how I knew what it was when -you flew over the town just after dusk.” - -“H’m!” whispered Hiram, nudging his companion secretly. “I see.” - -Dave “saw,” too. An airship had sailed over a few hours previous! As the -young aviator well knew, it was not the _Comet_. Naturally, it might be -some one of the other contestants in the great race around the world. -Thinking of his enemies, however, Dave was wise enough to remain wary -until he was sure of the identity of the machine referred to by the -inn-keeper. - -“Where’s the man that came here about an hour ago?” questioned the -landlord, looking over the young airmen and beyond them. - -Dave gave his hand a vague swing westward and skywards. - -“Yes,” nodded the man, “I saw you go that way. Landed on Lookout Hill, -didn’t you? The man who came here to have his bottle filled said so. He -asked me if I had seen any other airships around here. There’s a good -many of you for such a light little machine as that of yours.” - -The young airman let the landlord do most of the talking, replying -evasively. Some others, attracted by curiosity, approached the spot. It -was getting late, however, and nobody stayed long. - -“Let’s see, where is Lookout Hill from here?” Dave asked carelessly of -the man with the pushcart, after the inn-keeper had gone away. - -“That’s it,” said the man, pointing. “Where some one’s got a campfire, -it looks. See, right through the trees yonder, beyond the creek.” - -“Oh, yes,” replied Dave. “Here’s a dollar for getting here so promptly -with those goods, and helping us.” - -“Now then, Hiram,” said our hero, as the supplies were placed in the -biplane and they found themselves alone, “it is you and I for a council -of war.” - -“I understand,” nodded his lively assistant—“you mean about the other -airship?” - -“Just that. One arrived here to-night, as you know.” - -“The landlord mistook our machine for the one he saw.” - -“Yes, and spoke of a man who came here later from the machine that -passed over the town,” added Dave. “That light the other fellow showed -us is probably the campfire at the landing place of the airship. I am -going to find out who is in charge of it, friend or foe.” - -“Supposing it’s the pirate tramp we saw at Winnipeg?” propounded Hiram. - -“Then we know our danger. They evidently are not aware that we are here. -You stay on guard here. It can’t be more than two miles to that -campfire. I will be back soon.” - -“Going to spy on them?” suggested Hiram. - -“Yes. I will be back and report just as soon as I find out who these -airmen are,” responded Dave. - -He gave his comrade definite orders to arouse Elmer if anything -suspicious occurred, and to give an alarm at the tavern if help was -necessary. Then Dave started out on his lonely expedition. - -Our hero knew nothing of the traversed route leading to Lookout Hill. -Fortunately the fire glow in the distance continued. - -Dave followed a regular road. A lateral path led in the direction of the -hill. Arrived at its base, he made his way up one side. - -“There is the campfire,” mused the young airman, as he passed through a -thicket on a level with the glow ahead of him. “Ah, just in time.” - -Dave caught hold of a bush and took a downward swing. He saved himself a -good hard fall, however, by clinging to the bush. The whole face of the -plateau he found was full of treacherous pits. He proceeded slowly and -cautiously now. - -A fringe of bushes surrounded the spot where the campfire was. Dave -crept to their edge. One glance with the radius of the dying glow of the -fire showed him an interesting picture. - -At one side stood a monoplane. Its dark color and a peculiar arrangement -of the planes enabled our hero to recognize it at once. - -“It is Hiram’s pirate tramp machine, sure enough,” reflected Dave, “and -the men.” - -One of these was walking up and down in something of a rage, it seemed. -Propped up against a tree trunk was a second man, clasping a bottle. -This latter person was swaying as he sat. His eyes blinked. There was a -vacant expression to his face. - -“It’s all right,” he was saying, in a maudlin state. “Want to sleep.” - -“It’s all wrong, you mean!” raved the other man. “I want to tell you one -thing! I shan’t lose a chance of a thousand dollars to humor a -worthless, irresponsible reprobate like you. I simply won’t stand it.” - -“Then—he! he! sit down,” chuckled the other—“like I do.” - -“I’m through with you,” cried his companion, in tones of positive fury, -and shaking his fist at the other. “I’ll get the _Comet_ alone. Sleep, -you loafer, and when you wake up find your way back to Winnipeg on foot -as best you can.” - -The speaker seized the half-filled bottle and dashed it to pieces on the -nearest rock. - -“All right,” mumbled the sitter. “Get some more.” - -“Bah, you wretch!” shouted his comrade, and he gave the swaying, -helpless man a kick that sent him onto his side with a groan. - -“I’ll make it alone,” Dave heard the man mutter. - -The young aviator knew his bearings now. There was not the least doubt -in the world that these two men were new emissaries of Wise through the -villain, Vernon. They had been hired to locate and destroy the _Comet_. - - - - - CHAPTER XV - - STRICTLY BUSINESS - - -Our hero had accomplished his mission. He had learned all that he had -come to Lookout Hill to find out. The two men and their mysterious -machine had been located. Their connection as accomplices of Dave’s -enemies was positive. - -“Here is something to think over before we make a definite move,” -reflected the young aviator. “These fellows will, of course, hear about -us if they go back to the town, which they probably will do. Then it -will be a new, closer chase.” - -The professional curiosity of the pilot of the _Comet_ held him to the -spot momentarily. He made a detour of the campfire. His object was to -inspect the monoplane. - -A score of ideas crowded Dave’s thoughts. He might tell his story to an -officer of the town, possibly have the tramp airship and its crew -arrested, or at least detained. Again, he might quietly start up the -_Comet_, strike a new route, and count on outdistancing all pursuers. - -Dave glided along in the shelter of the underbrush until he came up -directly to the monoplane. A near glance told him that it was a superb -machine. Whoever the airmen hired by the wily Vernon were, they -thoroughly understood their business, that seemed sure. - -The young aviator was so engrossed in his inspection of the machine, -thinking so fast as to what was best to do, that he was taken all -unawares as some one nearly ran upon him. It was the man he had just -seen at the campfire. - -“Hello, who are you?” shot out the man, and he paused not five feet from -the young airman and looked him over from head to foot. - -“I heard of your machine and came to take a look at it,” replied Dave, -on his guard and watching his challenger closely, for he had a bad face. - -“Oh, you did?” said the fellow, moving a step nearer. “That’s a strange -jacket you wear. Why, you’re an airman yourself and—you’re Dashaway!” - -The man was too quick for Dave. As he spoke he made a deft spring. It -showed that he was a natural acrobat. His grip on Dave’s arm was like -iron. - -“Let me go. Suppose I am?” demanded our hero, struggling. - -“Well, then I have a little business with you,” coolly answered his -captor. “Oh, you’re Dashaway. I saw you twice in Winnipeg. Come on. Tom! -Tom!” he called out loudly, to his companion, as he found himself unable -to budge his prisoner, although he weighed nearly double what Dave did. - -The man near the campfire neither responded nor stirred. He was past -helping his comrade. There was a reason why the young airman was able to -make so sturdy a resistance. His free hand clutched a sapling right at -hand. His foot he had twisted in among the network of strong roots. - -The combatants stood directly at the edge of one of the pits that -honeycombed the plateau. Its edge crumbled as the man gave Dave a jerk. - -“Look out!” cried our hero, “if you don’t want both of us to get a -tumble.” - -“You come on,” ordered his captor, savagely. “I’ll stand no fooling. -Come—on!” - -He gave Dave a terrific jerk. It was so forceful that our hero’s grasp -of the tree tore loose, and he toppled over. In doing so his assailant -lost his balance. He stumbled over Dave’s entangled foot. In some -astonishment the young aviator found the fellow had completely -disappeared as he got to his feet. - -“He’s done for himself, sure enough,” said Dave, and he peered down into -the pit. It was about twenty feet deep. He heard a groan. Then he traced -a rustling about. His eyes becoming accustomed to the darkness, Dave was -finally enabled to make out his enemy trying to climb up the steep sides -of the pit. - -The roots he clutched at gave way in his grasp and a shower of dirt and -gravel drove him back. The young aviator discerned that the man was not -seriously hurt. He realized also that sooner or later his enemy would -manage to get out of the pit. If not at once, at least when his now -helpless comrade came to himself, the man would be rescued. - -“He is just where I want him,” thought the young aviator. “It won’t do -to leave him the machine.” - -Dave walked up again to the flying machine. He soon estimated its -condition and capacity. He found it to be a capable piece of mechanism. - -“Hi, stop—Oh, thunder!” - -This was shouted out after the runaway as the machine lifted into the -air, Dave at the helm. Its rightful pilot spoke, but, his call barely -completed as he grasped at the edge of the pit, down he slid again to -its bottom. - -Fifteen minutes later the machine dropped to earth in the field behind -the inn at Doubleday, not a hundred feet from the _Comet_. Hiram came -running towards it. - -“You, Dave?” he called out cautiously. - -“With company,” answered Dave promptly. - -“Gracious! It’s the pirate tramp, isn’t it?” cried the astonished Hiram. -“Why, what does it mean? How did you manage it?” - -“Don’t ask any questions just now,” responded the young airman. “Wake up -Elmer.” - -“We’re going to get out of here?” - -“Quick as we can. There’s a reason.” - -Hiram bolted for the haymow. Elmer very shortly came up to the spot -where Dave stood. - -“For mercy’s sake, two of them!” he exclaimed, rubbing his eyes and -staring in surprise at the captured airship. - -“Yes, this is the pirate,” explained the young pilot. “The fellows who -ran it tried to follow us from Winnipeg. Turn about is fair play, -fellows. Some of the same gang stole our machine near Washington for a -bad purpose. We will retaliate by borrowing theirs now for a good -purpose.” - -“Yes,” put in Hiram, with animation, “get them and the machine safely -out of harm’s way.” - -“I intend to,” said Dave. “You’ll have to fly the craft, Hiram.” - -“I reckon I can do it,” asserted Hiram promptly. “What’s your idea, -Dave?” - -“A two hours’ flight, due west. Then we will hold a new council of war. -We had best not delay. I don’t know how soon the fellow who runs that -craft may be on our trail.” - -No one appeared to observe or hinder the airship boys as they made their -preparations to resume their journey. The pilot of the _Comet_ gave his -trusty assistant explicit orders as to what was required of him. - -The biplane started first from the ground. In the clear moonlight its -course was not difficult to follow. Soon the leader and its consort were -started on a steady course, due west. Hiram was in gay humor. Dave had -explained the details of his encounter with the enemy, and the new pilot -of the pirate airship chuckled as he drove it forward. - -The incident had fully awakened Elmer, and Dave found him good lively -company. There was a rare spice of adventure in the incident of the -night. - -“You handled things just grand,” voted Dave’s enthusiastic admirer. “I -wonder how those fellows are feeling just about this time?” - -It was after midnight when the young aviator directed his companion to -take the distance record. - -“Ninety-seven miles,” reported Elmer. - -“I guess that will do,” said our hero. “We are going to land.” - -A pleasant stretch of forest glade looked inviting. The _Comet_ came to -anchor. In about ten minutes the other machine made an easy descent -almost at the side of the _Comet_. - -“Well done, Hiram,” commended his friend, warmly. “Your lessons under -old John Grimshaw are bringing famous results.” - -“Glad you think so,” answered Hiram, with affected indifference, but he -looked both pleased and proud. - -“It’s about midnight,” said Dave. “We will turn in soon as we can, -fellows. I will take the first watch.” - -“Going to stay here until daylight?” inquired Hiram. - -“Yes, and for a good breakfast,” replied the young airman. “We need the -rest, and there is little likelihood of our enemies catching up with us -now.” - -“I should say not,” echoed Hiram with a chuckle. - -“No, you have spiked their guns for keeps, Dave,” added Elmer. - -It was a little later than sunrise when Hiram, on the last watch, woke -up his comrades. He had a fire of twigs going. - -“Coffee on the boil, fellows,” he announced cheerily; “ham done to a -turn, and the bread being a little dry I thought we would have some -buttered toast.” - -“Hurrah!” shouted the hungry and jubilant Elmer. “I feel as if I could -eat a horse.” - -“Yes, this brisk Canadian air certainly gives a fellow a great -appetite,” declared Dave. - -“Next town we stop at,” spoke Hiram, “I want to get some pancake flour. -I’ve been just hankering for some old fashioned flapjacks. I’ve got a -griddle among the traps, and I know I can turn out some elegant -pancakes.” - -“This is good enough for anybody,” insisted Elmer, his teeth deep in a -piece of luscious ham cooked to a turn. - -“Say,” spoke Hiram a few minutes later, “I strolled around the end of -that grove of trees yonder before I woke you up. There’s a road just -beyond them, and there’s a town not half a mile away.” - -“Is that so?” questioned the young aviator. “That suits my plans -precisely.” - -“How is that?” asked Elmer. - -“I will show you after breakfast,” replied Dave. - -He got a pad of writing paper from the supply aboard the biplane. Dave -was busy writing for some time. Then he got the repair outfit of the -_Comet_. - -“Come on, you can help me,” he said to Hiram and Elmer. - -The young airman partially upset the captured airship. His comrades very -soon understood what this manœuvre meant. Dave removed a dozen or more -screws and bolts. Then he unhinged alternate struts and set to work on -the engine. The parts removed were stored aboard of the _Comet_. - -“I guess that will cripple the craft enough to serve our purpose,” said -Dave. “I don’t want to be a vandal and wholly destroy as pretty a -machine as this is.” - -“Can’t afford to take any risks with the bad crowd trying to break us up -though,” reminded Hiram. - -“I don’t intend to,” answered Dave. “It will take a long trip clear back -to Winnipeg to replace those parts. If those fellows we left back at -Doubleday come on after the machine, it will be fully a week before they -can think of taking up the chase again.” - -“By that time we will have reached Alaska; won’t we, Dave?” queried -Elmer. - -“And far beyond, if we fill the schedule blocked out,” replied the young -pilot of the _Comet_. “I’ll be back soon, fellows.” - -Dave lined the grove of trees and was soon lost beyond it to the present -sight of his friends. In about half an hour he reappeared, walking -briskly. - -“It’s all right,” he reported. “Get the _Comet_ in trim.” - -“Going to start up, eh?” remarked Elmer. - -“We had better, I think, to avoid complications,” said Dave. “The town -beyond here has a telephone service probably, running to Doubleday. The -note I wrote told of the dismantled machine here. It also explained -enough to warrant a ’phone call, explaining about it, sent to Doubleday. -Those Winnipeg fellows can get their machine by coming for it.” - -“You mean what is left of it,” corrected Hiram. - -“I hired a boy I met to take my note to the postmaster of the town near -here,” explained the young aviator. “I think I have been as fair all -around as we can afford to be under the circumstances.” - -“That’s right,” assented Hiram, with vigor, and Elmer echoed the -sentiment. - -“The coast is clear—as far as Sitka, anyhow,” proceeded the young -airman. “And