DAVE DASHAWAY AND HIS HYDROPLANE

Or Daring Adventures Over The Great Lakes

By Roy Rockwood

CHAPTER I

THE YOUNG AVIATOR

"Telegram, sir. "

"Who for?"

"Dave Dashaway. "

"I'll take it. "

The messenger boy who had just entered the hangar of the great prizemonoplane of the aero meet at Columbus, stared wonderingly about himwhile the man in charge of the place receipted for the telegram. 

The lad had never been in so queer a place before. He was a lively, active city boy, but the closest he had ever seen an airship was adistance away and five hundred feet up in the air. Now, with bigwonder eyes he stared at the strange appearing machine. His fingersmoved restlessly, like a street-urchin surveying an automobile andlonging to blow its horn. 

The man in charge of the place attracted his attention, too. He hadonly one arm and limped when he walked. His face was scarred and helooked like a war veteran. The only battles this old warrior hadbeen in, however, were fights with the elements. He was a famous"wind wagon" man who had sustained a terrible fall in an endurancerace. It had crippled him for life. Now he followed the variousprofessional meets for a living, and also ran an aviation school foramateurs. His name was John Grimshaw. 

The messenger boy took a last look about the place and left. Theold man put on a cap, went to the door and rather gruesomely facedthe elements. 

"A cold drizzling rain and gusty weather generally, " he said tohimself in a grumbling tone. "I'll face it any time for Dashaway, though. The telegram may be important. "

The big aero field looked lonely and gloomy as the man crossed it. Lights showed here and there in the various buildings scatteredabout the enclosure. The ground was wet and soft. The rain came inchilling dashes. Old Grimshaw breasted the storm, and after half amile's walk came to a hangar a good deal like the one he had left. There was a light inside. 

"Hello, there!" he sang out in his big foghorn voice, thrusting thedoor open with his foot and getting under the shelter, and shakingthe rain from his head and shoulders. 

Two boys were the occupants of the place. They had a lamp on thetable, upon which was outspread pictures and plans of airships. Theolder of the two got up from his chair with a pleasant smiling face. 

"Why, it's Mr. Grimshaw!" he exclaimed. 

"That's who it is, " joined in the other boy cheerily. "Say, you'rewelcome, too. We were looking over some sketches of new machines, and you can tell us lots about them, you know. "

"Got to get back to my own quarters, " declared Grimshaw. "Someother time about those pictures. Boy brought a telegram to Mr. King's hangar. It's for you, Dashaway. "

"For me?" inquired the lad who had first addressed the visitor. 

"Yes. Here it is. Mr. King's away, but if you need me for anythinglet me know. "

"I'm always needing you, " replied Dave Dashaway. "I don't know whatwe'd do without you. "

The young aviator--for such he was in fact and reality--took theproffered envelope. He tore open its end and read the enclosurerapidly. 

"Why, " he said, "this is strange. "

"Any answer? Need me?" asked Grimshaw, moving towards the door. 

"No, thank you, " replied Dave in a vague, bothered way that made hiscompanion and chum, Hiram Dobbs, study his face with someperplexity. 

"I'd better get back home, then, " said the old man. "Fine weatherfor hydroplanes this, eh?"

Both Dave and Hiram proceeded to the door with the grim old fellowwho had so kindly taught them all they knew about aeronautics. Whentheir visitor had departed, Dave went back to the table. He satdown and perused the telegram once more. Then he sat lookingfixedly at it, as if he was studying some hard problem. Hiram stoodit as long as he could. Then he burst out impetuously:

"What is it, Dave?"

"I'm trying to find out, " was the abstracted reply. 

"Who is it from?"

"The Interstate Aeroplane Co. "

That name meant a good deal to Hiram Dobbs, and a great deal more toDave Dashaway. It marked the starting point in the aviation careerof the latter, and that in its turn had meant a first step up theladder for his faithful comrade, Hiram. 

In the first volume of this series, entitled:

"Dave Dashaway, the Young Aviator; Or, In the Clouds for Fame andFortune, " the career of Dave Dashaway has been told. The father ofthe young airman had been a noted balloonist, and when he died amean old skinflint named Silas Warner had been appointed Dave'sguardian. Warner had acted the tyrant and hard taskmaster for theyouth. A natural love for aeronautics had been born in Dave. Hehad made an airship model which his guardian had maliciouslydestroyed. Warner had also appropriated a package droppedaccidentally by a famous aviator, named Robert King, from amonoplane. 

Dave had found this package, containing money, a watch and a medalgreatly prized by Mr. King. Dave resolved that this property shouldbe restored to the airman. He got hold of the lost articles, whichhis guardian had secreted, and ran away from home. 

After various adventures, during which he was robbed of the airman'sproperty, Dave managed to reach the aero meet at Fairfield. Hefound Robert King and described to him the boy thief. The airmantook a fancy to Dave from the nerve and ability he showed inexperimenting with a parachute garment, and hired him. 

About the same time Hiram Dobbs came along, ambitious to change hisfarm life for an aviation career, and secured work helping about thegrounds. Mr. King sent Dave to Grimshaw for training. TheInterstate Aeroplane Co. Wanted to exhibit its Baby Racer, a novelbiplane. Dave made a successful demonstration, and won theadmiration and good will of the company. 

In a few weeks time Dave scored a big success and won severaltrophies. His final exploit was taking the place of an aviator whohad fainted away in his monoplane, and winning the race for Mr. King's machine. Dave was now the proud possessor of a pilot'slicense, and had fairly entered the professional field. 

The thief who had stolen Mr. King's property from Dave, a gracelessyouth named Gregg, was found, and the property recovered. He hadalso got hold of some papers that belonged to Dave's father. Greggthrough these had obtained a trace of a Mr. Dale, a great friend ofthe dead balloonist. He had made Mr. Dale believe he was the realDave Dashaway, until he was unmasked. 

Another bad boy Dave had run across was named Jerry Dawson. Fromthe start in his career as an airman this youth had been an enemy. Dave had succeeded him in the employ of Mr. King, Jerry having beendischarged in disgrace. Jerry tried to "get even, " as he called it, by trying to wreck Mr. King's monoplane, the Aegis. He alsobetrayed Dave's whereabouts to his guardian. Because Dave was rightand Jerry wrong, there plots rebounded on the schemer and did Daveno harm. 

Jerry and his father were exposed. They still followed the variousmeets, however, just as Mr. King and Dave and Hiram did, but theywere shunned by all reputable airmen. 

After leaving the aero meet at Dayton the proud possessor of atrophy as winner of a one hundred mile dash, Dave now found himselfand his friends on the aero, grounds at Columbus. This was a summerresort located on Lake Michigan. A two weeks' programme had beenarranged, in which Dave was to give exhibitions for his employers oftheir new model hydroplane. 

Hiram was practicing for a flight in the Baby Racer. The twofriends that rainy summer evening were interested in plans for thecoming meet and aviation business generally. The arrival of thetelegram once more introduces the reader to Dave Dashaway, nowpopularly known as the young aviator. 

The telegram which Grimshaw had brought to Dave was dated at theheadquarters of the Interstate Aeroplane Co. , some three hundredmiles distant. It was addressed to Dave in care of Mr. King, and itwas signed by the manager of the company. It read as follows:

"Our sales agent, Timmins, reported from your quarters at Columbusthree days ago. Was due at Kewaukee this morning on big contractwith County Fair Amusement Co. Wired Northern Hotel there, where wehad forwarded all the contracts and papers, and he is not there. Find him at any expense, and get him to Kewaukee before to-morrowmorning, or the Star Aero Co. Will get the order. Fear some trick. This means ten thousand dollars to us. "

Dave read and reread this message, weighing every word in his mindas he did so. Hiram sat watching him in a fever of suspense andanxiety. Finally he exclaimed:

"See here, Dave Dashaway, is that Greek you can't make out, or haveyou gone to sleep?"

"I was only trying to figure out this telegram, " replied Davethoughtfully. "Here, read it for yourself, and see what you make ofit. "

The young aviator passed the yellow sheet over to his curiousfriend. The latter scanned it rapidly. Then, with startlingsuddenness, his face twitching with excitement, he jumped to hisfeet. 

"What do I make of it?" shouted Hiram. "Just what the telegramsays--a trick! It's come all over me in a flash. Why, Dick, I knowall about it. "

CHAPTER II

The "BABY RACER"

"You know all about it?" repeated Dave Dashaway, looking up in greatsurprise. 

"That's what I do, " declared Hiram positively. 

"What do you mean?"

"I'll explain. "

"I wish you would. "

"I'm a blockhead, that's just what I am!" cried Hiram. "I don'tknow what possessed me that I didn't tell you all about it before. "

"See here, Hiram, " broke in Dave, "What are you talking about?"

"Why, about Mr. Timmins. You know he here night before last andleft us then?"

"Yes, Hiram, to go to Kewaukee. "

"Well, he just didn't go to Kewaukee at all. "

"That's no news, for this telegram shows that couldn't have doneso. "

"You see, when Mr. Timmins got telling us about the big sale he wasgoing to make at Kewaukee, " continued Hiram, "and how the Star Aeropeople were bidders for the same contract, you warned him againstthe Dawsons, and the people they are working for!"

"I know I did. That was because the Dawsons are stunting for theStar people. "

"Exactly. Then when I caught Jerry Dawson and Brooks, that preciouschum of his, sneaking around the Aegis hangar, I made up my mindthat they were up to no good. I know what they were snooping aroundfor, now. "

"What was it?"

"To pick up what information they could about Mr. Timmins' plans, so, when Mr. Timmins went away, I was awful glad. I felt pleased, for Mr. King told as you know that he was a free and easy fellow, friendly to everybody, and sometimes drank more than he ought to. "

"Yes, I know that, Hiram. "

"Well, last night I went to town to get some supplies for Mr. Grimshaw. There's a tavern at the cross roads, and some men were inthere. I saw them through an open window. There were six of them. Brooks was there, and Jerry and his father, and three more of thecrowd. They were playing cards and making a great deal of noise. Just as I looked in some one pulled down the shade. I caught asight of the other man, though. Right off, even at the distance Iwas, it struck me he looked like Mr. Timmins. Then I rememberedthat Mr. Timmins had certainly gone to Kewaukee the night before, soI put it off my mind. Now, I see the whole trick. "

"What is that?"

"The crowd kept Mr. Timmins here, delaying and entertaining him. Maybe later some of them led him still further away from Columbus. Their man is probably on the spot at Kewaukee now, ready to get thatbig contract for show biplanes. "

Dave had been anxiously walking up and down the floor while Hiramwas talking. Now he took his cap off a peg and picked up anumbrella. 

"You wait here till I come back, Hiram, " he said. 

"Where are you going, Dave?"

"Down to the Aegis hangar. This telegram disturbs me very much. Ihave no idea where Mr. Timmins can be, and something must certainlybe done about this contract. "

"That's so, Dave, " agreed Hiram. "It isn't exactly our business, but it would be a big feather in your cap to help out the people whoare hiring you. "

"That's what I want to do, if I can, " replied Dave, as he left theplace. 

The youth went straight to the Aegis hangar, where he found Grimshawtinkering over a broken airplane wing. Mr. King had a desk in onecorner of what he called his office room. 

Dave was free to use this at all times. He opened it now, and forten minutes was busy with some railroad time tables he found there. Then he consulted an aero guide map. 

Grimshaw watched him from under his shaggy eyebrows, but saidnothing until Dave got up from the desk, buttoned his coat andprepared to face the storm again. 

"What's the trouble, Dashaway?" he asked. 

"Why, Mr. Grimshaw?" inquired Dave, wishing to evade directquestioning. 

"You seem bothered about something, I see. "

"Well, as a matter of fact, I am, " confessed Dave. 

"What is it?"

"I'm trying to find a way to get to Kewaukee, " explained Dave. "Something has come up that makes me think I ought to be there inthe interests of my employers early to-morrow morning. I am figuringout how I can make it. "

"See here, Dashaway, " spoke the old airman in a grim, impressiveway, "don't you do anything reckless. "

"I won't, " answered Dave. "You know you once said I was allbusiness. Well, I'll always try to do my duty without anyunnecessary risks. "

Dave laughed carelessly and got away from the hangar. A daring ideahad come into his mind. Perhaps Grimshaw suspected it, and Dave wasafraid he might. The lad knew that the eccentric old fellow likedhim, and would try to dissuade him from any exploit of unusualperil. 

"I'll do it, I'll have to do it or let the company lose out, "breathed Dave, as once outside he broke into a run across theaviation field. 

Dave found Hiram winding the alarm clock as he re-entered the halfshed, half canvas house where the Baby Racer was stored. Althoughthey got their meals at Mr. King's headquarters, the boys had twolight cots and slept near to the machine which Dave had beenexhibiting. 

Dave glanced at the clock, and Hiram noticing the look, said:

"Eleven thirty, Dave. I've set the alarm clock for five thirty. You know that new hydroplane will probably come in on an earlyfreight. What's the programme?"

"Well, Hiram, " responded Dave, throwing off his coat and hat, "I'mgoing to dress up for a ride. "

"Eh?" ejaculated Hiram, staring hard at the set resolute face of hiscomrade. 

"Yes, I've got to get to Kewaukee. "

"Oh, you mean going by train?"

"No. Last one left an hour ago. Next one nine o clock to-morrowmorning. "

"Automobile, then?"

"On the country mud roads we've been having for the last week?"

"That's so. Then--"

"It's the airship route or nothing, Hiram, " said Dave. "I'm goingin the biplane. "

"The Baby Racer?"

"Yes. "

"On such a night as this! Why, Dave, " began Hiram, almost in alarm. 

"Don't say a word, " interrupted Dave with a preemptory wave of hishand. "I've made up my mind, and that ends it. "

"It usually does, " said Hiram. "If you're bound to do it, though, Dave--"

"I certainly am. "

"Ask Mr. Grimshaw's advice, first. "

"Not for worlds. "

"Why not?"

"I think he would try to stop me. See here, Hiram, I've thought itall over. I know it's a hard, rough night, but I also know what theBaby Racer can do. "

"It's a pretty bad night to do any fooling in the air, " remarkedHiram. 

"There won't be much fooling about it, Hiram. I know the chancesand, I shan't look for any fun. It is a bad night, I know, but thewind is right, and I can head straight into it in reachingKewaukee. "

"How far away is Kewaukee, Dave?"

"Ninety-five miles. "

Dave, while he talked, had been putting on his regular aviator'ssuit. As he finished up with a helmet, he noticed Hiram changinghis coat for a sweater. 

"What are you up to, Hiram, " he inquired quickly. 

"Getting ready, of course. "

"Getting ready for what?"

"The trip to Kewaukee. "

"Oh, you think you're going?"

"If you are, " retorted Hiram, "I know I am. Now, see here, Dave, "continued Hiram, waving a silencing finger as Dave was about tospeak, "I know I'm not an aviator like you, and never will be. Allthe same, I am some good in an airship, if it's only to act asballast. The other day when I was up with you in the Racer, you. Said I shifted the elevator just in time to save a smash up. In astorm like the one to-night, you my need me worse than ever. Anyhow, Dave Dashaway, I won't let you go alone. "

The young airman looked at his loyal, earnest friend with pleasureand pride. Hiram was only a crude country boy. He had, however, shown diamond in the rough, and Dave appreciated the fact. 

Hiram had made several ground runs in an aeroplane. He had gone upin the Baby Racer twice with Dave, and had proven himself a modelpassenger. As he had just hinted, too, he had been familiar enoughwith the mechanism of the biplane to operate some of its auxiliarymachinery so as to avert an accident. 

"You are the best company in the world, Hiram, " said Dave, "but Iwouldn't feel right in letting you take the risk of a hazardousrun. "

"Dave, I won't let you go alone, " persisted Hiram. 

Dave said nothing in reply. He went outside, and Hiram followedhim. They unlocked the door of the shed adjoining where the BabyRacer was housed, and lit two lanterns. 