now, fellows,” he added briskly—“business, strictly -business.” - - - - - CHAPTER XVI - - A SIBERIAN ADVENTURE - - -“Brrr-rr!” chattered Hiram Dobbs, with a shiver. “I say, Dave, have we -got to stand this much longer?” - -“I sincerely hope not,” replied the young pilot of the _Comet_, in a -really concerned tone. “I hoped to outride the storm. But it appears to -me the snow is coming down thicker and faster every minute.” - -“I’m just about drifted in,” piped up Elmer. - -The scene was a vast void, a chaos. The three young airmen were much in -the situation of a ship driven before a blinding gale in unknown, -fog-covered waters. All bearings were lost. The angle glide was obscured -with snow; Dave resembled a great white statue. The biplane was the -rushing center of large driving flakes whirling in eddies all about -them. - -They had run thus for nearly an hour, but now the machine, staunch and -reliable as it was, threatened to depart from its usual good conduct -record. The planes were crusted and over-weighted. The bulk of snow -Hiram and Elmer tried to dislodge from other parts of the machine was -duplicated before they could go the entire rounds. - -There had been several ominous creaks. Once the _Comet_ struck an air -pocket. Through some deft but dangerous skidding the pilot evaded this -peril. A sudden change in the wind almost precipitated a new -catastrophe. - -“I don’t know what we are going to strike,” said our hero; “but we’ve -got to make a landing. No machine could stand much more of this.” - -“Good,” cried Hiram heartily, as the _Comet_ made a rapid dive that was -nearly a somersault. “It’s solid land all right. I was afraid it might -be water, and a ducking just now—brrr—rr!” - -When Dave had told his friends way back in Canada that their motto must -be “business, strictly business,” he and they had set themselves -zealously to work to carry out the sentiment. Dave was an expert airman. -The _Comet_ was a noble machine of its type. They had met with “good -luck,” too, Hiram had insisted. The biplane crossed the vast stretch of -Canadian wilderness without a mishap. - -At Sitka no new trap nor harmful attempt on the part of their enemies -had confronted them. A government official had been deputized by -telegraph from Washington to receive and identify the contestants as -they arrived. The crew of the _Comet_ were proud and happy to learn that -they were the first on the scene. - -They rested a day at Sitka. Dave realized that the hardest part of the -route lay before them. It was no easy task to pilot a course past Cape -Prince of Wales, across Bering Strait and make sure of reaching -Stamavoie, a point in Kamchatka where arrangements had been made for -gasoline and other supplies. - -Elmer had started keeping what he called a “log.” During the ensuing six -days he had some odd and spirited incidents to record. They had left the -mild fall weather behind them and encountered genuine wintry blasts. The -expert young pilot took no unnecessary risks. Their stops were frequent, -and for the most part fortunately they managed to land near settlements -or habitations. Dave had to accommodate the machine to new wind -conditions. He and his friends suffered a good deal with the cold. It -was now late afternoon, and according to calculations and the charts -they were traversing Siberian territory. - -The storm had not abated one whit as all three of the boys left the -biplane. They found themselves ankle deep in a soft clinging snow. - -“We can’t stay here,” said the young aviator. - -“Hardly,” replied Hiram, “unless we want to see the machine and all -hands covered up in a snowdrift within an hour.” - -“We have lost our exact reckoning,” added Dave, “and no landmarks to go -by. We are somewhere between Zashiversh and Virkni. Probably we have -landed on what is known as the Nijni steppe. It is something of a barren -waste, if I remember right, but dotted here and there with stations and -a few little farms.” - -“Wish we could find one of them,” grumbled Hiram, good naturedly. - -“No chance of supper if we don’t,” observed Elmer. - -“See here, fellows, we’ll push the machine along, anyway, and see what -we come to,” remarked Dave. “Any shelter is better than this all out of -doors position. Even a stretch of timber or the side of a hill would -seem homelike just now.” - -“It’s better to keep moving, anyhow,” declared Hiram, stamping his feet -vigorously. “This will be a big thing to tell about if we ever get home -again, fellows.” - -“Steady,” ordered Dave, and he slowed up the biplane, the wheels of -which ran along pretty lightly, deep as the snow was. “The ground is -changing. Stop the machine. I’ll prospect a bit ahead.” - -In addition to the enveloping gloom of the storm, it had begun to get -dusk. Dave proceeded alone. He discovered that the ground was rough and -rising. Then he ran against a tree, and clearing his sight of the -obstructing snowflakes he made out that they had come upon a little -stretch of timber. - -“Come on, but cautiously,” he called back to his comrades. - -The _Comet_ was pushed along and halted between two heavily needled -trees, affording it considerable shelter. Hiram gave a shout of delight -as he discovered a spot where the ground was almost bare. A double row -of immense fir trees formed a protecting canopy for several yards. - -“Come in out of the wet, Dave!” shouted Elmer, in a jolly tone, joining -Hiram, and all hands shook the snow from their garments. - -“Shelter, plenty of fuel and a chance for a warm meal,” observed Hiram -with satisfaction. “Here’s some good bits of wood,” and he began -gathering up pieces of dead branches with which the spot was littered. - -“I’ll get a lantern,” said Dave, moving over towards the biplane. - -“This is not half bad,” declared Elmer, assisting his comrade in -gathering up the loose fuel. - -“Say, what’s that?” - -Hiram spoke in a startled tone. He dropped his armful of wood and stood -stock still. Elmer edged nearer to him. - -An ominous sound had greeted their hearing. It was a howl near at hand, -sharp and resonant. Then it was repeated. Staring in the direction from -which the sounds came, Hiram jumped back, shouting out sharply: - -“It’s wolves! Dave, look out! Elmer, grab a club! Quick! Here they -come!” - -Scurrying forms came flying into the tree-formed arcade. The outlines -were dim, but none the less threatening and terrifying. Hiram had -grabbed up a heavy piece of wood. Elmer was no coward, and did not lose -his nerve. He armed himself speedily as his comrade had done, and ranged -himself by his side. - -“It’s wolves,” declared Hiram—“two, three, half a dozen of them. Stand -steady”—whack! - -Fiery-eyed, red-tongued, seeming to skim the ground, the foremost animal -of an alarming pack came flying towards the boys. Hiram had struck out. -The blow was aimed with all his strength and skill. It sounded like a -hammer landing hard on a thick metal ball. - -The animal fell back to all fours and limply turned to one side. Two -others leaped boldly over its slinking body. - -“Strike your hardest,” puffed and panted Hiram. Whack! whack! One of the -new combatants of the boys limped off with a shattered paw. The other, -infuriated with pain from a terrific clip across the jaws, made direct -for Elmer. Its claws clutched its prey by the shoulders. Its distended -mouth sought the lad’s throat. - -Once, twice, thrice the billet of wood in the grasp of Hiram arose and -descended. The wolf dropped away, dripping with blood, but Elmer was -saved from its murderous fangs. - -“They’re coming,” he cried “A half dozen of them! Oh, good! It’s all -right now.” - -Over the imperilled lads and beyond them, and squarely into the faces of -the howling pack, a great glare suddenly shot out. Dave had caught the -situation at Hiram’s first outcry. He could not in a hurry reach the -armament of weapons carried by the _Comet_. The big reflector lantern, -however, was kept always in a handy spot, especially at nightfall. Dave -had secured this. Lighting it as he ran, he flared its broad beams, -focused to a dazzling brilliancy. The wolves, blinded and affrighted, -drew off with sullen, menacing growlings. - -“Light the fire. It will be an added safeguard,” ordered the young -airman rapidly, and he moved in a circle, swinging the lantern glow -continuously. - -Hiram hurriedly got leaves, chips and branches together in a heap. He -flared a match and ignited it. - -“Those animals have given us up as hard cases, I guess,” observed Elmer, -with a laugh, half nervous, but quite triumphant. - -“We must draw the machine closer to us,” suggested Dave. “Help me, -Elmer.” - -The campfire began to blaze, Dave, with the lantern, ventured as far as -the spot where the _Comet_ was. With the aid of his companion the -biplane was wheeled a few yards along the arcade, where it seemed they -must make a camp, at least until the storm abated. - -Hiram was getting ready to secure some food and cooking utensils from -the machine, when he paused, bent his ear, and his face expressed a new -alarm. - -“Hark!” he cried out sharply. “What was that?” - - - - - CHAPTER XVII - - A GRATEFUL FRIEND - - -The oncoming night in the dreary solitude with which the young airmen -were environed seemed filled with alarms. All three listened intently. - -At a further distance away than at the first, the renewed howling of the -wolves broke forth. The pack seemed to have chanced upon some new trail -of prey. - -“Why,” Hiram was the first to break the thrilling silence, “do you hear -that, fellows?” - -“Sleigh bells!” cried Elmer, instantly. - -“Yes, and I hear the neighing of horses,” added our hero. “More than -one. Listen!” - -Muffled yet unmistakable, the sound of sleigh bells jangling sharply -broke upon the air. There followed loud echoing neighs. Then there rose -a sudden scream. - -“Oh, Dave!” gasped Hiram, “it was a human voice! A man’s scream, I’ll -wager! There it is again!” - -“One of you keep with me,” shouted Dave, in an urgent tone. “This way!” - -Seizing the reflector lantern, the young aviator dashed along the -arcade. It was Hiram who first heeded his order. He had grabbed up the -heaviest club at hand. At the end of the arcade Dave halted for a -moment, confused by the blinding snow eddies and the dim obscurity. - -“That way, straight ahead,” panted the wrought up Hiram, as another wild -scream rang out. - -It was mingled with the echoes of the sleigh bells in quite another -direction. It was mixed with the baying and howls of the wolves nearer -at hand. - -The pilot of the _Comet_ dashed on. The snow was deep and clogging. -Hiram labored at his heels. The eye of light showed nothing until they -had gone nearly fifty feet. Then its rays illumined a startling picture. - -Upon the snow, lying upon heavy fur robes, was a man. Supporting himself -upon one elbow, he was slashing about him with a short, horn-handled, -thick-bladed knife. Around him more than a dozen wolves were seeking to -spring upon and disable him. The minute the light dazzled the ravenous -pack, they drew away, baffled. - -The rescued man was clad in heavy furs. His cap, the gloves he wore, his -whole equipment indicated comfort and wealth. He seemed to take in the -situation at a glance. As he struggled to his feet, a motion of his hand -showed deep gratitude. - -He shuddered as he bent his ear to catch the retreating bayings of the -wolves. Just a faint echo of the sleigh bells was now audible. A look of -satisfaction came into the man’s face as he discovered this. He spoke -some words in a language the young airmen could not understand. Dave -pointed to the campfire, and the man bowed. Then Hiram helped him pick -up the scattered sleigh robes. Dave leading the way, all hands started -for the arcade. - -“Who is he?” whispered the curious Elmer to Hiram, as the trio came -within the radius of the cheery blaze he had built up with great armfuls -of wood. - -“Russian, I guess,” replied Hiram. “He can’t tell us, though, for we -don’t understand him.” - -“Did the wolves attack him?” - -“It looks that way. I think the horses got frightened and ran away. They -seemed to have tipped him and the sleigh robes over into the snow. I -tell you, we reached him just in time, or those hungry brutes would have -had him.” - -The rescued man came up to the fire, removing his gloves and extending -his chilled hands towards the grateful blaze. One coat sleeve had been -ripped from end to end in his encounter with the wolves, his face bore a -deep scratch. Otherwise he seemed uninjured from his recent thrilling -experience. - -He glanced strangely and then with interest at the three boys in turn. -He stared hard as his eye fell upon the biplane. His glance lingered -upon it in a puzzled, studious way. Finally he turned to its pilot, and -extended his hands upwards, as if imitating a bird flying. Dave nodded. - -Then the man spoke. From the deep gutterals, mingled long drawn out -words and “skis.” Dave decided that he was speaking in the Russian -tongue, and shook his head. More mellow and natural sounding, some words -followed which Dave took to be French. He smiled, but showed that he did -not yet understand. - -“It is English, then?” spoke the man, with very fair pronunciation. - -“Yes, English—American,” replied Dave, pleased to be understood. “We -stopped our airship here on account of the storm.” - -“It is so?” answered the man. “A few versts further, and you would have -reached the station. That is Mokiva. I am the superintendent. You shall -come there to share the best I have. You have saved my poor life.” - -And then quite solemnly the man went the rounds. He shook each of his -young friends by the hand, looking them steadily in the eyes. - -Hiram hurried up the meal, got some hot coffee ready, and passed it -around. It warmed up, and acted as an excellent accompaniment to some -canned pork and beans, some toasted cheese, and plenty of crackers. - -The glow of the fire was penetrating and comforting. They were seated on -the thick, heavy robes. Hiram was quite jolly over their pleasant -situation. - -The rescued man had to talk slowly and pick his words to make them -understand him. He told them that his name was Adrianoffski. He was a -trader, and lived at Mokiva, about twelve miles distant. He had been at -another station across country, and had started to return home, not -dreaming that he could not reach it before dark. The unexpected -snowstorm had overtaken him, and the wolves had gotten after the sleigh. -The tragic climax had been averted by the prompt action of Dave -Dashaway. - -It more than compensated the boys for their trouble as they got better -acquainted with the man. It seemed that he had agents, friends, and -trading stations, all through Russia and in several Asiatic countries. -With some of these he only exchanged goods, while others he owned. At -the end of two hours the interested young airmen had learned more of -real geography right on the spot than they had ever picked up at school. - -The storm let up finally. An adverse wind, however, had set in. - -“I hardly think we had better risk the hard work and danger of a run -to-night,” our hero advised his helpers. “We are fairly comfortable -here.” - -“That’s right,” assented Elmer, who had been enjoying it immensely, -writing up his “log.” “We’ll have great fun when we get home in some -snug and cozy corner, telling our friends of what a real snowstorm is.” - -“There’s something!” exclaimed Dave, suddenly, starting up from his -resting place on the robes. - -“Why, it’s another sleigh!” cried Hiram. “If they see our fire, whoever -is coming, we will have some more company.” - -“Ah, it is well,” broke in Adrianoffski, his eyes brightening. “I much -thought they would seek me.” - -The speaker reached inside his heavy coat and drew out a whistle, and -proceeded to blow on this. It was so small that the boys were fairly -amazed at the shrill, clear, far-reaching sound it made. The Russian -sent out a dozen or more calls. They seemed timed to some rhythmic -signal, for as the boys listened there was a response. - -Going to the end of the arcade, they noticed lights approaching. These -outlined three horses attached to a sleigh bearing lamps. The vehicle -came directly up to them and halted. Two men leaped from the sleigh and -approached their employer with pleased words. - -“My