"Get a couple of the nearest field men, Hiram, " directed Dave, "andI will have everything in order by the time you get back. "

There was not much for Dave to do. Only the noon of that day theyhad got the little biplane ready for a cross country spurt. Thenthe rain came on, and they decided to defer the dash till theweather was more propitious. Dave was looking over the machinery, when a gruff hail startled him. 

"Hello!" challenged old Grimshaw, appearing at the open doorway ofthe hangar. "What you up to, Dashaway?"

Dave flushed guiltily. He was dreadfully embarrassed to be "caughtin the act" as it were, by his great friend, the old airman. 

"Why--you see, Mr. Grimshaw--" stammered Dave. 

"Yes, of course I see, " retorted the old man firmly. "You're goingto start out a night like this. "

"I've got to, Mr. Grimshaw, " declared Dave desperately. 

"Business, eh?"

"Of the most important kind. "

"What is it?"

It was in order for Dave to explain details, and did so briefly. 

"H'm, " commented Grimshaw, when his pupil concluded his explanation. "And so you thought you'd steal away without letting me know it?"

"Oh, now, Mr. Grimshaw!" Dave hastened to say-- "that was not thespirit of the thing at all. "

"Go ahead, Dashaway. "

"Well, then, I think so very much of you I didn't want it to worryyou. "

"Roll her out, " was all that Grimshaw would say, placing his onehand on the tail of the biplane. "Hold on for a minute. Gasolinesupply?"

"Twenty-five gallons. "

"That will do. Lubricating oil-all right. Now then, lad, hit thathead wind every time, and you'll make it, sure. "

CHAPTER III

A WILD NIGHT RIDE

"Go!"

It was less than half an hour after the appearance of Grimshaw onthe scene that the Baby Racer was all ready for its stormy night'sflight. 

The old aviator had fussed and poked about the dainty littlebiplane, as if it was some valued friend he was sending out into theworld to try its fortune. Every once in a while he had growled outsome brief advice to Dave in his characteristic way. 

Then he directed and helped, while two field men started the machineon its forward run. 

"Look out for telegraph poles, and watch your fuel tank, " wasGrimshaw's final injunction. 

Dave knew the Baby Racer just as an engineer understands hislocomotive. Daylight or dirk, once aloft the young aviator did notdoubt his own powers. The moment the Racer left the ground, however, with a switch of her flapping tail, Dave knew that he wasto have no easy fair-weather cruise. 

"Slow it is, " the watchful, excited Hiram heard him say, working thewheel as cautiously as an automobilist rounding a sharp curve. 

Dave saw that everything depended on getting a start and reaching ahigher level. He kept the angle of ascent small, for the maximumpower of the engine could not be reached in a moment. The startingspeed naturally let down with the machine ascending an inclinedplane. 

"It's slow enough, that's sure, " remarked Hiram. "It's the wind, isn't it, Dave?"

"We don't want to slide back in the air or be blown over backwards, "replied Dave, eye, ear, and nerve on the keenest alert. 

The wind resistance caused a growing speed reduction. Thesensitiveness of the elevating rudder warned Dave that he mustmaintain a perfect balance until they could strike a steady path offlight. Hiram's rapt gaze followed every skillful maneuver of themaster hand at that wheel. 

"Good for you!" he chirped, as Dave worked the ailerons tocounteract the leaning of the machine. A swing of the rudder hadcaused the biplane to bank, but quick as a flash Dave righted it bygetting the warping control on the opposite tack, avoiding a badspill. 

The machine was tail heavy as Dave directed a forward plunge, coasting slightly. He had, however, pretty good control of thecenter of gravity. 

It was now only a question of fighting the stiff breeze thatprevailed, and keeping an even balance. 

Hiram's eyes sparkled as the Racer volplaned, caught the head windat just the right angle, and struck a course due northwest like asail boat under perfect control. 

The engine was near the operator's seat, and on the post just underthe wheel were the spark and throttle levers on the fuselage beam. The steering wheel was a solid piece of wood about eight inches indiameter with two holes cut into it to fit the hands. 

The passenger's seat now occupied by Hiram was in the center line ofthe machine, so that, filled or vacant, the lateral balance was notaffected. 

Hiram knew all about the monoplane dummy or the aerocycle withtreadle power for practice work which he had operated under oldGrimshaw's direction. As to the practical running of a biplanealoft, however, that was something for him to learn. He was keenlyalive to every maneuver that Dave executed, and he stored in hismind every new point he noticed as the Racer seemed fairly startedon its way. 

"Keep me posted, Dave, " spoke the willing Hiram. "If anythinghappens I want to know what you expect me to do. "

"I don't intend to have anything happen if I can help it, Hiram, "replied Dave. "This is a famous start. "

"It's not half as bad as I thought it would be, " said Hiram. 

The rain had changed into a fine mist, but the breeze continuedchoppy and strong at times. Dave had gone over the course with Mr. King in The Aegis twice in the daytime, and had an accurate idea ofthe route. However, he had landmarks to follow. What guided Davewere the lights of the various towns on the route to Kewaukee andrailway signals. These were dimly outlined by a glow only at times, but Dave as he progressed felt that he was keeping fairly close tohis outlined programme. 

Hiram chuckled and warbled, as he knew from Dave's manner and theway the Baby Racer acted that his friend had it under full control. Our hero attempted no fancy flying nor spurts of swiftness. Up tothe end of the first hour the flight had proven far less difficultthan he had anticipated. 

"There's Medbury, " said Dave at length, inclining his head towardsa cluster of electric lights below and somewhat beyond them. "Thatmeans one-third of our journey covered. "

"It's great what you and the Baby Racer can do, Dave, " cried theadmiring and enthusiastic country boy. "We're going to make it, aren't we?"

"If the wind doesn't change and we meet with no mishaps, " answeredDave. 

A stretch of steady sailing was an excuse for Hiram to share a brieflunch of ham sandwiches with Dave. The thoughtful Grimshaw had pro-vided these at the last moment of the departure of the biplane. 

By the watch Mr. King had given him on the occasion of winning arace for the Aegis, Dave found that it was a little after twoo'clock when the Racer passed a town named Creston. 

"It's only twenty miles farther, Hiram, " announced the young aviatorwith satisfaction. 

"And plenty of juice in the tank left to go on, " added Hiram. "Thisis a trip to talk about, eh, Dave?"

Dave nodded and smiled. He suddenly gave renewed attention to wheeland levers. 

"Anything wrong?" inquired Hiram, noticing the movement. 

"The wind is shifting slightly, " was the reply. 

Dave felt of the breeze cautiously after that, keeping his cheekwell to windward. It required constant watchfulness andmaneuvering for the next fifteen miles to keep the controlpermanent. Dave was glad when a dim glow of radiance told that theyhad nearly reached the end of their journey. 

Dave "ducked, " as the phrase goes, as a swoop from a new quartersent the machine banking. 

He managed the dilemma by circling. There was only five more milesto cover. Dave went up searching for a steadier air current, foundit, maintained a steady flight for over a quarter of an hour, andslowed down slightly as they came directly over Kewaukee. 

"Going to land?" inquired Hiram, attentively attracted by all theseskillful maneuvers. 

"Yes, " replied Dave. "The question is, though, to find just theright place. "

Dave tried to figure out the contour of the landscape beneath them. He passed over high buildings, skirted what seemed like a factorydistrict, and began to volplane. 

"Going to drop?" queried Hiram. 

"I think so, " responded Dave. "According to those electric lightsthere is a park or some other large vacant space we can strike onthis angle. "

"The mischief!" exclaimed Hiram abruptly as the Racer struck a lowerair current a strong blast of wind made it shake and reel. Thenthere was a creak, a sway and a snap. 

"Something broke!" shouted Hiram in excitement. 

"Yes, " answered Dave rapidly. "It's one of the right outermoststruts between the supporting planes. "

"The one that snapped the other day, " suggested Hiram. 

"Likely. Grimshaw fixed it with glue and bracing, and fitting ironrings about it. The vibration of the motor and the straining havepulled the nail heads through the holes in the rings. "

"Can you hold out?"

Dave did not reply. He felt new vibrations, and knew that thestrain of warping the wings at the tips had caused more than one ofthe struts to collapse. 

The young aviator realized that it would be a hard drop unless hedid something quickly and effectively. There was no time to think. Counterbalance was everything. 

Dave tried to restore the disturbed balance of the machine bybringing the left wing under the control. Then he forced thetwisting on the right side. 

The young aviator held his breath, while his excited companionstared ahead and down, transfixed. They were going at a rapid rate, and every moment the Baby Racer threatened to turn turtle and spillthem out. 

Dave succeeded in temporarily checking the tendency to tip. Allaerial support was gone. He kept the rudder at counterbalance, threw off the power, and wondered what they were headed into. 

The next moment the Baby Racer crashed to the ground. 

CHAPTER IV

A BUSINESS BOY

"We've landed!" shouted Hiram in a jolty tone, plunging forward inhis seat in the biplane. 

"Yes, but where?" Dave asked quickly. 

"That's so. Whew! What have we drifted into?"

The Baby Racer had struck a mass soft and yielding. It drovethrough some substance rather than ran on its wheels. There was adive and a joggle. Then the machine came to a halt--submerged. 

Whatever had received it now came up about the puzzled youngaviators as might a snowdrift or it heap of hay. Dave dashed afilmy, flake-like substance resembling sawdust from eyes, ears andmouth. Hiram tried to disentangle himself from strips and curls ofsome light, fluffy substance. Then he cried out:

"Dave, it's shavings!"

"You don't say so. "

"Yes, it is--a great heap of shavings, a big mountain of them. "

"Lucky for us. If we had hit the bare ground I fear we would havehad a smash up. "

Gradually and cautiously the two young aviators made their way outof the seats of the machine. They got past the wings. A circle ofelectric street lamps surrounded them on four sides. Theirradiance, dim and distant, seemed to indicate that they were in thecenter of a factory yard covering several acres. 

A little way off they could discern the outlines of high piles oflumber and beyond these several buildings. The biplane lay partlyon its side, sunk deep in a heap of long, broad shavings. The massmust have been fully a hundred feet in extent and fifteen to twentyfeet high. They reached its side and slid down the slant to theground. 

"Well!" ejaculated Dave. 

"Yes, and what?" inquired Hiram, brushing the loose bits of shavingsfrom his soaked tarpaulin coat. 

"Business--strictly and quick, " replied Dave promptly. 

"And leave the Racer where she is?"

"Can you find a better place, Hiram?"

"Well, no, but--"

A man flashing a dark lantern and armed with a heavy cane came uponthem around the corner of the buildings. The boys paused. The man, evidently the watchman of the place, challenged them, moving hislantern from face to face. 

"Who are you?" he demanded sternly. 

"Aviators, " replied Dave. 

"What's that?"

"We just arrived in an airship. "

"No nonsense. How did you get in here?"

"Mister, " spoke out Hiram, "we just landed in the biplane, the BabyRacer. If you don't believe me, come to the shavings pile yonderand we'll show you the machine, and thank you for having it there, for if you hadn't I guess we'd have needed an ambulance. "

The watchman looked incredulous. He followed Dave and Hiram, however, as they led the way back to the heap of shavings. One wingof the biplane stuck up in the air and he made it out. 

"This is queer, " he observed. "You say it's an airship?"

"Yes, sir, " nodded Hiram. 

"We had to make a hurried night journey from Columbus, " explainedDave. "There were no trains, and we came with the biplane. "

"Well, well, well, " commented the watchman. He had heard ofColumbus and the aero meet there, and began to understand matters. 

"You see, " spoke Hiram, "we can't land everywhere, or we'd have tosettle some damage suits. "

"I will be glad to pay you for letting us leave the machine heretill after daylight, and watch it to see no harm comes to it, "proposed Dave. 

"Why, we'll do that, " assented the watchman. "You look like twodecent young fellows, and I'm sure the company won't object toletting your airship stay up there for a few hours. "

"We will be back to see about it in a few hours, " promised Dave. 

The watchman led the boys to the big gate of' the factory yard andlet them out. The rain had ceased and the wind was not blowing sohard as before. 

"What now, Dave?" inquired Hiram, as they found themselves in thedeserted street. 

"The Northern Hotel. "

"Oh, going to try and fix things before daylight?"

"We can't afford to lose a minute, " declared Dave. "There's apoliceman. I want to ask him a question. "

They hurried to a corner where a policeman had halted under thestreet lamp. Dave inquired the location of the Northern Hotel. Then the boys proceeded again on their way, and reached the place inabout half an hour. 

The night clerk and others were on duty. Dave approached the deskand addressed the clerk. 

"Is a Mr. Timmins stopping here?" he asked. 

"Why, no, " replied the clerk, looking Dave and Hiram over curiously, their somewhat queer garb attracting his attention. 

"Do you know him, may I inquire?"

"Oh, yes, Mr. Timmins has been here several times. We are holdingsome mail for him, and expected him several days ago. "

"Do you know the company he represents?"

"Airships, isn't it? " propounded the clerk. 

"That's right. The Interstate Aeroplane Company. "

"Yes, I remember now, " added the clerk. 

"I am also connected with that company, " explained Dave. 

The clerk stared vaguely, as if he did not quite understand thesituation. 

"Yes, " eagerly broke in the irrepressible Hiram, as if he wasintroducing some big magnate, "he's Dave Dashaway, and he's beat thefield with the Interstate Baby Racer. "

"Oh, Dashaway, eh?" said the clerk, with a pleasant smile. "I'veheard of you and read about you. "

"I am glad of that, " responded Dave, "because it may help youidentify me with the Inter-state people. As an employee of theirsand a friend of Mr. Timmins, I will have to be confidential withyou. "

"That's all right--we are used to confidences in this business, "said the hotel clerk. 

Dave reflected deeply for a moment. He had a definite plan in view. He realized that he must confide to a degree in the hotel clerk. 

"The gist of the matter, " said Dave, "is that Mr. Timmins has missedconnections. He should have been here two days ago. Here is atelegram I received from the Interstate people. "

The clerk read the telegram. He nodded his head and smiled, whichthe observant Dave took to mean that he was friendly towards Mr. Timmins, but knew of some of his business-lapses in the past. 

"What do you want me to do?" asked the clerk. 

"You notice that the Interstate people refer in that telegram tosome papers sent to the hotel here for Mr. Timmins. "

"I noticed that, " assented the clerk. "I shouldn't wonder if thisis the package. "

As he spoke the clerk reached over to the letter case near his deskand took up a large manila envelope. It was addressed to Mr. Timmins, and bore in one corner the printed name and address of theInterstate Aeroplane Co. 

"That is the letter, I feel sure, " said Dave. 

"I have no doubt of it, " agreed the clerk. 

"Do you suppose it would help you out any to have me give it toyou?"

"Why, will you?" questioned Dave eagerly. "I was going to ask youto do so. "

"I think I understand the situation now, " said the clerk, "and I cansee how your getting the letter may help your people out of atangle. It's taking some responsibility on my part, for the letteris of course the property of Mr. Timmins. I'm going to take therisk, though, and I think Mr. Timmins will say it's all right whenhe comes along. "

"I know he will, " declared Dave. "You see, I hope to carry througha contract he has neglected. "

Dave took the bulky letter and opened its envelope. He glancedhastily but intelligently over its contents. They were just what heimagined they would be, contracts for eight biplanes ready to sign, and details and plans as to the machines. 

"Have you a Kewaukee directory here?" he asked. 

The clerk pushed a bulky volume across the marble slab of thecounter, with the words:

"Anybody special you are looking up?"

"Why, yes, " replied Dave, "the County Fair Amusement Co. "

"Oh, you mean Col. Lyon's proposition, " observed the clerk at once. "He runs county fair attractions all over the country. "

"It must be the same, " said Dave. 

"I know Col. Lyon very well, " proceeded the clerk. "He comes inhere very often. "

"Where is his office?" inquired Dave. 

"I don't think he has any regular office, " responded the clerk. "Two or three times a week he calls for mail at the CentralAmusement Exchange. He travels a good deal--has side attractionswith most of the big shows. "

"But he lives in Kewaukee?"