horses ran home, as I thought they would,” Adrianoffski explained to -the boys, after conversing with his servants in their native dialect. -“My people at once started out to find me. Ah, this is excellent. You -shall partake of the best at Mokiva this night.” - -“We would be glad to go with you,” said Dave, “but we dare not leave our -machine unguarded.” - -“Unguarded?” repeated the Russian with forcefulness. “My friends, you -know not the fidelity of these, my people. They shall remain here all -night, and your airship shall be guarded as though it were pure gold. -Fear nothing, these men are trusty and tried.” - -A thought of all Adrianoffski might tell them of practical details of -their route ahead, induced the young airman to agree to his wishes. He -made sure that the Russian instructed his servants as to due -watchfulness in their vigil. It was understood that they should be -brought back to the camp very early in the morning. Then the boys, -muffled up in cold-defying fur robes, took a real bracing Russian sleigh -ride. - -They found that the station comprised two large warehouses. In one of -these Adrianoffski had his living quarters. They were comfortable, even -luxurious. Nothing would do but that another meal should be served. Then -the host of the airship boys took them to his office and library -combined. - -Our hero had explained at the camp on the steppe about their proposed -race around the world. Adrianoffski was deeply interested. He had a -large globe showing the world, and he made Dave indicate the route they -had come, and the proposed one ahead. In turn, with considerable pride -he showed red crosses he had made in red ink all over European and -Asiatic Russia, Persia, Turkey and Northern Africa. - -“I have learned something of many languages and peoples,” he said. “As -you see, I have posts or stations all over this part of the world. You -saved my life. Let me direct you to good friends, who will surely -cherish you for that kindly act.” - -Dave passed his finger over that part of the globe marked Thibet. For a -long time he questioned the trader. - -“There is a wonderful city there, called Lhassa,” observed the young -airman. “You know of it?” - -“I know of it,” assented Adrianoffski—“ah, well, indeed. It is here, a -few versts only from Lhassa, that my trusted partner, Ben Mahanond -Adasse, has his great depot. He trades solely in Thibet. You would go -there?” - -“To Lhassa, yes,” answered Dave. - -“Impossible!” exclaimed the Russian, with almost startling force. “My -son, you know not what you say. Lhassa—it is the city of mystery, the -sacred metropolis of the tried and chosen. For an outsider to appear at -its gates is capture—life imprisonment. For a foreigner to penetrate to -its secret recesses, is sure death.” - -“But your partner, this Ben Mahanond Adasse?” questioned the young -aviator, “I could visit him without risk?” - -“With certain welcome,” promptly responded Adrianoffski. “He is -powerful, he is favored. He could protect you. But go no further than -his home, lest you go to your doom. As to my partner—see, I give you a -talisman, a token.” - -The Russian removed from his finger a large seal ring, and pressed it -into the hand of Dave Dashaway. - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII - - IN STRANGE LANDS - - -Dave and his boy friends had no cause to regret their meeting with -Adrianoffski. Their stay at the trading station, brief as it was, had -given new impetus and encouragement to the expedition. The Russian gave -them points as to their route that enabled them to save time and -distance. Besides that, he named places where they might stop and be -assured of friendly and helpful service from his agents. - -“I tell you, meeting Mr. Adrianoffski was fine luck,” said Hiram, -enthusiastically, one morning, as they started up for the day’s flight. -“We are pretty sure to reach Lhassa without much trouble; aren’t we, -Dave?” - -“To reach its vicinity, you mean,” corrected the young airman. “I am -greatly depending on this Ben Mahanond Adasse to whom our Russian friend -has directed us.” - -They had left the severe wintry blasts behind them two days flight out -of Mokiva. While the weather was not at all summery, the milder climate -as they proceeded southward was in pleasing contrast to what they had -endured in the bleak and barren solitude of Siberia. - -So far everything had gone pretty close to the schedule the pilot of the -_Comet_ had laid out when they left Washington. They reached stations as -planned. There was no trouble in securing gasoline and other supply -stores. Then, too, there were pleasant breaks in their arduous flights. -The ring Adrianoffski had given Dave acted magically when shown at -depots along the route to which he had directed him. - -It was at Kolyvan that a full day’s stop had to be made. There were some -machine repairs necessary. Through telegrams and newspapers the airship -boys were able to glean some information as to their competitors in the -race. Out of the twelve that had started only four had reached Sitka. -The closest rival was machine number seven, reported at that point six -hours after the _Comet_ had left. - -The machine crossed Thibetan territory about noon time. Dave was able to -determine this from charts, points given by Adrianoffski, and the -contour of the district. It was an interesting panorama they viewed all -the rest of that day. They passed over great camel trains traversing the -barren plains. They had a chance to see the native yaks, trained to -perform all the duties of horses. The extensive lamaseries, or -monasteries, some of them built on the very apex of well-nigh -inaccessible cliffs, amazed them. - -The _Comet_ was viewed by gaping groups whenever they passed over a -settlement. Dave had a town called Zirva for his evening destination. It -was near here that Ben Mahanond Adasse had his trading station. The -young air pilot calculated upon arriving after dark. It might interfere -with his plans to have the _Comet_ publicly seen so near to the sacred -city of mystery. - -“Judging from the landmarks described by Mr. Adrianoffski,” said Dave, -towards the middle of the afternoon, “I think we are quite near to -Zirva.” - -“That is the trading post of his partner?” spoke Hiram. - -“Yes,” nodded the young aviator. “Those glittering spires and domes in -the distance must be Lhassa. We must look for a secure and secluded -landing place.” - -This they found soon afterwards. It was at the edge of a rugged hill. -Beyond it were some straggling settlements, but the _Comet_ was screened -from these as it approached the hill from the east. - -“I don’t care about attracting the attention of the natives,” explained -our hero. “They are quite fanatical, and have probably never seen an -airship before. They might think it some demon of the air, or an -infernal machine come to destroy their gods and temples.” - -“Yes, I think myself we had better keep in the background as much as we -can,” agreed Hiram. “It would be a pity to have a mishap now, with the -hardest part of the route covered.” - -“But how are you going to locate this Adasse?” inquired Elmer. - -“According to what Mr. Adrianoffski told us,” replied Dave, “his station -cannot be more than a few miles from here.” - -“What’s your plan about finding him, Dave?” asked Hiram. - -“Why, as soon as it gets dusk I will venture down into the valley there. -You two will stay here on guard. Keep ready for a quick flight, if any -of the natives discover the machine.” - -The trio enjoyed the luxury of a grateful rest on the ground while they -conversed. Hiram, speedy to recuperate and always active, strolled away -from his comrades. He looked out over the country. Then he became -interested in watching a man just below the point where the _Comet_ had -landed. - -“Say fellows,” he observed briskly, coming back to his friends; “if you -want to see something queer just take a peep over the edge of that rock -yonder.” - -“What is it, Hiram?” inquired Elmer. - -“You have to come with me to find out,” was the reply. “I can’t imagine -what a funny old fellow down below there is up to.” - -“All right, we’ll take a look,” said Dave. - -“There he is,” pronounced Hiram, after the others had followed him a -little distance, and he pointed past a shelving rock. - -On the level of the valley below a native was squatted before a flat -boulder. He held in his hand a comical metal object with an ivory -handle. He seemed turning the handle. The boys, even at the distance -they were, could hear a click-clack sound, apparently proceeding from -the device. - -“Say, whatever is that contraption?” asked the puzzled Hiram. - -“Looks like a cross between a nutmeg grater and a music box,” suggested -Elmer. - -Dave ventured no opinion. Like the others he continued to watch the -curious pantomime of the native. The lips of the man moved incessantly, -making a dull monotonous drone. Finally he placed the device on the -stove before him and closed his eyes. - -His body swayed and he flung his arms aloft. Then he bent his forehead -clear to the ground. All the time he kept up a steady monotone. - -Finally he arose to his feet and picked up a knapsack and a long, -sharp-pointed spear. He was about to resume his way. Just then a huge -bird resembling an eagle, only snowy white, sailed down from a tree on -the hillside. It swooped over the boulder and made a peck at its -surface. The next moment it soared aloft, the trinket in its bill. - -The native uttered a wild, frantic shriek. Of a sudden he was transposed -into a being denuded of reason. As the bird flew up over the crest of -the hill, the man cast himself prostrate on the ground; writhing there -in agony. Beating his head with his hands, his face distorted, he acted -like some person in a fit. - -“Well, that’s something odd to see,” began Hiram—“what is it, Dave?” - -The young airman had watched the course of the thieving bird, eagle, -macaw, crow, or whatever it was. He saw the bird sail along until its -glance fell upon the biplane. Then it dropped to one of the wings. The -bauble retained in its bill, it walked over to one of the seats, dropped -its prize, and began pecking at the seat cushions. - -Our hero was on his feet in an instant of time. He ran towards the -machine, intent on scaring away the predatory intruder. Dave had picked -up a stick. This he hurled at the bird. It gave a sullen croak and took -to wing, disappearing on the other side of the hill. - -The young airman was curious and interested enough to lean over into the -body of the machine and secure the object dropped by the bird. He was -viewing it critically and with some comprehension of its use, when his -comrades joined him. - -“What is it, Dave?” queried Hiram eagerly. “That old fellow below yonder -is tearing up the ground and rolling all about in a fearful fashion.” - -“I know what it is,” pronounced Dave, “and I think we had better get it -back to its owner and save some mischief for him. This is what is called -a prayer mill. See, this handle turns a silken scroll on a reel all -covered with queer-looking characters. These represent the prayers the -Thibetans make to their great idol, Da-Fan-Jan. The priests supply them -to the worshippers. They are highly prized. I have read about them, and -have seen pictures of these queer prayer mills, as they call them.” - -“You’re not going down there to give it back to the native; are you?” -asked Hiram; in some surprise, as Dave looked about him to discover the -easiest way of descending the hillside. - -“Yes, I think I had better,” was the reply. “You don’t know how these -superstitious people value such charms. This prayer mill may have been -cherished in that man’s family for centuries. It is regarded an -heirloom, and the person losing it probably thinks he is condemned if he -does not recover it.” - -Our hero hurried his steps. Descending the hillside alone he chanced to -glance at the native. The man had now arisen to his feet. All his -violent manner had disappeared. His face wore a look of sullen despair. - -He had taken his spear and fastened its end stoutly under an edge of the -boulder in a slanting position. Its keen point showed breast high. The -man had retreated some twenty feet. There he stood posed for a run. Dave -recalled something he had read of the hari-kari of the rude Asiatic -tribes. Suicide, swift and terrible, was the rule where some great loss, -disgrace, or bereavement unsettled the mind. - -“He means to impale himself with all his force on that spear point and -end his life,” decided the young aviator. “Hoi-hoi!” - -Just in time did Dave distract the native from his tragic purpose. He -fairly tumbled down the hill as the man, running at full speed, had -almost reached the waiting instrument of death. Dave’s shout made him -waver. As he dangled the prayer mill towards the wretched man, the -latter came to a pause like a statue. - -The eyes of the native were glued to the amulet as if he was fascinated. -To his overheated fancy Dave possibly suggested some “white god” sent -from the clouds to restore the precious prayer mill. - -The young airman came directly up to the native and extended the -trinket. The dark, bony hand of the devotee reached out and clasped it. -He burst into tears, kissed it, caressed it. He thrust it into his -bosom, and raising his arms in wild gyrations began a shrill, joyful -chant. - -When it was concluded he cast himself on the ground. Crawling abjectly -he embraced Dave’s knees. He lifted his eyes in gratitude. - -A stout steel chain bearing at one end a serviceable watch and at its -other the ring Adrianoffski had given Dave, met the glance of the -grateful suppliant. - -“Oi-e! oi-e!” he suddenly shouted. His fingers touched the ring. His -eyes, showing an intelligence he could not express, rested on the face -of the young aviator. - - - - - CHAPTER XIX - - STRANGE COMPANIONS - - -Our hero was not slow in discovering that the native saw something in -the ring he wore which centered his attention and interest. As Dave -smiled and looked upon him in a friendly way, the man showed less -strangeness and timidity. - -He touched the ring now and arose to his feet. He again touched the ring -and then two of his fingers. Dave fancied that he understood his -companion. He believed that the man wished to inform him that there was -another ring—two rings, both alike. - -Then the native again inspected his restored prayer mill. He gazed at it -fondly, with a great smile of joy. He pointed at the spear and shuddered -and shrank away from it. Then he fairly beamed on the young airman. He -dropped to the ground and placed Dave’s foot on his neck. He acted as if -he wanted his new friend to know that he was his slave for life. - -After the man had gone through all these manœuvers Dave held up the -ring. The native made a motion to describe a long flowing beard. -Adrianoffski wore such and doubtless his partner did also. Now our hero -felt certain that not only was the ring familiar to the native, but -likewise that he was telling that its duplicate belonged to Ben Mahanond -Adasse, and that he knew the merchant. - -“Where?” spoke Dave, and exhausted his pantomimic skill in trying to -express the word in signs. He pointed first in one direction and then in -the other. His companion followed every gesture he made intently, -seeming anxious to understand what he meant. - -The man pointed to the southwest, and moved his finger along the -horizon. He tried to express distance. The young aviator by signs -conveyed the idea that he wished to see the owner of the other ring, the -man with long flowing beard. - -The native nodded a dozen times with intelligence and satisfaction. He -promptly took up his knapsack and spear and faced about, posed to assume -the part of a guide. - -The pilot of the _Comet_ did not wish to leave his friends without -apprising them of his intentions. He motioned to the native to remain -where he was. He then went up the hillside about half way. He knew that -his comrades could now hear him. - -Dave in a sing-song voice, so as not to make the native suspect that he -was speaking to anybody, managed to tell Hiram and Elmer as to his -plans. When he came back to the valley the man started away and Dave -followed him. - -It was not more than three miles from the hill that they began to near a -high enclosure. It was formed of high, thick stakes driven close -together, and was a kind of palisade. The native halted at its rear. He -selected one knotted stake and ran up it with the agility of a monkey. -He disappeared on the other side. Then there was the sound of a metal -latch moving, and a section of the palisade opened. Dave’s guide pulled -him inside a yard. He led the way to a flat, broad building that filled -all the front of the place. They entered a room dimly lighted, piled -high with furs, pelts and wicker boxes of merchandise. It was a great -warehouse, the young airman surmised, stored with rich silks from -Persia, teas from China, ivory and oils from India, and miner’s supplies -for the secret, guarded gold mines of Thibet. - -When they came to a door with a sash in its upper part, Dave glanced -curiously through this window. The front of the building was open. Upon -platforms there were displayed in great confusion all kinds of goods. A -noisy throng was bartering and bustling about, as if it was some street -fair. Beyond them were rude wooden wheeled vehicles, and yaks, camels, -and even bison, used as beasts of burden. - -Rude and uncultured as the native was, his loyalty to Dave seemed to -arouse some instinct of caution. He motioned his companion to remain -where he was, and passed out into the emporium. In a very few minutes he -returned with a long-bearded man. Dave noted his resemblance in feature -and dress to Adrianoffski. - -“It is Mr. Adasse?” spoke Dave. - -The merchant bowed assentingly, but stared wonderingly at his visitor. -It appeared that few persons foreign to the country ventured thus far -into Thibet. - -“I came from Mr. Adrianoffski,” explained Dave. “He gave me this ring,” -and our hero exhibited the object in question. - -“Ah, then, you must be a very good friend,” exclaimed the Russian, his -face brightening into a warm welcome at once. “My poor roof, as was his, -is yours.” - -Adasse led Dave to a far end of the house, where there was a comfortable -room. Its owner spoke English quite as well as his partner. He told his -guest that he would get through his trading as quickly as possible, and -return to entertain him. - -This did not occur for nearly an hour. It was dusk by then, lamps were -lit, curtains drawn, and two native servants brought in an appetizing -meal. - -All this time the native to whom Dave had restored the prayer mill lay -down upon a mat in the room. Adasse explained to his guest that the man -was named Faiow. He was a trusted agent, sometimes employed by Adasse in -making sales to persons in Lhassa. - -The young airman found Adasse to be quite as kindly disposed towards him -as Adrianoffski had been. Dave inquired closely as to Lhassa and its -mysteries. Finally he made up his mind to implicitly trust his host. - -From an inner pocket Dave drew a photograph. It was the one furnished to -him at Washington by Miss Edna Deane. The picture of her missing -brother. - -“I have come a long distance to find this man,” said Dave. “He is an -explorer, detained in Lhassa.” - -“You expect to find him!” exclaimed Adasse, in a startled tone. “Ah, my -friend, you seek death in even speaking of it, should one of the -faithful hear you. Many rash explorers and adventurers have ventured to -pass the gates of Lhassa. They have never returned.” - -The speaker as well as the young airman started as a voice behind them -uttered a sharp intelligent sound. It proceeded from Faiow, who, -unheeded by them, had been moving about the room. Looking up, Dave saw -the man with his eyes fixed upon the photograph. - -“Speak to him,” said Dave, quickly. “I believe that picture suggests -something to him.” - -Adasse directed some questions in the native tongue to Faiow, and there -was quite a colloquy between them. Then the Russian turned to his guest -with the words: - -“He knows the man. He has seen him.” - -“Where? when?” inquired Dave, eagerly. - -“He does not tell. He says he will take you where you, too, may see -him.” - -“Take me into Lhassa?” asked Dave, wonderingly. - -“Yes. His gratitude towards you is almost fanatical. Let me question -further.” - -It was at the end of a second conversation with the native that Adasse -imparted some new information to the young aviator. - -“Faiow has the right of entry to Lhassa as a trader,” he explained. -“Once a week he carries dates boiled in wild honey to the great temple -of Oi-Fou-Jan. It is there that he has seen a man, a stranger, the face -in that picture. He says there are several of these intruders in the -city. They have been imprisoned in strong dungeons, or given menial work -to do for the priests. The grand Llama will not permit them to be -executed, for the blood of such is believed to profane the sacred city.” - -“But how will it be possible for me to visit the city?” inquired our -hero. - -“Faiow will arrange all that, he says,” replied Adasse. “You wish to -know where your friend is?” - -“Yes,” nodded Dave. - -“He promises to show you. No outsider is allowed to enter the city gates -unveiled. He says it is better to go now. He will provide you with a -garb like his own. Weekly he carries two bags of dates boiled in honey -to the city priest. You will help him, appearing as his servant. You -will probably pass muster. But, if you are suspected, it will mean sure -death.” - -“I am ready to take the risk,” pronounced the young airman, resolutely. - -It was half an hour later when Dave started for the sacred city with the -native. Each carried a bag, each wore the native costume, and each was -veiled. - -The pilot of the _Comet_ knew that his fellow aviators would take good -care of the biplane. He was anxious primarily to find out where young -Deane was imprisoned. He did not understand the Thibetan tongue, and -therefore could not converse with his guide. He felt sure, however, that -he could rely on the fidelity and intelligence of Faiow. - -They reached the gates of the city in about two hours. Faiow and his -companion were admitted without challenge. Dave was filled with interest -at all the strange sights he viewed. Immense temples and queerly -constructed stores and houses were on every hand. A busy populace filled -the lighted streets. Faiow finally reached a temple, in front of which -was a great squat idol, its feet alone ten feet across. Its hideous head -reached up nearly to the roof of a high, broad, stone pillar-shaped -structure. - -In front of it Faiow halted. He touched the arm of his companion to -attract his attention, and pointed to the roof of the building. This was -guarded with a sort of railing. At intervals along this lamps were -burning. - -Ever and anon a bird resembling a stork would light on the railing. A -man approached them, bearing on the end of a golden rod a fragment of -food. He would feed this to a bird, and then go to another of his -feathery visitors. - -The young airman thrilled, as in the full flare of the many lights he -closely studied the face of this strange hermit aloft. Even at that -distance he was able to observe that the lone roof sentinel was not a -native. - -“It is my man,” spoke the young pilot of the _Comet_ to himself. “I have -found the missing Morris Deane!” - - - - - CHAPTER XX - - RESCUED - - -The native uttered a low, warning sound, and touched the arm of the -young aviator. Dave was absorbed in studying the singular being on the -roof of the structure, but at a glance he saw a street guard -approaching. He knew that the movements of his companion urged him not -to arouse any suspicion. He followed him as he turned away. - -Our hero took a final view of the pillar-like building and its -surroundings. He tried to fill his mind with landmarks so he could -locate it again. Not, however, by the land route. Dave Dashaway realized -that the biplane must play a part in his plans if he hoped to succeed in -the rescue of young Deane. - -“What does it mean—the strange situation of my friend?” was Dave’s first -question, after he and his guide had returned to the trading post. - -Adasse spoke for a long time in his native tongue to Dave’s guide. Then -he explained: - -“Your friend is a perpetual prisoner on the roof where you saw him.” - -“But for what purpose?” inquired our hero. - -“A true devotee must not touch an evil bird; it is contagious, they -think, nor a sacred bird either,” continued the Russian; “it is -sacrilege. The duty of your friend is to keep the unclean birds away -from the sacred pillar in the daytime. At night he feeds the sacred -birds with honeyed dates. They know the food is awaiting them and come -nightly.” - -“He is there alone, then?” asked Dave. - -“He lives always on duty on that roof,” replied Adasse. “There, I -suppose, he has a shelter of some kind, probably a tent. There is a -grating in the roof. Through this his food is probably passed to him. -Beyond it and around the pillar are constantly armed guards.” - -“You have done a great deal for me,” said Dave gratefully. “I must leave -you now.” - -“I shall forget all you have told me,” observed the Russian, -significantly; “except that it has been pleasant to entertain a friend -of my partner. There is nothing I may do for you?” - -“There is this,” replied the young aviator—“Mr. Adrianoffski has given -me the address of an agent fifty miles west of here. I wish you would -explicitly direct me to him.” - -After receiving and memorizing his information, Dave proceeded at once -to rejoin his friends. The native insisted on going with him as far as -the hill. When they parted he handed Dave a basket bag. Then through -signs and grimaces he tried to indicate the gratitude he felt towards -the restorer of his precious prayer mill. - -It must have been after midnight when Dave reached the summit of the -hill. He found Hiram seated near the _Comet_, armed with one of the -rifles the machine carried. Elmer lay asleep on the ground. - -“All safe and sound, eh?” commended the young airman, in a pleased tone. - -“Yes, we haven’t been discovered or visited,” reported his loyal -assistant. “We began to wonder what kept you away so long, though.” - -“Wake up, Elmer, and I’ll tell you both all about it,” announced Dave. - -His two friends listened with the intensest interest to his narrative. -Hiram glanced curiously at the basket bag as Dave spoke of it. - -“Wonder what’s in it?” questioned Elmer. - -“I’ll find out,” suggested Hiram. - -It proved to contain over a dozen packages. These were wicker covered -porcelain jars. Removing their covers, Hiram smacked his lips with -satisfaction as he sampled their contents. - -“Say,” he gloated, “just sample these dainties! Why, it beats homemade -molasses candy all hollow!” - -All hands did some “sampling.” They found preserved ginger, honeyed -dates, some melon rind finely flavored—in fact a series of native -confections as toothsome as they were rich and novel. - -“What’s the programme now, Dave?” inquired Hiram, the spell of feasting -concluded. - -“Morris Deane, of course,” responded the young airman, promptly. - -“To-night; right away?” asked Elmer. - -“We must lose no time getting on our route,” replied our hero. “It seems -to me that we have been most fortunate in meeting the people who have -assisted us so grandly in locating the man we are after. I feel positive -I can find the structure where I saw Deane. Its roof is large enough for -a safe descent. Get ready, fellows.” - -“Say, it will be a great feather in your cap if you get this Mr. Deane -safely away from there; won’t it, Dave?” spoke Hiram. - -“I hope to do just that,” replied the pilot of the _Comet_, confidently. -“You can imagine what joy his friends will feel to have him restored to -them.” - -“Especially that pretty little miss who drove up to the hangar near -Washington in that automobile, Dave,” suggested Elmer, mischievously. - -The _Comet_ was in starting trim, and the young aviators took their -places. The air and the breeze showed ideal conditions for an easy -flight. - -There was clear moonlight, but Dave counted on the city being asleep. As -he neared it, however, the bright lamps on the top of towers and temples -caused him to take to a high area to avoid being discovered. - -Circle after circle he described in a narrowing course, at last making -sure that he had located the structure he had visited with the native. -He indicated this to his comrades. All of them were infused with -suspense and expectation. - -The expert young aviator hovered over the structure. He estimated time, -distance and risks. The _Comet_ made a superb dip. It skimmed the -parapet of the pillar and landed silently on the roof. In doing so, -however, one of its wings tipped over one of the many ornate lamps -lining the sides of the enclosure. - -Dave sprang from the machine, his eye fixed on a small skin tent at one -corner of the roof. Glancing within it, he saw lying upon a mat the man -the native had pointed out to him six hours previous. Our hero seized -his arm and shook him. - -“Quick Mr. Deane!” he called out. “We are friends—friends from your -people.” - -Startled and confused at the suddenness of the waking up, the pillar -sentinel sprang to his feet. He seemed about to rush towards the grating -in the roof to sound an alarm. - -“Look, look,” continued Dave, rapidly, producing the picture of Edna -Deane. “It is your sister! She sent this as a token! Quick, now!” - -“Dave, make haste!” called out Hiram, sharply. “There’s something -wrong!” - -The young airman almost dragged the bewildered captive across the roof. -He acted in a great hurry, for something had emphasized Hiram’s warning -cry. A series of yells rang through the grating in the roof. Beyond it a -man was dancing up and down in frantic state of excitement. - -The pilot of the _Comet_ at once decided that this must be some watchman -or sentinel. He had discovered the arrival of the airship. Now he was -shouting out the news of his discovery, probably to others within the -structure. - -Another cause of alarm was an incipient blaze directly on the roof. The -lamp that the wing of the biplane had overturned had spilled its -contents. The oil had ignited, some rugs had taken fire, and the blaze -had caught a canopy near by. The _Comet_ itself was menaced by the -rising blaze. Dave reached the machine and gave rapid orders to his -assistants. - -“Get in, quick!” he directed his companion, but the rescued captive was -too overcome to act for himself. Hiram helped pull him over into his own -seat, vacating this and getting into the storage space behind it. - -Dave got to the pilot post at once, and glanced back. Elmer was flapping -back the encroaching flames with a robe. Just then the grating in the -roof was unlocked. Up through it came a dozen native guards. - -But for the fact that these men were so startled at the unusual scene -presented to them, the _Comet_ and its passengers might never have left -the mystic city of Lhassa. Thrown off their mental balance by a sight of -the unfamiliar machine, the guards stood staring helplessly about and -then rushed forward to extinguish the fire on the roof. - -“That was a tight squeeze,” gasped Hiram Dobbs. - -“We’re safe—grand!” cried the relieved Elmer. - -The man they had rescued shrank back as the _Comet_ arose like some -great bird. Just then the loud brazen notes of an alarm bell sounded -out. Then some shouts followed the speeding biplane. Leaving a vast -turmoil behind them, the airship boys glided off into space, over the -city, past its outer walls, making straight west for the haven of safety -Dave had in view. - -The young airmen did not attempt to converse with the rescued Deane. The -latter, thin, pale and weak, was overcome with the excitement of the -past few minutes. He sat like one in a daze, staring in marvelling -wonder at the receding landscape. He made no move when Elmer belted him -into the seat. He could not yet realize his removal from the wretched -post of servitude which he had lately filled. - -It was a lucky thing for our hero that Ben Mahanond Adasse had given him -explicit directions as to the trading post fifty miles away from Lhassa, -where Adrianoffski had another partner. It saved time and enabled a -direct route, and two hours later the _Comet_ descended to the ground in -an open space behind a warehouse on the edge of a native settlement. - -“Look after our friend and keep a sharp