"Not exactly. He has a very fine place called Fernwood, out on theNorth Boulevard. "

Dave thought things over for a minute or two. Then he asked:

"How can I reach Fernwood?"

"You don't mean before daylight?"

"Why, yes, " responded Dave, "the sooner the better. "

"I think any of the taxi men out at the curb know the location, "said the clerk. 

"Thank you, " replied Dave, "and for all your great kindness aboutthat letter. "

He and Hiram went out to the street. There were three or fourtaxicabs lined up at the curb, their drivers napping in the seats. Dave approached one of them. 

"Do you know where Fernwood is?" he inquired of the chauffeur. 

"You mean Col. Lyon's place?"

"Yes. "

"Was there only last night. I took the Colonel home. "

"Then he's there, " spoke Dave to Hiram. "All right, take us toFernwood. "

"You won't find anybody stirring at this hour of the morning, "suggested the chauffeur. 

"Then we'll Wait till the Colonel gets up, " said Dave. 

In less than half an hour the auto came to a halt before one of ascore or more of fine houses lining the most exclusive section ofthe country boulevard. 

Dave got out of the machine and Hiram followed him. They passedthrough the gates of a large garden. In its center was a mansionwith wide porches. No light showed anywhere about the place. 

"You're not going to wake anybody up at this outlandish hour?"asked Hiram. 

"Well, perhaps not, " answered Dave. 

"Why didn't you wait and see this Col. Lyon in the city at hisoffice?"

"Because there is no certainty that he will be at his office today. Then, too, that Star fellow may be on hand there to grab thecontract. I want to head him off. "

By this time they had reached the steps of the front porch. 

"See here, Hiram, " observed Dave, lowering his voice, "we'll sitdown here for a spell. It's about five o'clock, and by six someonewill be stirring about. "

"Say, " said Hiram, staring across the shadowed porch, "the frontdoor there is open. "

"Why, so it is, " replied Dave, peering towards it. 

"That's strange, isn't it?"

"Oh, no--neglected, or left open for ventilation. "

Both boys relapsed into silence. Hiram rested his face on his handsand his knees, inclined to doze. 

Dave was framing up in his mind how he would approach Col. Lyon. Hewas deeply immersed in thought, when a sound behind him caused himto start and look behind him. 

Somebody with a great bundle done up in a sheet had just passedthrough the open doorway out upon the porch. 

The bundle was so big that its bearer had both hands clasped aboutit, and its top came above his eyes. 

Before Dave could speak a warning, the man carrying the packagecrossed the porch and stumbled against Hiram, whom he did not see. 

"Thunder! what's this?" shouted Hiram, knocked from his position androlling down the steps. 

The man with the bundle echoed the try with one of alarm, as hemissed his footing and plunged forward. 

"The mischief!" exclaimed Dave, starting at the bundle over whichthe man tumbled, bursting it open. 

There was an immense clatter. Even in the imperfect light of theearly morning, the young aviator made out a great heap of clothing, silverware and jewelry, rattling down the steps of the porch. 

CHAPTER V

A TEN THOUSAND DOLLAR ORDER

"What's happened?" cried Hiram, rolling over and over on the gravelwalk to which he had tumbled. 

"Stop that man!" shouted Dave. 

In a flash the young aviator took in the meaning of the situation. The fugitive, for such he now was, made a quick move the instant hegained his feet. Not waiting to see who had obstructed hisprogress, and probably deciding that it was the police, he boundedin among some bushes. 

Dave, running after him, made out his form dimly, swiftly scaling arear brick wall. 

"Why, what is all this?" demanded Hiram, staring at the litter onthe steps. 

"That man was a thief, " explained Dave. 

"It looks that way, doesn't it? Hello!"

Both boys stepped back and stared upwards. Over the porch was asecond railed-in veranda. A night-robed figure had crossed it fromsome bed chamber fronting upon it. 

"Hey, you down there! What's all this racket?" challenged thisnewcomer on the scene. 

"Are you Colonel Lyon?" inquired Dave. 

"That's me. "

"Then you had better come down and see what's going on. "

"Why so?"

"Your house has been burglarized. "

"Gracious I you don't say so. Where is the thief?"

"He has escaped. "

"Hm. Down in a minute, " mumbled the man, retiring from view. 

It was several minutes before the owner of the mansion put in asecond appearance. He came cautiously out on the porch, clutching agreat heavy cane. He looked the boys over suspiciously. 

"I don't understand this, " he began. 

"Neither did we, Mister, " returned Hiram, "till the thief camebolting out through that front door. He fell all over me anddropped his bundle. There's what was in it. "

Hiram pointed to the scattered plunder. For the first time thecolonel caught sight of the scattered stuff. He gasped, and stared, and fidgeted. Then he hastened back across the porch and into thevestibule. 

Clang! clang! Clang! rang out a great alarm gong, and almostimmediately two men servants of the place came rushing outhalf-dressed upon the porch. 

In a very much excited way the colonel incoherently told of theburglary. He ordered the men to gather up the scattered plunder. Then he turned his attention to Dave and Hiram. 

"Now, tell me about the whole thing, " he spoke. 

"There isn't much to tell, Colonel Lyon, " replied Dave. "We weresitting here waiting--"

"Waiting?" repeated the showman sharply. 

"Yes, sir. "

"What for?"

"To see you. "

"Eh?" projected the Colonel, with a stare. 

"That's right, Mister, " declared Hiram. "You see, it's prettyearly, and we didn't want to wake you up. "

"Yes, but what brought you here so early?"

"Business, " answered Dave. 

"Business--with me?"

"Yes, sir. We came in an automobile from the city, so as to be sureto find you early enough. We had just settled down here to wait andrest, when that burglar came out. "

"Why, then, you've saved my losing all that valuable stuff!"exclaimed the showman. "I should say so, " added the speaker withforce, as he moved over and glanced at the heaps his servants weremassing together, upon the lower step. "Watches, rings, silverware, my fur winter coat, and hello--my whole collection of rare coins!Hump! the man must have had the run of the house for hours. Here, you two, come inside. You've done me a big service. "

Hiram chuckled, nudging Dave in a knowing way. 

"What luck!" he whispered. "Dave, you're all right now. "

The owner of the place led his young guests through the vestibuleinto a hallway, and pointed to a large reception room. 

"You wait till I get dressed, " he directed. "Sit down, and makeyourself comfortable. "

As he spoke the showman turned on a perfect blaze of electric light. Dave and Hiram took off their helmets, and made themselves look aslittle like stormy night aviators as was possible under thecircumstances. 

It was nearly ten minutes before their host reappeared. He wasfully dressed now, and presented the appearance of a keen, activebusiness man. 

"Think there's any use trying to catch that burglar?" was his firstquestion. 

"I don't think so at all, " replied Dave. 

"All right, then. Carry that truck into the library, " the showmanordered his two men, who had gathered it up in a rug taken from thevestibule. "You'll take turns guarding the house, nights afterthis. Now then, young men, who are you?"

The showman put the question as he plumped down in an armchairbesides his two guests. 

"We're airship boys, " explained Hiram hastily, but proudly. 

"Oh!" commented Colonel Lyon slowly, looking the pair over from headto foot. 

"That is, Dave is an airman, " corrected Hiram. "He's DaveDashaway. "

"Why, I've heard of you. At the Dayton meet, weren't you?Honorable mention, or was it a prize?"

"Both, " shot out Hiram promptly. 

"That's very good, " said the colonel. "I'm pretty well up in theaero field myself. I run that line at county fairs. "

"Yes, sir, I know that, " said Dave, "and that is why I came to seeyou. "

"That's so--you said it was business, but I must say you are earlybirds, " smiled the showman. 

"We had to be, " again spoke Hiram. 

"How was that?"

"Why, " said Dave, "I thought it was very necessary that I should seeyou first thing this morning. I acted on a wire from my employers, the Interstate Aeroplane Co. "

"Your employers?" repeated the colonel, a fresh token of interest inhis eyes. 

"Yes, sir, I have been exhibiting their Baby Racer at the meets. "

"Ah, I understand now. "

"I am going to take up hydroplane work at Columbus, now. Last nightlate I received a telegram from the Interstate people. It led togetting to Kewaukee and seeing you. There were no trains. "

"Roads too bad for an automobile, " put in Hiram. 