lookout,” Dave directed his -assistants, and left the machine and walked around to the front of the -building nearby. - -There were no lights or signs of habitation about the place. The young -aviator seized a weighted cord suspended from a hook near the entrance -to the building. He swung this time and again against the door. - -A gleam of light soon showed, and the door was unbarred. A man wearing a -fez appeared, a suspicious blink in his sleepy eyes. He stared -challengingly at the disturber. - -“You are Talzk Prevola?” inquired our hero, at once. - -“An English!” exclaimed the man. “I am he whom you bespeak. But what of -you?” - -Dave produced the signet ring. As before along the journey its magical -effect was immediate. - -“It is from Adrianoffski,” said the trader. “You are welcome. Enter, my -son. The place is yours.” - -Dave was sure that the man was Prevola, and he was just as certain that -he could be trusted implicitly. He briefly spoke of his acquaintance -with Mr. Adrianoffski and the claim he held upon his confidence and -gratitude. - -“I have a friend,” explained our hero, “who must be conveyed quickly and -safely to the nearest railroad point in Russia. He must be taken out of -Thibet speedily and secretly.” - -“The order of my friend’s friend is law with me,” declared Prevola, -gravely. “You but speak, I obey.” - -“I will shortly return,” said Dave, and he went out to the biplane and -approached it. - -“I wish to have a talk with you,” he said to Morris Deane. “Help him -out, Elmer.” - -The rescued young man was assisted from the machine. Our hero linked his -arm in Deane’s in a friendly, reassuring way. He led him to where a pile -of wood lay and made him sit down beside him. - -“Mr. Deane,” he said, gently, “you understand that we are friends sent -to rescue, to save you?” - -“I am just trying to comprehend it all,” was the reply, in a wavering -tone of voice. “It seems incredible, astounding,” and the speaker passed -his hand over his face in a vague manner. - -“Try and realize it all,” urged the young airman, “for time is -precious.” And then our hero told all that there was to tell. - -Each succeeding moment Morris Deane seemed to take in more clearly the -extraordinary disclosures the young pilot had to make. - -“I never dared dream of escape, of a rescue,” spoke Deane. “And you and -your friends have done this noble act! Can I ever show my gratitude? -Think of it, that hopeless life at Lhassa, and now freedom—freedom!” - -The speaker threw up his hands in an ecstatic way. He looked at his -rescuer with tears in his eyes. - -“Yes,” replied the young airman, “it is freedom—your anxious father—your -devoted sister—a fortune awaiting you and—home!” - - - - - CHAPTER XXI - - WAR - - -“What was that, Dave?” asked Hiram Dobbs. - -“War,” replied the young pilot of the _Comet_, and he used the word very -seriously, “we have taken the wrong course, but there’s no going back -now.” - -The champion biplane was sailing over a broad, deep valley two hours -after dusk. Everything was in brisk going trim. The days that had -elapsed since the rescued captive, Morris Deane, had been cared for by -the young airmen had passed pleasantly. They had crossed Russia, had -reported at Teheran, had seen some of the wonders of Arabia, and now -were traversing Turkish territory. - -The affairs of young Deane had been adjusted with supreme satisfaction -for our hero. It warmed his loyal heart to think that through the -unselfish efforts of the crew of the _Comet_, the brother of Edna Deane -was now speeding safely and comfortably on his way to those who had -mourned him. - -The trader friend of Adrianoffski had done everything in his power to -make sure the homeward journey of the fugitive. The young airman had -insisted on paying him liberally for his cooperation. He had arranged so -that Morris Deane could be provided with money current in the different -countries through which he must pass. The trader was to convey Deane out -of Thibet concealed in a cart carrying merchandise. He was to be -provided with a disguise. Until he passed the Russian frontier and was -placed upon a train bound for St. Petersburg, two trusty agents were to -accompany and protect him. - -The boys felt happy over all this. They had lost little time and gained -some experience in doing a humane act. Then the regular schedule of -progress was resumed. Now, as noted, Hiram had put a startling question. -The pilot of the _Comet_ had responded with an ominous assertion. - -When Hiram had asked: “What was that?” a sudden glare in the distance -followed by a harsh, detonating crash had caused his sudden query. - -Our hero had explained that it was “War.” He intimated further that this -was a possible menace to their expedition, in that they might not -retrace the route they had come. - -“I hoped to keep out of the Turkish trouble,” proceeded the young -airman; “but we must take the edge of it, I fear. You know we passed -over a great military camp just before dusk.” - -“Yes, and they sent a brisk volley after us,” reminded Hiram. - -“Without calculating the way the _Comet_ can fly,” added Elmer, with a -chuckle. - -“We had better keep at a pretty high level just the same,” observed -Dave. “I will be glad when we get out of these intricate mountain -ranges. Then we can see what is ahead of us and get our bearings.” - -Just then another explosion sounded. It was mingled with a series of -minor reports, echoing from past the ridge of hills to the East. - -“That sounded like a powder mill blowing up, followed by a lot of musket -shots,” suggested Hiram. - -“I have no doubt that it was a bomb,” replied Dave. “Fighting is going -on somewhere beyond us.” - -For some time echoes of near explosions reached the airship boys. Then -there was a lapse into silence. The contour of the country changed and -the hills lessened, and at length a level expanse spread out before -them. - -They could make out lights scattered all over the area. Here was a -settlement, beyond it a town. Then in the distance they noticed what the -young aviator decided to be a camp. Still farther beyond, flashes and -booms apprised him that some kind of a combat was going on. - -“We had better get out of this,” remarked the young pilot. - -“O-oh!” fairly shouted Hiram, in spellbound wonder. - -Of a sudden, from the direction of the camp, there shot up a broad, -dazzling beam of radiance. It moved steadily, broadened and began to -sweep the western horizon. Slowly traversing the sky, the sharp rays -focused upon an object speeding through the air. A further sweep, and a -duplicate for just an instant was framed by the piercing glow. - -“A searchlight!” cried the startled Elmer. - -“And two airships,” added Hiram. “Dave, what are we going to do?” - -The young airman’s active brain was busy. He fancied he took in the -situation. They were passing over a camp. Ahead of them was a walled -town, now being attacked. The two airships to the west were probably -bomb-carrying machines, stealing over the enemy to drop death-dealing -projectiles into the midst of their camp. - -“Dave,” whispered Elmer, almost too excited to speak, “we have been -seen!” - -This was true. A lateral sweep of the searchlight brought the _Comet_ -into clear view. The operator of the great eye of radiance focused the -piercing rays directly upon the _Comet_. Then, sweeping along, for an -instant only they showed an airship almost directly over the craft of -the young aviators. - -“Another one,” cried Hiram sharply—“ugh!” - -He shivered. All hands felt a jar, an impact. They heard a distinct -whiz. - -“Something was dropped!” pronounced Elmer, hoarsely. “There!” - -Directly beneath them some descending object reached the ground. There -were a thousand darting sparks of fire, then a tremendous boom. - -“An airship from that camp,” said Dave, rapidly. “They took us for one -of the enemy! We must get out of range! Hold steady, fellows!” - -The pilot of the _Comet_ knew that the moment had arrived for prompt, -expert tactics. There might be as swift machines as his own among the -war craft in action, but he doubted if any of them was constructed to -take the higher level the _Comet_ could attain. The machine made a -superb shoot on a sharp tangent. Its progress was so rapid that it -almost took away the breath of the excited crew. Again the groping -searchlight sought to reveal the situation aloft. - -“Hurrah—safe! beat! They’re not even in the race,” crowed the jubilant -Elmer. - -The sweeping glow showed the machine that had dropped a bomb towards a -supposed rival fully a thousand feet below the _Comet_. Now its pilot -put on full speed. Out of range of camp, town and the firing limit the -splendid biplane sailed. - -Two days later, none the worse for their unique experience, the airship -boys arrived at Cairo. The _Comet_ seemed to be no particular novelty to -the crowd which greeted its arrival in the center of a great public -square. They greeted the machine and its crew, however, with cheers. -Dave left the machine in charge of his assistants, who were kept busy -answering questions from the curious bystanders. - -It was nearly an hour before Dave returned. He arrived seated on a wagon -containing new fuel and food supplies for the _Comet_. - -“Going to make any kind of a stop here, Dave?” inquired Hiram. - -“Not a minute longer than it is necessary,” was the speedy reply. “We -are third in the race, fellows, and that means no delay.” - -“Yes,” nodded Elmer excitedly, “a man in the crowd speaking English said -he knew we were one of the machines in the international race, and that -two others had reported here at Cairo and had left again.” - -“That is true,” answered the young airman. “Number seven is three days -ahead of us, number eleven, six hours. Help get things in order, -fellows. We can’t afford to lose any time now.” - -When the _Comet_ started up again the cheers and good wishes of the -crowd were renewed. Dave made a fifty-mile run, came down in a lonely -spot, and at once brought out the route charts. - -“Look here, fellows,” he said, his finger tracing a course across the -map; “there are three routes to choose from. From Morocco, the Azores, -or Senegal; the Cape Verde Islands, St. Paul Island, and Cayenne. Those -are the routes most talked about at the start. They are favored because -they are the farthest north and the most direct. I have a better, a -least safer, idea.” - -“I’ll warrant you have, Dave, if it’s to be found,” declared Hiram. - -“What is it?” inquired Elmer. - -“The objection to those routes,” explained the young airman, “is that -the water stretches are of wide extent. What I dread most is the fear of -being caught away from land.” - -“Is there a shorter route than those you speak of?” asked Hiram. - -“Yes, there is,” asserted Dave. - -“What is it?” - -“Egypt, the Sahara Desert, the French Congo, Ascension Island, St. -Helena, Trinidad, Rio Janeiro, and we are on American soil.” - -“Capital!” cried Hiram. - -“I wouldn’t lose an hour, Dave,” advised Elmer, with real anxiety. “Ever -since we found out that there are two of the crowd ahead of us, it seems -as if I’d be willing to sleep in the seat in the machine all the way to -get ahead of them.” - -It was a warm, clear day when the _Comet_ came to a rest at the city of -Mayamlia, in French Congo. Looking back over the ten days consumed in -making the run across Egypt, through Fezzan, the width of the great -desert, over darkest Africa, and into the Soudan, the airship boys had -viewed a country never before thus inspected by an aerial explorer. - -“Baked, boiled, and soaked,” was the way Hiram put it, good-naturedly, -but very grimly. - -“And sandstorms and deluges,” added Elmer, with a grimace. - -The flight had certainly been a hardy but instructive one. More than -once the adventurous young aviators had a thrilling experience amidst -unfamiliar air conditions. Twice they had been discovered in temporary -camps by natives. The watchfulness and skill of their pilot had baffled -efforts at capture. - -“Just to think,” said Hiram, gazing longingly at the ocean—“just a bit -of water to cover, and we are on home territory.” - -“Yes,” smiled our hero, “it looks nice and easy on the map. Remember one -thing, though, fellows: here at Mayamlia we take in full supplies. The -food and fuel will be easy as far as Helena or Trinidad. Between those -points and the final flight to Rio, though, the gasoline supply is what -we must look out for.” - -“We’re going to make it—I feel it in my bones!” crowed the optimistic -Hiram Dobbs. - - - - - CHAPTER XXII - - LOST IN THE AIR - - -“This is serious, fellows,” spoke Dave. “Get ready for the worst.” - -“What is the worst?” inquired Elmer Brackett. - -“A sudden drop. You had better have the breeches buoys ready.” - -“Oh, Dave!” cried Hiram Dobbs, in actual distress. “You don’t mean to -say that the brave old _Comet_ is going back on us just as it looks as -though the home stretch is right ahead of us?” - -“It’s the fog, fellows,” explained Dave. “We have beaten around in it -for twelve hours, until I feel certain we are all out of our course. In -a word, we are lost.” - -“Lost in the air!” exclaimed Hiram—“who’d ever have thought of it!” - -“Yes, just like a ship in strange waters,” said Dave. “If we were not so -far from the mainland we left last week, there might be some hope. -According to my calculation, we have missed St. Helena. If that is true, -we can count on no land this side of Trinidad.” - -“That must be hundreds of miles away,” remarked Hiram. - -“Worse than that,” declared Elmer, who was pretty well posted on chart -and “log” details. “If the fog would only lift!” - -“That is our only hope,” declared Dave. “I do not wish to alarm you, -fellows; but we must face the music like men. I don’t believe the -_Comet_ will last out six hours.” - -“As bad as that?” said Hiram, in a subdued tone. - -“Yes,” asserted the young airman. “If we could sight some ship I would -not hesitate to descend upon its deck. This fog, of course, shuts out -any chance to depend on that. The trouble is with our wires. That strain -we had in last night’s wind seems to have played havoc with the entire -steering gear.” - -“Can’t it be fixed?” inquired Elmer, anxiously. - -“Not while we’re flying,” replied Dave. “You know, the post is really a -lever and the wheel a handle. The cloche, or bell-like attachment that -runs to the warping wires, has got out of kilter. You know, the steering -post is made of one-inch, twenty-gauge steel tubing. At the lower end of -this is a fork made of pieces of smaller tubing, bent and brazed into -place. The fork forms part of the universal joint on which the post is -mounted. From this run the warping wires through pulleys to the -elevators.” - -Hiram nodded intelligently at this technical explanation. Elmer, too, -understood what their pilot wished to convey to them. - -“Some of the tubing is loose,” continued the young airman. “I have felt -it vibrate for the past hour. If any part gives way, and a puff of wind -should come up, we will lose all control of the steering gear.” - -“The mischief!” ejaculated Hiram, who always got excited readily. “We’re -in a bad fix; aren’t we?” - -“Bad enough to keep on a low level, for fear we may turn turtle at any -moment,” declared Dave. - -The young aviator had not misstated conditions. The situation was a -critical one, and he had known it for some time. Even now, as they made -a straight volplane, there was an ominous creak in the tubing joints, -and the machine wabbled. - -“Fellows, she’s going!” declared our hero. “We’ve got to drop or take a -risk of a sudden plunge that may end everything.” - -The _Comet_ had no float attachment. Hiram got the breeches buoys and -the life preservers ready. The fog was so heavy they could not see the -sky above nor the sea beneath them. Dave allowed the machine to drift on -a long, inclined dip. Something snapped. The _Comet_ wavered from side -to side but did not upset. There was a second sudden jar. - -“Get ready. It’s a sure drop, any way we manage it,” shouted Dave. - -All hands were ready to leap from the machine when it struck. Suddenly -Dave shut off the power at a contact. The machine grated, ran on its -wheels, and came to an astonishing but substantial standstill. - -“Dave, Dave,” cried the delighted Hiram, springing out. “Land, solid -land!” - -“It can’t be! Must be a rock!” gasped Elmer, unbelievingly. - -“Whoop! hurrah!” yelled Hiram. “Oh, glory!” - -Dave’s young assistant acted mad as a March hare. He could not help it. -He sang and danced. Then he reached down and grabbed up handfuls of the -light sand at his feet, and flung it joyously up in the air as if it -were grains of precious gold. - -“Sure as you live,” exclaimed the bewildered Elmer. “It’s solid land—oh, -what luck!” - -The young aviator was filled with surprise and satisfaction. Such rare -good fortune seemed incredible. He stood still, not caring if it was a -sand bank or a desert island. They had escaped a fearful peril—and the -_Comet_ was safe. - -“Who cares for the fog. Why, if it’s only a ten foot mud bank we’re so -glad nothing else matters much just now,” declared the overwrought -Hiram. - -“It’s something better than that,” responded our hero brightly, all -buoyed up now after the recent heavy strain on nerve and mind. “We must -have landed on some island not down on the chart.” - -“Let us explore,” suggested the impetuous Hiram. - -“Let us eat first,” added the hungry Elmer. “It’s brought back my -appetite, after that big scare.” - -Dave went all over the machine, more with the sense of touch than actual -eyesight inspection in that enveloping fog. He came back to his comrades -not a whit discouraged. - -“How is it, Dave?” asked Hiram. - -“I can’t tell exactly,” was the reply. “Some of the tubing is loose and -the gear is out of center. With what tools we have and duplicate parts, -we may be able to fix things up good enough to carry on to the South -American coast.” - -“Let’s do it, then,” suggested the eager Elmer. “Those other fellows may -get the biggest kind of a lead on us while we are delaying here.” - -“They are probably having troubles of their own,” remarked Dave. “It -would be impossible to do anything in this fog. Besides, it will take us -at least a day to repair the _Comet_. We might just as well take a -resting spell and a bite to eat.” - -The food supply aboard the biplane was abundant, but no attempt was made -to cook a meal. The airship boys indulged in a lunch composed of -crackers, cheese and some lemonade, in the manufacture of which beverage -Hiram had become something of an expert. - -“I say,” he suddenly exclaimed, ten minutes later, as he bolted a -mouthful of cracker—“look there!” - -The speaker pointed, and all hands arose to their feet. In the far -distance a growing yellow glow began to diffuse itself over the western -sky. As suddenly and completely as the dense fog had come down upon them -earlier in the day, a grand clearing up transpired. - -“Why, it’s just like the rolling up of a curtain,” cried Elmer. - -The airship boys stood viewing a swift panorama. Vague shapes and -outlines began to stand out before their vision. The blue sky showed to -their left, the ocean at quite some distance. The sinking sun sent up -its radiant beams and they made out that they were on an island. - -Its rounding end was disclosed as they swept the scene with interested -glances. Little patches of forest and grassy plain showed. - -“Why, a famous camping spot,” spoke the elated Hiram. - -“How lucky we didn’t miss it,” added Elmer. - -The young pilot could now inspect the _Comet_ more clearly. He reported -his conclusions after going over every part of the machine. - -“I think time and patience will fix things up,” he announced. - -“How much time?” inquired Hiram. - -“I hope not a great lot of patience,” said Elmer, with a longing thought -of the home mainland. - -“There will be some brazing and hammering to do,” explained Dave. “We -will have to build a fire. It will soon be dark and we must wait for -daylight. Now then, fellows, don’t waste any nerve force worrying. What -we lose to-day we’ll try to make up for when we get started again. We -will find a good camping spot, have a pleasant evening, and a full -night’s sleep. That will put us in fine trim for real business in the -morning.” - -“Begone dull care,” sang Hiram, in a jolly tone. “We’ll forget that -we’re circling the globe for one ten hours, and be common, everyday boys -out on a picnic lark, and report for duty in the morning.” - -“There’s an inviting spot,” observed Dave, pointing to a copse on a -little rise in the near distance. - -Before dusk the airship boys had gotten the _Comet_ safely placed, -blankets out, a campfire built, and were settled down comfortably for -the evening. There was nothing to indicate that the island was inhabited -with wild beasts. It seemed to be a little emerald patch set down in the -ocean, a sort of lost Crusoe reef, too small to have a name or a place -on the marine charts. - -One by one the boys drifted into slumberland. It must have been nearly -midnight when Hiram and Elmer awakened to find Dave shaking them -vigorously. - -“Get up, fellows,” directed the young airman. “Something’s going on that -we have got to investigate.” - - - - - CHAPTER XXIII - - THE BLAZING BEACON - - -“What’s the trouble now, Dave?” speedily inquired Hiram, getting to his -feet and Elmer after him. - -“No trouble at all, I fancy,” was the reply; “quite the contrary, in -fact. Look there.” - -The young pilot of the _Comet_ pointed across country towards the beach. -Where a hill ran up to a sharp promontory jutting out over the ocean, a -bright light showed. - -“Why,” cried Hiram, “it’s a blazing heap of some kind. Looks as if it -was up off the ground.” - -“Yes, and it doesn’t burn like wood or oil. Notice the smoke and the way -the flames leap up in the air? What do you suppose it is, Dave?” -inquired Elmer. - -“I can’t imagine, unless it is some beacon,” replied the young aviator. - -“We can soon find out,” declared Elmer. “Wait a minute.” - -The speaker ran to the biplane. He soon returned, his telescope in hand. -This he leveled at the distant glow. - -“You’re right, Dave,” he announced excitedly. “It’s a beacon, sure, and -it’s pitch, sure. See for yourself.” - -“Yes,” assented the young aviator, levelling the glass. “There is no -doubt that it is a signal of some kind. I can make out the skeleton legs -of some kind of a brazier.” - -Hiram came in for a show at the spyglass. His decision enforced that of -his friends. - -“What will we do—investigate?” he asked of their leader. - -“We must do that,” replied Dave. “It can’t be very far away.” - -“What will we do with the machine?” questioned Hiram, who did not relish -being left behind. - -“We can roll it to the beach and keep it with us,” explained Dave. “Come -on.” - -“Maybe this is an inhabited island after all,” suggested Elmer. “I’d -like to know. We don’t want to run into cannibals and have them roast -us.” - -The airship boys got ready to leave their temporary camp. They gained -the beach, where progress was level and clear for the _Comet_. The -blazing beacon was an excellent guide, and they neared it rapidly. When -they came to the foot of the hill, they discovered a deep embrasure in -its surface. - -“Run the machine in there,” directed our hero. “Nobody is likely to -disturb it before we return.” - -It was with a good deal of curiosity and excitement that the boys -ascended the hill. That gained, Dave took a broad survey of its top. No -habitation or person was in view. At the edge of the highest point, -commanding an open view of the ocean, was a large brazier, such as is -used in light blacksmithing work. Its broad flanging top held a barrel, -evidently containing pitch or some readily inflammable material. The -fire sent up dense clouds of thick, black smoke. At the same time, -however, the bright flames shone far out over the waters with a -brilliant glow. - -“Queer,” observed Hiram, staring at the brazier with no clue as to the -hand that had lighted it. - -“Yes, some one started that fire, and quite recently,” declared Dave. - -“I wonder why? And who it could be?” chimed in Elmer. - -“We had better set about finding out,” suggested Hiram. - -The young airman took the lead in a search for the mysterious owner of -the brazier. Finally, as they approached a slight dip in the surface of -the ground, he swung his arm back to command a halt. - -Where some trees showed, the reflection from the fire outlined a ragged -tent made out of a sail. Near it were some boxes and barrels. There was -a small table and a stool, a little oil stove, and some cooking -utensils. - -A hammock swung between two trees. Lying in this, apparently asleep, the -curious explorers made out a human form. The young airman waved his -comrades back and cautiously approached the unexpected layout before -him. - -A near glance showed our hero that the occupant of the hammock was a -white man garbed in nautical costume. There seemed to be no other person -in the vicinity. Dave reached out and gave the hammock a rough swing. - -Its occupant must have been a light sleeper. With wonderful suddenness -and a sharp yell he bounded from his bed. He was a thin, short man, not -weighing more than ninety pounds—so undersized, in fact, as he stood -gaping at Dave in open-mouthed wonder, that the latter felt inclined to -laugh at the grotesque figure he made. - -“Why—where—when!” gasped out the man, and, almost overcome, he could -utter no further coherent words. - -“Do I happen to come here—and my friends? That beacon directed us; who -are you?” asked our hero. - -“Shipwrecked mariner,” was the reply, in a mournful tone. - -“You are a castaway, then?” - -“That’s it—good ship _Flying Scud_, Nantucket. Been here two months. -What’s your craft?” - -“The airship _Comet_,” replied our hero. - -“W-what?” and the man looked astounded and then grinned. He rubbed his -eyes to convince himself that he was not dreaming. Then he gazed at Dave -in a hurt way, as if he felt that our hero was making fun of him. - -“That’s true,” the young airman hastened to say. “Myself and my friends -arrived here by accident only a few hours since. The power on our -machine gave out, and we landed in the fog, not knowing where and we -don’t know now.” - -By this time Hiram and Elmer had advanced to the spot. The man scanned -them closely. He rubbed his head in a worried, uncertain sort of a way, -as if figuring out something that puzzled him. Then he said, after a -long pause: - -“I was in hopes my beacon had called a ship. Seeing as it isn’t, I -suppose there is no chance of my getting away from here?” - -“Why not?” challenged Dave, encouragingly. “Did you ever ride in an -airship, my friend?” - -“No, never saw one. I’ve read about them and have seen pictures of them. -To a regular tar, used to solid planks for nigh onto twenty years, those -flimsy things don’t appeal, somehow.” - -“That’s because you don’t know what real sailing is,” declared Hiram. - -“Where is this new-fangled contrivance of yours?” inquired the man, -looking into the sky and then all around the hill. - -“Come with us and we’ll show it to you,” promised Dave. - -“All right. Then I’ll show you my ship.” - -“Oh, you have one?” inquired Elmer in surprise. - -“What is left of the good old _Flying Scud_, yes,” answered the -castaway, mournfully. “You see, friends, she must have struck a reef and -sprung a leak. Anyhow, that dark, stormy night when I found myself -drifting on her alone, I had to figure out that the captain had given -her up as doomed. They had abandoned her in the long boat while I was -asleep in the forecastle. Anyhow, when I came on deck, I found the ship -deserted. Maybe the crew thought I had been swept overboard. Perhaps -they couldn’t find me—you see, I’m so small,” concluded the speaker, -plaintively. - -“Say, mister, how did you get out of it?” asked the interested Hiram. - -“The _Flying Scud_ was rolling like a dancing sailor. I thought it was -the last of Jabez Hull, yours truly. As she sided over, I strapped a -life belt on me and dropped into the sea. Well, to make a long story -short, I landed on this island. The next morning I found the old ship a -wreck but her bow out of water, down on the beach yonder. She’s been -there since. Can’t be budged, can’t be used, but I’ve been breaking her -up to build some kind of a craft to get away in. Then, too, I’ve got -food and furniture for my camp here. I ain’t much of a ship carpenter -and got sort of discouraged, and for a week I’ve got busy and burned up -a barrel of tar as a beacon.” - -The boys pulled the _Comet_ into view when they reached the spot where -they had stowed it. The flare from the beacon enabled a full view of the -biplane. It seemed as though Jabez Hull would never cease staring at it. -He forgot all about his own forlorn situation in asking half a hundred -wondering questions as to the machine and what it could do. - -When he led the airship boys down the beach and showed them the wreck, -it was their turn to become interested. What pleased the young aviators -most of all was the discovery of a small portable forge. This the -castaway had removed from the ship to assist in building his boat of -escape. This, scarcely begun, was lying on the sand. - -“Fellows,” said Dave, to his assistants, “this is a great stroke of luck -for us. We can repair the machine in a good way, with a forge and tools -to help us.” - -“Yes, and there’s a whole tank of gasoline aboard the _Flying Scud_,” -volunteered Hull. - -The boys went back with the castaway to his camp. No one thought of -sleeping amid the excitement of the occasion. - -“We must get up early in the morning,” said Dave. “We must lose no time -in starting on our way.” - -“See here,” spoke up the castaway; “I suppose there’s no chance of my -thinking of having a show to get away from here with you?” - -“We shall certainly try to find a place for you,” replied Dave, -promptly. - -“You will?” cried Hull, joyously. “Oh, but that’s grand! See here, -friend, you know what I’ll do if you fellows get me safely to the -American coast?” - -“What, now?” questioned Hiram, who liked to hear the odd old mariner -talk. - -“I’ll give you twenty thousand dollars.” - -Our hero said nothing, but Elmer stared hard at the speaker and Hiram -nudged him and winked. - -“Provided,” continued Jabez Hull—“provided you take my treasure also -along in your airship.” - -“Your treasure, Mr. Hull?” repeated Dave. “What does it consist of?” - -“A keg—yes, friend, probably the most valuable keg in the world. It -weighs over fifty pounds, and it’s precious as diamonds. Land me -anywhere near to a big city till I realize, and I’ll hand you over -twenty thousand dollars in good, solid, hard cash.” - - - - - CHAPTER XXIV - - THE HOME STRETCH - - -“Ready for a start,” ordered Dave. - -It was under new and favorable circumstances that the young pilot of the -_Comet_ spoke the words. The lonely island in the South Atlantic was now -a mere fading memory, the many leagues traversed by land and sea lost in -the past. The _Comet_ and the airship boys were stationed in a field -near to a little hostelry on the outskirts of Rio Janeiro. - -It was rare good fortune, indeed, that the young adventurers had -happened across Jabez Hull. Within twenty-four hours after discovering -the shipwrecked mariner the _Comet_ was on her way due west, with a new -passenger. - -The forge, tools and metal material once belonging to the wrecked -_Flying Scud_ had come in most usefully. Dave knew enough of popular -mechanics to utilize them practically. He declared the biplane as solid -and perfect, after a careful overhauling and repairing, as when the -machine had left the original starting place of the great international -race around the world. - -The “treasure” of the eccentric Jabez Hull had been taken aboard. It -represented a keg sewn up in a coarse canvas jacket. Hiram was alive -with curiosity to know what possible material the package could contain -to equal in value the vaunted twenty thousand dollars. On that point, -however, the castaway had insisted on preserving utter silence. - -“I’m a man of my word,” he said, “and that is all there is about it. -Land me anywhere on American territory and I will divide my riches.” - -With this the airship boys were forced to be content. Room was made for -the precious keg by leaving behind on the island the greater part of the -exigency equipment of the _Comet_. The young pilot felt that now all -they need fear was the giving out of the gasoline supply. There was -plenty of this aboard the wrecked ship, and they managed to find