"And we came in the Baby Racer, " concluded Dave. 

"What's that?" exclaimed the showman. 

"You came all the way from Columbus in a biplane?"

"Yes, sir, " nodded Dave. 

"A night like last night--"

"We had to, you see, " observed Hiram. 

"H'm, " observed the colonel, with decided admiration in his manner, "that was a big thing to do. Where is your machine?"

"We landed on a heap of shavings in a city factory yard, " explainedDave. "We left the machine in charge of the watchman. "

"And automobiled it out here? Why, say, I had some dealings withyour company. "

"I know you did, " said Dave. 

"I wrote to them for specifications and figures on light biplanes. They sent outlines that pleased me very much, and I told them so. Their man made an appointment to be at my city office to close upmatters day before yesterday. He never showed up. "

"I know that, " said Dave. 

"What was the trouble?"

"I will explain that to you. "

"You see, the Star man was here yesterday. He made a pretty fairshowing, but I was rather struck on your goods. "

"Everybody is that knows them, " spoke Hiram. 

"Well, I was to let the man know this morning at my city office mydecision. You are on deck. All right, what have you got to say?"

"Why, just this, " replied Dave: "I'm not much of a business man, ofcourse, but I hurried on to see you because I believe a trick hasbeen played on our people. "

"Who by?"

"The Star crowd. "

"Oh!"

"In some way they have sidetracked our agent. I have with me, "continued Dave, "the detailed plans and figures on your order, whichhad been forwarded from the factory to the Northern Hotel, atKewaukee. "

"All right, show them up, " directed the colonel briskly. 

Dave did so. Hiram sat regarding his friend, with undisguisedadmiration, as for one half, hour Dave went over papers, explainingthe merits of the Interstate biplane with all the clearness andability of a born salesman. 

 "You'll do, " pronounced the showman with an expansive smile, asDave concluded. "That's the contract, is it?"

"Yes, sir, " and Dave handed the showman the paper in question. 

"All right, I'll just go to the library and sign it. "

"Dave, " whispered Hiram in a triumphant chuckle, as Colonel Lyonleft the room. "Great!"

Dave returned a pleased smile. He suppressed partly the greatsatisfaction he felt. 

"You see, " remarked the showman, returning in a few minutes andhanding the signed contract to Dave, "I favored your machines fromthe start. It must be a good machine, to make ninety miles on anight like last night. Now then, young gentlemen, I've ordered anearly breakfast, and I want you to join me at the meal. "

There was no gainsaying the hearty, imperious old fellow. The boysfelt first class as they finished a repast that sent them on theirway complacent and delighted. 

"The company will acknowledge the contract, Colonel Lyon, " saidDave, as they left the porch, "and attend to other details. "

"I don't suppose, Dashaway, " answered the showman, "that you're openfor such a week stunt as exhibiting at some of my county fairs?"

"I am under contract with the Interstate people, " replied Dave. "IfI get out of a job, Colonel Lyon, I shall be glad to have youconsider me. "

"I fancy I will, " declared the showman with enthusiasm. "I'll makeyou a liberal offer, too. You've saved the carting away of all thatstuff the burglar gathered. It make it up to you some way. "

Dave waved the contract in reply. 

"I couldn't have a better feather in my cap than this, " he criedgaily. "Many, many, thanks, Colonel Lyon. "

"And you'll find the Interstate biplane just the best in the world, "added Hiram. 

"We've kept that chauffeur waiting a long time, " observed Dave, asthey came out upon the boulevard. 

"Oh, he's used to that, " suggested Hiram. 

"I'll give him something extra for his patience, " said Dave. 

"Yes, the Interstate people can well afford it, " commented Hiram. "Think of it: a ten thousand dollar order! Hurrah!"

CHAPTER VI

ABOARD THE HYDROPLANE

"Dashaway, you're a wonder. "

"Thank you, sir. "

"And I'm proud of you, " added Mr. Robert King, the winner of themonoplane endurance prize, and the man who had practically adoptedDave into the aviation field. 

"I've got something to say as to the matter of pride, " spoke up oldGrimshaw. "A lad who can make the run Dashaway did with the BabyRacer, is a boy to holler about. "

"If there's anything to be proud about, " added Dave, "it's the rightgood friends I've made. "

"My friends, too" put in the impetuous Hiram. "I'm getting alongfamously. Why, I only tipped out of the dummy airship onceyesterday. "

All hands were in fine high spirits. It was several days after thewild night race Dave and Hiram had made to Kewaukee. Now the entireparty were on their way to the borders of the lake, where the newhydroplane made by the Interstate Aviation Company was ready for atrial trip. Grimshaw knew little of hydroplanes, and theInterstate people had sent an expert demonstrator to the spot toteach their young exhibitor the ropes. Dave had been constantlyunder this man's tuition. 

It was far more easy, he had learned, to acquire a thoroughknowledge, of how to run a hydroplane than to operate a monoplane. It was simpler, and besides that his experience with an airshiphelped wonderfully. 

Dave was winning golden opinions from his employers. The way inwhich he had dosed the Kewaukee contract had pleased them immensely. There was another end to the Kewaukee episode that had brought heapsof satisfaction to all of them, especially to Hiram Dobbs. 

The Baby Racer had been quickly repaired at Kewaukee, and had made aspeedy return trip to Columbus. Somehow the story of how theInterstate people had outwitted the plots of the Star crowd hadgotten noised around the meet. Then a class journal devoted toaeronautics printed the story. 

"Well, " Hiram had come to Mr. King's hangar that morning to say, "the Dawson crowd are simply squelched. I met Jerry Dawson and hisfather. You ought to see the looks they gave me when I just grinnedat them, and said 'Contract!' It was like a fellow saying 'Baa!' tosheep. Why, those fellows just sneaked away. We've beaten them atevery angle, Dave, and I reckon they'll give up their meanness now, and quickly fade away. "

"It would be a good thing for honest aeronautics if they would, "growled old Grimshaw. 

"We'll hasten them with a little help, if they try any more tricks, "announced Mr. King. 

The hydroplane had been run into a boat house after the practice ofthe day previous, and was all ready for use. It was equipped tocarry two or more passengers, and was driven by a fifty horse powermotor. It had two propellers, and these were controlled by chaintransmission. 

Old Grimshaw had not much use for hydroplanes, he had told Dave. His hobby was air machines. However, because his favorite pupil wasgoing to run the machine, he allowed Dave to explain about thehydroplane, and was quite interested. 

The machine had a bulkhead fore and aft, with an upward slope infront and a downward slope to the rear. 

"It's safe, comfortable, and quick to rise to control, " declaredDave. "See, Mr. Grimshaw, there's a new wrinkle. "

Dave touched a little device attached to the flywheel. The latterwas made with teeth to fit into another gear, operated from a shaft. 

"What do you call that, now?" asked the old airman. 

"A self starter. You see, the shaft runs forward alongside thepilot's seat. Here's the handle of it, right at the end of theshaft. "

"Looks all right, " admitted Grimshaw grudgingly. "Give me the air, though, every time. If you want to be a sailor, why don't youenlist the navy?"

"How about an air and water combination, Grimshaw?" called Mr. King. 

"Well, that is a little better, " replied Grimshaw. 

"I'm dying to see that new aero-hydroplane Dave's people are gettingout, " remarked the ardent Hiram. 

"They wrote me it would be completed this week, " said Dave. 

"And you are going to run it, Dave?"

"I think so, I hope so. They claim great things for it. "

"Well, give your hydroplane a spin, Dashaway, " suggested Mr. King. "I want to see how she works, and must get back to the hangars onbusiness. "

The Reliance, the new hydroplane of the Interstate people, wastwenty feet long and had a fuel gauge and a bilge pump. 

Dave got into his seat, and Hiram sat directly beside him. A touchput the machinery in motion. 

'There's a puffy eighteen mile wind, Dashaway, " cried out Mr. King. 

"Yes, I wouldn't venture too far from shore, " advised Grimshaw, atrifle anxiously. 

The water was quite rough where the flight started. The machineacted all right, however. A crowd had gathered on the beach, andthere was some encouraging cheering as the power boat gained goodheadway. 

"Whew I what have you invited me to, Dave--bath?" puffed Hiram. 

Dave had neglected to put in place the rubber cover, so that duringthe preliminary run along the water the waves drenched both of theboys. 

Dave stopped the motor and started drifting, at a sudden current orbreeze sent the tail before the wind. The rear of the hydroplanewas forced under water. 

"Look out!" ordered Dave sharply. 

"I see--we're in for an upset, " spoke Hiram quickly. 

The hydroplane was forced over backwards, the tail striking a sandbar. 

Dave and Hiram were both ready for the tip. They escaped with onlywetting their feet, for they climbed upon the bottom of the uppersurface as the hydro capsized. 

The hydroplanes prevented the machine from sinking. Almost at oncea boat put out from shore. Once back at the boat house, the damageshown was a slight fracture to the main girder and some of the ribsat the trailing edge, and two broken tail spars. Dave sent Hiram atonce to the practice grounds to arrange about the repairs. 

"It's no weather for a trial, Dashaway, " said Mr. King, "I think Iwould postpone the trial trip until tomorrow, if I were you. "

Dave did not commit himself. He stayed about the boat house afterthe airman and Grimshaw had gone away, watching every move of therepair man. 

"She's staunch and sound as she was at the beginning, " the latterdeclared, when he had completed his work. 

"Yes, I think that is true, " replied Dave. 

"What's the programme?" inquired Hiram, "for I see you don't intendto give up. "

"Not until I master the Reliance, just as I did the Baby Racer, "declared Dave. "That upset was necessary, I guess, to teach me thatI must drive on just as little surface as possible in speeding, andmake the wings do one half the work. "

"Then you are going to try again?" questioned Hiram. 

"Yes, Hiram. The waves aren't so choppy now, and the wind has gonedown a good deal. "

"It's pretty late for much of a run, " replied Hiram. 

"Oh, we can make the end of the lake and back inside of an hour. "

"Well, I'm always ready--with you, " laughed Hiram gaily. 

From the start this time Dave knew that he had a better grasp of themechanism than on his first trial. The Reliance behaved splendidly. Once clear of shore obstructions and sandbars, they must have run astretch at nearly forty miles an hour. 

Sand Point, at the rounding end of the great lake, was reachedwithout a mishap. Dave did not wait to try any maneuvering for acrowd that had gathered to watch the Reliance. 

"Straight home, " he observed, as they made the turn. 

"It's time, I'm thinking, " said Hiram. 

A squall had come up, and the dimness of coming eventide had alreadyspread over the water, but there was no rain. In fact, it hadturned too cold for that. A fine baffling mist was falling, however, and this was condensing into a heavy fog. 

"Not much to see, eh?" propounded Dave, as they got clear of theshore. "I shouldn't like to run into some stray craft. "

It was something of a strain on Dave, the present situation. No airsignal had yet been placed on the Reliance, nor was its lightingapparatus installed. 

The darkness increased, and the fog became almost an impenetrableshroud. 

"What was that?" shouted out Hiram sharply, as there was a heavyjarring shock. 

"Grazed a rock, I think, " replied Dave. "I don't like this a bit. If I knew my bearings, I'd run straight ashore. "

"Do it, anyway, Dave, " advised Hiram. "We don't want to wreck theReliance on her first trip. "

Dave gave the wheel a turn. Just then a distinct yell rang outacross the muggy waters, and then, in rapid succession, seven quick, snappy explosions. 

CHAPTER VII

A RESCUE IN THE FOG

"What do your suppose that was?" inquired Hiram excitedly. 

"It was kind of startling, " said Dave. 

"Listen. "

With the power shut off, the hydroplane drifted, Dave checking itsslack running. They were now in a dense fog; with night fast comingon. For the moment everything was still. Then there rang throughthe misty space one word:

"Help!"

"It was in that direction, " said Hiram quickly, pointing. 

"I think so, too, " nodded Dave, "and not far away. "

"What could have happened? Those shots?"

"Probably fired to call assistance. "

"If you could speed up the hydroplane a little--"

"I would have to get the starter in use, and we might run intosomething. Hello! Hello! Hello!" Dave shouted loudly. There wasa speedy reply. 

"Here! Hello! this wa-aa-ay!"

"That's a man's voice, and he's right near to us, " declared Hiram, leaning forward and peering through the mist. "Hey, there!"

"I see you. Good!"

There was a tilt of the machine. The person in the water had seizedone of the wing stays. 

"Careful, there, " ordered Dave. "Don't cling to that wing or bearit down. "

"I can't hold out. "

Dave cautiously edged from his seat towards a form now plainlyvisible. It was that of a man about thirty years of age. 

It was no easy task to take the man aboard. One of his hands wasuseless. He seemed in pain and half choked with water he hadswallowed. 

Hiram gave up his seat to the rescued man, who sank back as ifovercome with faintness and exhaustion. Hiram himself found aresting place on the platform supporting the two seats. 

"Is there anybody else in trouble?" Dave asked of their passenger. 

"No, no, " replied the man. "The launch is gone up. Get me to landquick as you can. I'm afraid my arm is broken. It pains meterribly. I must get to a surgeon soon as possible. "

Dave got the hydroplane under way again. 

He was fortunate in striking a course that brought them back to theboat house in about an hour's time. 

The rescued man was somewhat revived by this time, and when thehydroplane was safely housed, Dave took his arm and piloted the wayfrom the beach. 

"It is less than half a mile to the hangars, " the young aviatorexplained. "When we get there we can find an automobile to take youinto town. "

"It was when my launch struck a rock that I hurt my arm, " the manexplained. 

"Were you on board alone?" asked the curious Hiram. 

"Yes. I was driving ahead full speed, to get ashore out of the fog. I heard your machine, and was afraid I'd get run into. My launchran into a reef with terrific force. I was thrown against itbulkhead, arm sprained or broken, nearly stunned, and then into thewater. "

"But the launch, Mister?" questioned the interested Hiram anxiously. 

"Smashed. I don't know if I could locate it again in the fog. Icouldn't use my hurt arm, and I fired my revolver, yelled, and gaveup when your machine came along. "

"Where did you come from, Mister?" pressed the persistent Hiram. 

"Why--well, I came from up north. Own a launch. Had some businessthis way, and got well on my way till the craft struck. "

Dave noticed as the man spoke that it was in a hesitating, evasiveway. He seemed anxious to change the conversation, for he said:

"You are taking me to the Columbus aero field?"

"Yes, we belong there, " answered Dave. 

"Some people there named Dawson?"

"Yes, father and son. "

"That's it. Here, now?"

"Oh, yes, they follow the different meets. "

"Why, then, say, " observed the man, "if you will just get me upagainst them, I shall be pleased. You see, they're friends of mine. They'll take care of me. "

Dave gave the man a look. Hiram pulled a face at him behind hisback. That settled it with Hiram. In his mind he was sure thatanybody who knew the Dawsons in a friendly way could not possiblyamount to much. 

The man did not mention his name. He seemed to care nothingwhatever for the fate of the launch. He barely thanked Dave, as, reaching the aero grounds, our hero led him near to the headquartersof the man for whom the Dawsons were working. 

"You'll find your friends over there, " he said. 

"All right, " nodded the man he had rescued. "Lucky I met you. Thanks. "

"Say, Dave Dashaway, now what do you think of that!" burst outHiram, as the man got out of earshot. 

"Think of what, Hiram?" inquired the young aviator. 

"Friend of the Dawsons!"

"Well, they've got to know somebody, haven't they?"

"That's so, but I don't like the fellow you rescued. "

"Why not, Hiram?"

"Did you notice the way he hesitated when we asked him where he hadcome from?"

"Yes. "

"And about that launch? He didn't seem to care what had become ofit. "

"Maybe it didn't belong to him. "

"Well, anyway, hadn't he ought to have some concern about otherfolks' property?"

Dave did not reply. He had his own ideas and opinion of the rescuedman. He was due for a public exhibition of the Reliance the nextday, and dismissed the incident from his mind as he got back to theBaby Racer hangar. 