storage -for quite an extra supply of it. - -It was a daring dash, this final one over leagues of open sea in their -frail aircraft. Once begun, however, the airship boys were dauntless and -tireless. Fine weather and favorable winds assisted them, and without a -single notable mishap they had reached the great Brazilian metropolis. - -The young aviator was anxious to get to a telegraph office at once. He -left Hiram and Elmer in charge of the _Comet_. Jabez Hull insisted on -accompanying him to the city. - -“I want to get action on that keg of treasure,” he said. “I know several -shipping houses in Rio. I’ll be back here to the airship by noon.” - -“Make it noon, sharp,” advised Dave, “for we cannot afford to lose a -single second in the race now.” - -“I’ll be here on time, don’t you fret,” declared the castaway. - -He and Dave parted when they reached the heart of the city. The young -airman was back with his friends before noon. He had gotten in touch -with Washington. What he learned made him more than anxious to resume -the flight. - -“We are third, fellows, so far as heard from, I am sorry to say,” he -announced to his anxious comrades, and this put them in a great flutter. - -“You don’t mean to say that any of the machines has reached goal?” cried -Hiram, his heart sinking to his boots. - -“No,” replied our hero; “but number seven was reported at Para -yesterday. This morning number two was at Cayenne. They are hundreds of -miles nearer home than we are.” - -“Then it’s a run day and night from this on,” insisted Hiram, bustling -about excitedly. - -“It will have to be, if we expect to make good,” said Dave. “Mr. Hull -has not returned yet?” - -“Not a sign of him,” reported Elmer. - -They were all busy for the next hour, getting things in shape for a -speedy and sustained flight on the home stretch. Dave glanced at his -watch. - -“It is after noon,” he observed. “I don’t see how we can afford to wait -any longer for Mr. Hull.” - -“Why, we simply mustn’t,” declared the impatient Hiram. - -“Get ready for a start, then. Here, Elmer,” and Dave wrote a few lines -on a card. “Take that to the hotel keeper and tell him to give it to Mr. -Hull when he shows up.” - -“What were you writing?” inquired Hiram, as Elmer darted away on his -mission. - -“Directions as to how he can wire us and where he can find us later,” -replied our hero. - -They waited ten minutes after the return of Elmer, but there were no -signs of the missing passenger of the _Comet_. The machine went aloft as -if filled with the spirit that infused its crew. They were soon whizzing -on their way north. - -“Wonder what our queer shipwreck friend will say when he finds us gone?” -inquired Hiram. - -“He will understand the urgency of the situation, for I explained it in -my note,” said Dave. “He has some money with him, I know, and will -doubtless make for Washington at once.” - -“I say,” broke in Elmer; “what do you fellows think about this boasted -treasure of his?” - -“I, for one, don’t think anything about it at all,” responded Hiram, -bluntly. “He’s either a dreamer or a skeesicks. His not coming back to -us looks as if he had served his purpose in getting to safe territory -and has abandoned his old keg.” - -“I’d like to know what it holds,” said Elmer. - -“Well, it isn’t gold and it isn’t diamonds,” replied Hiram, rather -contemptuously. “I noticed in shifting it this morning that its canvas -jacket was greasy at one place, just as if the keg was full of oil.” - -“Never mind,” spoke Dave. “It will do for ballast till we reach home. -Then, if Mr. Hull does not appear, we will have to open the keg and see -what is in it.” - -The _Comet_ made five hundred miles in three laps. Once only, at -Caracas, did they have to stop for gasoline. It was early one morning -when the _Comet_ came to a stop near Belize. - -Dave as usual hurried to the nearest telegraph office, and soon had the -wires busy. His anxious assistants greeted his return all in a quiver -over expected news. - -“What have you found out, Dave?” projected Hiram. - -“Yes, we’re all on edge to know if there is a chance to get in first,” -added Elmer. - -“Number seven is two hundred miles ahead of us—just sighted at Vera -Cruz,” said the young airman. “No word has been received about number -two since our last report.” - -“Oh, Dave,” cried Hiram, in a wild fever of longing and suspense, “we’ve -just got to reach goal first!” - -“We shall make a very hard try, at all events,” replied our hero, -doughtily. “Get out the chart, Elmer. We must save every needless crook -and turn from this on.” - -The eager boys were soon inspecting the chart. Vera Cruz was two hundred -miles away. Number seven had over six hours’ lead, estimating the -situation on a full speed basis. The young air pilot did some intense -calculating. Then he drew his finger across the chart past New Orleans, -across Louisiana, and on a line as the crow flies for Washington. - -That day was one of the greatest stress for the airship boys. There was -no thought of sleep, and they cared little for food. Hiram chattered the -greater part of the time. Elmer was so anxious that he was restless and -worried. Dave kept at the wheel, grim, determined and persevering. - -They ran steadily all the next night. At a little town over the border -of Georgia they had to stop for gasoline. The storekeeper from whom they -obtained it gave them some information that spurred them up afresh. - -“You’re the second in the last three hours,” he informed them. - -“You mean the second airship?” inquired Hiram, eagerly. - -“Just that. One flew over about daylight.” - -“How headed? What did it look like? Where did it go?” In his hurry and -eagerness Elmer stumbled over his words recklessly. - -The man could not describe the airship, but enough was gathered from him -in a general way to give the boys some idea of the course taken by their -predecessor. - -“It’s number seven, I have every reason to believe,” said Dave, when -they started up again. - -“Then it will be a close finish,” declared Hiram. “We’ve gained on her a -good deal, you see.” - -It was superb running for several hours after that. The landscape -beneath them, now wild and desolate, seemed to spin along like a rapid -panorama. They were traversing an uphill and down dale course, when -Hiram suddenly uttered a positive yell. - -“Dave, Elmer,” he shouted—“look there!” - -“It’s number seven, sure as you live!” echoed Elmer, excitedly. - -“I think so, too,” agreed their pilot more quietly, but all his senses -were on the keenest alert. - -Over beyond a high ridge all hands saw distinctly an airship. Its -outline answered to the description of number seven. The way it sailed -told that it was an expert racer and under the control of a true -professional. - -It was lost to view behind a tree-capped ridge. When the _Comet_ in its -course has got past this obstruction, the airship had disappeared. - -“It’s gone, but where?” called out Hiram. - -“There it is,” suddenly cried Elmer. - -About three miles ahead of them was a little settlement. This side of it -a fenced-in farm showed. In the center of its barnyard the airship boys -saw the machine that had been sailing aloft a short time previous. - -Apparently it had descended on account of some break or accident. There -seemed to be no valid reason why it should land at a remote farmhouse. - -“Why, there’s trouble,” exclaimed Hiram. - - * * * * * - -“There surely is,” said the young pilot of the _Comet_, and the trio -viewed a somewhat startling spectacle. - -The owner of the other airship stood near his biplane. Four men -surrounded him. Three of them were armed with guns, and they confronted -the airman in a menacing way. - - - - - CHAPTER XXV - - CONCLUSION - - -The airship boys at once saw that their fellow aviator was in trouble. -Our hero made a direct descent. The _Comet_ came to a standstill beside -the other machine. Its pilot leaped out and approached the group. - -Dave at once recognized number seven, and the young man, Pierce, who ran -it. He hailed him in a friendly fashion. Then he turned to the four -farmers. A frowsy, obstinate-looking old fellow with a pitchfork was -evidently the father of the three stalwart youths armed with shotguns. -First he regarded the newcomers with surprise, and then suspiciously and -with dislike. - -“Why, what is the trouble here?” inquired the young airman. - -“That’s the trouble,” growled the old man, pointing to a row of upset -bee hives and a break in the field fence beyond. “Do you see that horse -over there making for the woods? Well, that’s old Snorter, my primest -animal. This here young fellow comes down in his b’loon and scares the -hoss nigh into fits.” - -“Ran out of gasoline and a bolt out of gear,” explained the pilot of -number seven. - -“You have no right dropping into my yard!” shouted the farmer, -wrathfully. “It’s trespassing.” - -“That’s right,” drawled the biggest of his sons. “I’m a deputy of the -sheriff in this county. You have violated the law. I shall have to take -you to Millville to court to answer in an action of wilful trespass.” - -“Yes, and I shall insist that you be held in a civil suit for damages,” -declared another of the sons. - -Young Pierce cast a hopeless look at his machine and anxiously at Dave. -The latter took in the situation at a glance. - -“See here, mister,” he said to the old farmer; “we are desperately sorry -that this has happened.” - -“Yah!” sneered the shrewd old schemer—“money talks.” - -“How much?” demanded our hero, without hesitation. - -“Well, them bees is a special brood. The hives and the fence ain’t much, -but there’s old Snorter. He may wander away and get lost; he may fall -into some of those lime pits beyond the timber and get hurt. Then again, -he’s so frightened he’ll probably run away at the least scare after -this. One hundred dollars, I told this young man here.” - -“But I haven’t got it,” cried Pierce. “I offered to give you an order on -Washington, and you won’t take it.” - -“Not I,” retorted the hard-fisted old fellow. “Cash down on the nail -head.” - -“I ran short at Savannah,” explained Pierce to Dave. “I fancied I could -get through with the twenty dollars I had left, being so near home.” - -Dave took out his pocket book. The old farmer’s eyes glistened as our -hero handed him five crisp twenty-dollar banknotes. - -“Now then, Pierce,” spoke the young airman, “that’s settled. What’s the -trouble with your machine?” - -It did not take the expert Dave long to find out. Within half an hour he -had the faulty gear sound as ever. The _Comet_ had a full supply of -gasoline. A transfer of some of it was made to the tanks aboard number -seven. - -The farmer and his sons, fully satisfied now, stood watching operations. -Hiram and Elmer hustled about, giving their leader and his fellow -aviator all the help they could. - -“Everything is in trim,” announced our hero, finally. “Good-bye and good -luck.” - -Pierce held the hand so generously extended by Dave in a tremulous -grasp. Tears of gratitude and esteem had rushed to his eyes. - -“Dashaway,” he said, in a choked, broken voice; “you’re a man, every -inch of you!” - -Number seven went aloft. Dave called “all aboard!” Hiram pulled his face -at the mean-spirited old trickster who had bled them. Elmer shook his -fist at the farmer crowd. - -“That’s you!” exclaimed Hiram. “Just fitted Pierce out to beat us, and -delayed us, besides.” - -“Wasn’t it the best kind of fair play?” challenged Dave. - -“So good,” declared Elmer; “that I’d almost rather come in second with -the big heart you’ve got, than think I’d left a fellow airman in the -lurch.” - -“Well, it’s a free for all now, I hope,” spoke the anxious Hiram. “When -a fellow is so near the winning post as we are, it makes him selfish, I -guess. Yes, you did just right, Dave Dashaway; only, if you see some -stray tramp limping along, don’t stop to give him a lift.” - -Within an hour the advance pilot of the race, number seven, was nowhere -in view. Our hero had made a study of this one close rival in the field -as well as repair the machine. He had found out where it was weak and -the _Comet_ strong. Barring accident, the young pilot of the _Comet_ -felt sanguine that his machine would reach the winning post first. - -The airship boys did some splendid running. They made no stops except -for fuel and water. They ate and slept on the wing. Hiram counted the -moments and Elmer the miles. At midnight, thirty hours later, they were -within two hundred miles of Washington. - -It was a momentous climax in their earnest young lives. They had circled -the globe. They had overcome every obstacle in their path. They had won, -the proud pilot of the _Comet_ and his eager assistants hoped and -believed. - -With a cheer, husky with emotions, seeming to swell up in his heart like -a fountain of joy, Hiram Dobbs arose in the machine as it settled down -almost at the very spot whence it had started—“oh, almost years before!” -Elmer declared. - -Dave Dashaway stepped from the machine. The cares, the hardship, the -worry, the doubt of long arduous weeks seemed to fall from him like a -garment. He gave one vast sigh of relief and satisfaction. Every eye was -at once directed towards the club house. Some field men came running -from the distant hangars. - -“Say,” spoke Hiram, with a queer anxious jerk in his voice—“the bulletin -board!” - -His heart sank as he ran towards it. Elmer followed close on his trail. -There were notations opposite the various numbers. Had someone preceded -them—had someone won the race? - -And then, after a single glance, Hiram threw his cap up in the air, his -face beaming, and Elmer grasped his hand, delirious with excitement. -Dave, coming up, found them dancing about as if half mad with joy. - -For the lines on the bulletin board bore only such notations as these: -“Number ten—abandoned at Winnipeg.” “Number six—wrecked at Cape Nome.” -“Number five—abandoned,” and others “out of commission.” - -There were blanks after number seven and number two. As the airship boys -stood there, a man came quickly out upon the veranda which held the -bulletin board. He cast an excited glance at the travel-worn _Comet_. He -waved his hand gaily at the three young champions. Then with a piece of -chalk he wrote on the third blank line: - -“_Number three, Comet; pilot, Dashaway—first._” - -A date, an hour, a minute, even down to odd seconds followed. The world -knew that the airship boys had won the great international prize! - -There were so many pleasant and rapidly occurring events transpiring -close on the heels of the great race around the world, that for over two -weeks our hero and his loyal comrades had a busy, interesting time of -it. - -Twelve hours after the arrival of the _Comet_, number seven came into -the goal. She was a bird with a broken wing. A patched-up plane told of -a last dash under decided disadvantages. - -“Don’t you crow over me, Mr. Dave Dashaway,” said the energetic young -Pierce, playfully. “I win second prize, all alone by myself. You three -have to divide yours. But, better than the international trophy, is the -big thing you did for me, and people are going to know about it, too,” -declared Pierce, and he kept his word. - -Mr. Brackett was very proud of the son who had “made good” in an exploit -calling for more than ordinary ability and grit. To our hero he insisted -all the credit was due, and the young airman realized that he had made -strong, lifetime friends. - -It seemed to the airship boys the very happiest moment of their lives, -the day a dainty little miss drove up to the _Comet_ hangar, and Miss -Edna Deane, with tears of joy and gratitude, and her lovely face fairly -glowing, told them what heroes they were. - -“My brother is resting with a relative in England,” she narrated. -“Father has gone to bring him home. If you are a thousand miles away -from Washington when they return, you must promise, all three of you, to -come to the family reunion, of which you are surely members, as friends -and brothers. Father and brother will have something interesting to say -to you. We are very, very grateful—and, oh, so proud of you!” - -“It’s worth something to find a little sister like that,” cried Hiram, -as their visitor left them, all sunny smiles and happiness. - -“‘Something interesting’ means a right royal reward, of course,” spoke -Elmer. “Why, fellows, if we keep on, we’ll soon have the capital to -start an aero meet all our own!” - -It was just a week after that, early one morning, that the airship boys, -seated in the aero association club room, were hailed joyously by an -unexpected visitor. - -“Why, Mr. Hull!” exclaimed Dave, greeting the newcomer warmly. - -The shipwrecked mariner looked like a new man. He wore a spick and span -suit, and was cleanly shaven. He seemed well fed and happy. - -“Missed you at Rio,” he announced; “but knew you’d do the square thing. -Met a chum who financed me, and came on to get my keg.” - -“Which is safe and sound in the storage room here,” announced our hero. - -“Well, all we’ve got to do is to get it hauled down to a chemical works -in Washington to get our money—half of it is yours,” observed the old -salt. - -“Say, Mr. Hull,” broke in the irrepressible Hiram; “what in the world is -in that keg, anyway?” - -“Can’t you guess?” asked the old salt. - -“We haven’t the least idea, unless it’s grease.” - -“Grease! Ha! ha!” laughed the sailor. “Not much, my lad. Give another -guess.” - -“I don’t see what could be worth such a sum of money as you claim,” -returned Hiram, his face showing how puzzled he was. - -“You haven’t opened the keg?” - -“No,” answered Dave, promptly. - -“It ain’t leaked none either?” - -“Not enough to count.” - -“I am glad o’ that, lads. I wouldn’t want that stuff to git away from -me, after all the trouble I had gittin’ it, an’ all the trouble you had -carryin’ it so far.” - -“But we are wildly excited to know what it is!” cried Hiram. “Please -don’t keep us waiting any longer.” - -“Hiram has made all sorts of wild guesses,” laughed Dave. “First he -thought you had gold dust—but gold dust isn’t greasy.” - -“No, it ain’t gold dust.” - -“Then what?” pleaded Hiram. “Come, out with it, Mr. Hull.” - -“Ambergris,” promptly replied Jabez Hull. “Found it floating on the -water off that island where you met me. I suppose you know it’s worth -just double pure gold an ounce, and so rare that the price never goes -down.” - -“Well, what next?” asked Hiram, some time later. - -“I don’t know,” answered Dave. But many more adventures were in store -for our hero, and what some of them were will be related in the next -volume of this series, to be entitled: “Dave Dashaway, Air Champion; Or, -Wizard Work in the Clouds.” - -So we leave our young friends for the present, happy, honored and still -ambitious. They had been leaders and heroes in the aviation field. Their -efforts had been practical and not reckless. They had shown a new course -around the world. They had proven a new possibility in aerial science, -and fame and fortune had been the reward of Dave Dashaway and his -intrepid airship boys. - - - THE END - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - THE DAVE DASHAWAY - SERIES - By ROY ROCKWOOD - - Author of the “Speedwell Boys Series” and the “Great Marvel Series.” - 12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, 40 cents, postpaid. - - Never was there a more clever young aviator than Dave - Dashaway. All up-to-date lads will surely wish to read - about him. - - --------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - DAVE DASHAWAY THE YOUNG AVIATOR - _or In the Clouds for Fame and Fortune_ - - This initial volume tells how the hero ran away from his miserly -guardian, fell in with a successful airman, and became a young aviator -of note. - - DAVE DASHAWAY AND HIS HYDROPLANE - _or Daring Adventures Over the Great Lakes_ - -Showing how Dave continued his career as a birdman and had many -adventures over the Great Lakes, and how he foiled the plans of some -Canadian smugglers. - - DAVE DASHAWAY AND HIS GIANT AIRSHIP - _or A Marvellous Trip Across the Atlantic_ - -How the giant airship was constructed and how the daring young aviator -and his friends made the hazardous journey through the clouds from the -new world to the old, is told in a way to hold the reader spellbound. - - DAVE DASHAWAY AROUND THE WORLD - _or A Young Yankee Aviator Among Many Nations_ - -An absorbing tale of a great air flight around the world, of adventures -in Alaska, Siberia and elsewhere. A true to life picture of what may be -accomplished in the near future. - - DAVE DASHAWAY: AIR CHAMPION - _or Wizard Work in the Clouds_ - -Dave makes several daring trips, and then enters a contest for a big -prize. An aviation tale thrilling in the extreme. - - --------------------------------------------------------- - - CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - THE WEBSTER SERIES - By FRANK V. WEBSTER - - --------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - Mr. WEBSTER’S style is very much like - that of the boys’ favorite author, the late - lamented Horatio Alger, Jr., but his tales - are thoroughly up-to-date. - - Cloth. 12mo. Over 200 pages each. Illustrated. - Stamped in various colors. - - Price per volume, 40 cents, postpaid. - - Only A Farm Boy - _or Dan Hardy’s Rise in Life_ - - The Boy From The Ranch - _or Roy Bradner’s City Experiences_ - - The Young Treasure Hunter - _or Fred Stanley’s Trip to Alaska_ - - The Boy Pilot of the Lakes - _Nat Morton’s Perils_ - - Tom The Telephone Boy - _or The Mystery of a Message_ - - Bob The Castaway - _or The Wreck of the Eagle_ - - The Newsboy Partners - _or Who Was Dick Box?_ - - Two Boy Gold Miners - _or Lost in the Mountains_ - - The Young Firemen of Lakeville - _or Herbert Dare’s Pluck_ - - The Boys of Bellwood School - _or Frank Jordan’s Triumph_ - - Jack the Runaway - _or On the Road with a Circus_ - - Bob Chester’s Grit - _or From Ranch to Riches_ - - Airship Andy - _or The Luck of a Brave Boy_ - - High School Rivals - _or Fred Markham’s Struggles_ - - Darry The Life Saver - _or The Heroes of the Coast_ - - Dick The Bank Boy - _or A Missing Fortune_ - - Ben Hardy’s Flying Machine - _or Making a Record for Himself_ - - Harry Watson’s High School Days - _or The Rivals of Rivertown_ - - Comrades of the Saddle - _or The Young Rough Riders of the Plains_ - - Tom Taylor at West Point - _or The Old Army Officer’s Secret_ - - The Boy Scouts of Lennox - _or Hiking Over Big Bear Mountain_ - - The Boys of the Wireless - _or a Stirring Rescue from the Deep_ - - Cowboy Dave - _or The Round-up at Rolling River_ - - Jack of the Pony Express - _or The Young Rider of the Mountain Trail_ - - The Boys of the Battleship - _or For the Honor of Uncle Sam_ - - --------------------------------------------------------- - - CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - THE SADDLE BOYS SERIES - By CAPTAIN JAMES CARSON - 12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, 40 cents, postpaid. - - -All lads who love life in the open air and a good steed, will want to -peruse these books. Captain Carson knows his subject thoroughly, and his -stories are as pleasing as they are healthful and instructive. - - --------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - THE SADDLE BOYS OF THE ROCKIES - _or Lost on Thunder Mountain_ - - Telling how the lads started out to solve the mystery of a great - noise in the mountains—how they got lost—and of the things they - discovered. - - THE SADDLE BOYS IN THE GRAND CANYON - _or The Hermit of the Cave_ - - A weird and wonderful story of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado, - told in a most absorbing manner The Saddle Boys are to the front in - a manner to please all young readers. - - THE SADDLE BOYS ON THE PLAINS - _or After a Treasure of Gold_ - - In this story the scene is shifted to the great plains of the - southwest and then to the Mexican border. There is a stirring - struggle for gold, told as only Captain Carson can tell it. - - THE SADDLE BOYS AT CIRCLE RANCH - _or In at the Grand Round-up_ - - Here we have lively times at the ranch, and likewise the particulars - of a grand round-up of cattle and encounters with wild animals and - also cattle thieves. A story that breathes the very air of the - plains. - - THE SADDLE BOYS ON MEXICAN TRAILS - _or In the Hands of the Enemy_ - - The scene is shifted in this volume to Mexico. The boys go on an - important errand, and are caught between the lines of the Mexican - soldiers. They are captured and for a while things look black for - them; but all ends happily. - - --------------------------------------------------------- - - CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - THE SPEEDWELL BOYS - SERIES - By ROY ROCKWOOD - Author of “The Dave Dashaway Series,” “Great Marvel Series,” etc. - 12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, 40 cents, postpaid. - - ------- - -All boys who love to be on the go will welcome the Speedwell boys. They -are clean cut and loyal lads. - - --------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - THE SPEEDWELL BOYS ON MOTOR CYCLES - _or The Mystery of a Great Conflagration_ - -The lads were poor, but they did a rich man a great service and he -presented them with their motor cycles. What a great fire led to is -exceedingly well told. - - THE SPEEDWELL BOYS AND THEIR RACING AUTO - _or A Run for the Golden Cup_ - -A tale of automobiling and of intense rivalry on the road. There was an -endurance run and the boys entered the contest. On the run they rounded -up some men who were wanted by the law. - - THE SPEEDWELL BOYS AND THEIR POWER LAUNCH - _or To the Rescue of the Castaways_ - -Here is an unusual story. There was a wreck, and the lads, in their -power launch, set out to the rescue. A vivid picture of a great storm -adds to the interest of the tale. - - THE SPEEDWELL BOYS IN A SUBMARINE - _or The Lost Treasure of Rocky Cove_ - -An old sailor knows of a treasure lost under water because of a cliff -falling into the sea. The boys get a chance to go out in a submarine and -they make a hunt for the treasure. - - THE SPEEDWELL BOYS AND THEIR ICE RACER - _or The Perils of a Great Blizzard_ - -The boys had an idea for a new sort of iceboat, to be run by combined -wind and motor power. How they built the craft, and what fine times they -had on board of it, is well related. - - --------------------------------------------------------- - - CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - THE FRED FENTON - ATHLETIC SERIES - By ALLEN CHAPMAN - Author of “The Tom Fairfield Series,” “The Boys of Pluck Series” and - “The Darewell Chums Series.” - -12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, 40 cents, postpaid. - -A line of tales embracing school athletics. Fred is a true type of the -American schoolboy of to-day. - - --------------------------------------------------------- - -[Illustration] - - FRED FENTON THE PITCHER - _or The Rivals of Riverport School_ - -When Fred came to Riverport none of the school lads knew him, but he -speedily proved his worth in the baseball box. A true picture of school -baseball. - - FRED FENTON IN THE LINE - _or The Football Boys of Riverport School_ - -When Fall came in the thoughts of the boys turned to football. Fred went -in the line, and again proved his worth, making a run that helped to win -a great game. - - FRED FENTON ON THE CREW - _or The Young Oarsmen of Riverport School_ - -In this volume the scene is shifted to the river, and Fred and his chums -show how they can handle the oars. There are many other adventures, all -dear to the hearts of boys. - - FRED FENTON ON THE TRACK - _or The Athletes of Riverport School_ - -Track athletics form a subject of vast interest to many boys, and here -is a tale telling of great running races, high jumping, and the like. -Fred again proves himself a hero in the best sense of that term. - - FRED FENTON: MARATHON RUNNER - _or The Great Race at Riverport School_ - -Fred is taking a post-graduate course at the school when the subject of -Marathon running came up. A race is arranged, and Fred shows both his -friends and his enemies what he can do. An athletic story of special -merit. - - --------------------------------------------------------- - - CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - The Tom Fairfield Series - By ALLEN CHAPMAN - Author of the “Fred Fenton Athletic Series,” “The Boys of Pluck - Series,” and “The Darewell Chums Series.” - 12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, 40 cents, postpaid. - - ------- - -Tom Fairfield is a typical American lad, full of life and energy, a boy -who believes in doing things. To know Tom is to love him. - -[Illustration] - - --------------------------------------------------------- - - TOM FAIRFIELD’S SCHOOLDAYS - _or The Chums of Elmwood Hall_ - -Tells of how Tom started for school, of the mystery surrounding one of -the Hail seniors, and of how the hero went to the rescue. The first book -in a line that is bound to become decidedly popular. - - TOM FAIRFIELD AT SEA - _or The Wreck of the Silver Star_ - -Tom’s parents had gone to Australia and then been cast away somewhere in -the Pacific. Tom set out to find them and was himself cast away. A -thrilling picture of the perils of the deep. - - TOM FAIRFIELD IN CAMP - _or The Secret of the Old Mill_ - -The boys decided to go camping, and located near an old mill. A wild man -resided there and he made it decidedly lively for Tom and his chums. The -secret of the old mill adds to the interest of the volume. - - TOM FAIRFIELD’S PLUCK AND LUCK - _or Working to Clear His Name_ - -While Tom was back at school some of his enemies tried to get him into -trouble. Something unusual occurred and Tom was suspected of a crime. -How he set to work to clear his name is told in a manner to interest all -young readers. - - TOM FAIRFIELD’S HUNTING TRIP - _or Lost in the Wilderness_ - -Tom was only a schoolboy, but he loved to use a shotgun or a rifle. In -this volume we meet him on a hunting trip full of outdoor life and good -times around the campfire. - - --------------------------------------------------------- - - CUPPLES & LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - THE MOTOR BOYS Second Series - _(Trade Mark, Reg. U. S. Pat. Of.)_ - By CLARENCE YOUNG - 12mo. Illustrated. Price per volume, 60 cents, postpaid. - -[Illustration] - -This, the Second Series of the now world famed Motor Boys virtually -starts a new series, but retains all the favorite characters introduced -in the previous books. The Motor Boys Series is the biggest and best -selling series of books for boys ever published. - - NED, BOB AND JERRY AT BOXWOOD HALL - _or The Motor Boys as Freshmen_ - -Fresh from their adventures in their automobile, their motor boat and -their airship, the youths are sent to college to complete their -interrupted education. Some boys at the institution of learning have -heard much about our heroes, and so conclude that the Motor Boys will -try to run everything to suit themselves. - -A plot is formed to keep our heroes entirely in the background and not -let them participate in athletics and other contests. How the Motor Boys -forged to the front and made warm friends of their rivals makes -unusually interesting reading. - - Send For Our Free Illustrated Catalogue - - --------------------------------------------------------- - - CUPPLES LEON CO., Publishers, NEW YORK - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - Transcriber's Notes: - - Italicized phrases are presented by surrounding the text with - _underscores_. Small capitals have been rendered in full capitals. - - Punctuation has been standardized. Minor spelling and typographic - errors have been corrected silently, except as noted below. - Hyphenated words have been retained as they appear in the original - text, except as noted below. - - On page 139, "knap-sack" has been changed to "knapsack" for internal - and time-period consistency. - - On page 144, "long-flowing" has been changed to "long flowing". - - On page 202, "areo" has been changed to "aero" - - On the ad page "Tom Fairfield Series", "camp-fire" has been changed - to "campfire" for internal consistency. - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Dave Dashaway Around the World, by Roy Rockwood - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAVE DASHAWAY AROUND THE WORLD *** - -***** This file should be named 50323-0.txt or 50323-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/3/2/50323/ - -Produced by Rick Morris and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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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