Mr. King was to make a non-stop race also, and there was plenty ofdetail to attend to at the Aegis headquarters as well. 

That was a busy, exciting day, the one following. The Aegis and hercompetitors got started by ten o'clock. There was a variedprogramme from eleven to one. At three o'clock Dave made his runwith the hydroplane. 

Two other machines engaged in the contest, but not only were they ofinferior make, but their operators were clumsy and not up tostandard. 

Dave won considerable praise. The Reliance made a beautiful run, and he felicitated himself that he had got onto the knack of runningit right. 

"I don't believe much in hydroplanes, " old Grimshaw observed to himas he accompanied Dave back to the aero grounds, "but I believe inyou, and I will say you made a clever showing. "

"Wait till the Interstate folks send on their latest improvedaero-hydroplane, Mr. Grimshaw, " said Dave. "You'll see some finework then. "

"There's your friend, young Dobbs, " remarked Grimshaw. 

Dave saw Hiram on a run, headed towards them. He came upbreathless. 

"Some one at the hangar to see you, Dave, " he reported. 

"Who is it, Hiram?"

"He says he's a United States revenue officer. "

"Hello!" spoke Grimshaw, "I hope your hydroplane hasn't got you intoany trouble running up against the government. "

"Oh, I think not, " replied Dave with a smile. 

"It's a long story and a big story, Dave, " replied Hiram. "You knowthe man you rescued he lake yesterday?"

"Yes, Hiram. "

"Well, it turns out that he is a notorious smuggler and thegovernment is looking for him. "

CHAPTER VIII

A PUZZLING DISAPPEARANCE

Dave hurried his steps. Old Grimshaw turned off at the Aegisheadquarters. Hiram led his companion by a short cut to the BabyRacer hangar. 

On a campstool inside the tent where the boys slept, Dave found akeen-eyed, hatchet-faced man. He sat stiff as a poker, and seemedto pierce Dave through and through with his glance as he looked himover critically. 

"Dashaway, yes?" he interrogated, and as Dave bowed assent he added:"Thought I'd wait and see you, although our young friend here hasbeen pretty dear. "

"About what?" asked Dave. 

"Ridgely. "

"Who is he?"

"The man you rescued from the lake last evening. As I have toldyour friend, the man is a bad one, and we have chased him up anddown the lakes clear from Detroit. "

"He is a criminal, then?"

"A smuggler. He has outwitted the revenue officers for some time. His last specialty was running Chinese emigrants over the border. When he learned the chase was on, he stole a launch and scudded forother waters. He had the name and color of the launch changed. Whyhe came to Columbus we don't know. "

"To see some people named Dawson, he said. "

"Yes, they appear to be fiends. "

"Can't Jerry Dawson tell you anything about him?" asked Dave. 

"No. "

"For a very good reason. "

"And what is at?"

"Dawsons left last night. "

"Left--left the meet?" exclaimed Dave in surprise. 

"Yes, bag and baggage. "

"That puzzles me, " said Dave. 

"It baffles us, " observed the revenue officer, "for they have leftno clew to their future whereabouts. "

"Won't Jerry's employer tell you?"

"He says he can't. Professes to be quite at sea as to the meaningof their sudden departure. Angry, too, for it seems they had acontract in the service. "

"I wouldn't believe him, " broke in Hiram. "Anybody respectableabout the meet can tell you that he is not to be trusted. "

"Well, the Dawsons are gone and Ridgely went away with them, " saidthe revenue officer definitely. "I fancied you might give me somehint that might help me, Dashaway, as to their antecedents, friends. "

"I'm a new one in the aviation line, " said Dave. "I found them inthe business when I joined it, only a few weeks ago. "

"Well, I understand you are two pretty keen young fellows, " said theofficer, "I'm going to leave you my card. There it is. "

Dave glanced at the bit of pasteboard his visitor extended. It boresimply a name: "James Price. "

"If you get the faintest clew to Ridgely or the Dawsons, " continuedMr. Price, "wire the secret service bureau at Chicago. I willarrange so that I shall be advised at once. "

"I will do what I can for you, Mr. Price, " promised Dave. 

"All right, and send in any reasonable bill you like for yourservice. We feel certain that this, Ridgely, driven from onedistrict, will begin operations in another. Then, too, from what Ilearn these Dawsons are not above engaging in of off-color schemes. "

"They aren't!" cried Hiram. "If they had stayed, Mr. King saidthey'd be barred from the meets in a few days. "

"Well, help me all you can. "

"Queer, isn't it?" spoke Hiram, as the revenue officer left them. 

"It is a rather strange proceeding, " admitted Dave. 

At five o'clock that afternoon the two friends were down at thesouth pylons awaiting the coming in of the machines engaged in thenon-stop race. A great crowd was gathered, for according toestimated schedules some of the monoplanes would be due within thecoming half hour. 

"If it's the Aegis first, " spoke Hiram, "it makes three winningstunts for Mr. King in two days. "

A sort of instantaneous flutter pervaded the people as some wordstarting from the judge's stand passed electrically through thecrowd. 

"They've sighted something, " shouted an excited spectator. 

"Yes, there's one of the airships, " added a quick voice. 

"I see it!"

"There's another!"

"Hurrah!"

Hiram stood looking up into the sky, fairly trembling with suspense. A man standing by Dave had a field glass. 

"I make out two, " he spoke to an inquirer at his side. 

"I think I can tell you who they are if you'll give me your glassfor a minute, " said Dave. 

"Certainly, " replied the man. 

"What is it, Dave? " cried Hiram, as, watching the face of his comradeclosely, he discerned an intense expression upon it. 

"Aegis in the lead--" began Dave, lowering the field glass. 

"Aegis in the lead!" ran from the spot in receding echoes as thenews passed down the line. 

"That's King's craft. "

"I knew it!"

"Butterfly a close second, " reported Dave. 

"There's another one!"

"And another!"

"See them come!" cried an excited old farmer. "Say, it beats theelectric cars down at Poseyville!"

The field was in a wild flutter. The contesting aircraft camenearer and nearer. Finally Hiram could make out the Aegis fully amile in the lead, the wings set for a drop straight beyond the southpylon. 

"He's won--Mr. King has won!" he shouted again and again, fairlydancing up and down. 

The crowd surged towards the landing point as the Aegis gracefullysailed to earth, ran a stopping course, and Robert King stepped outamid the frantic cheers of his friends and admiring spectators ingeneral. 

The great aviator looked please and proud. Old Grimshaw trotted athis side on the way to the Aegis hangar. 

"Say, you're taking about everything there is in sight, " heremarked, with one of his grim chuckles. 

"I've run the limit on the set spurts, I guess, " replied the expertairman. "I'm going to look, for something better. "

"What is there that's better than these famous stunts of yours, Mr. King?" inquired Hiram. 

"A record beater of some account, " was the quick response. 

"Record breaker of what?" pressed the persistent Hiram. 

"Well, " said Mr. King with an animated sparkle in his eye, "you andDashaway come down to the hangar this evening, and I'll tell you allabout it. "

CHAPTER IX

A GIANT AIRSHIP

Dave Dashaway and his friend were promptly on hand at the Aegishangar at eight o'clock that evening. 

Usually the boys took their meals with Mr. King. A group of theairman's admirers, however, had insisted on a special dinner at ahotel just outside the grounds. Hiram piloted the way for Dave tothe restaurant on the field. He had worked for the man having it incharge, and the best meal possible was set out for them free ofcharge. 

They found Mr. King in the little partitioned off room of the Aegishangar which he used as an office. The airman sat before a desklittered up with a variety of papers. One of these Dave noticed ashe entered, was a detailed drawing of an immense airship. 

"Oh, arrived, eh?" spoke the aviator with a pleasant smile, as theboys came into view. "Glad of it. Get comfortable seats and we'llhave a little chat. "

The boys settled themselves in camp chairs, Mr. King closed the doorof the apartment and sat down again. Hiram regarded him eagerly andexpectantly. 

"I've got something to tell you, lads, " began the airman, after abrief thoughtful pause. "This is business, and of course you willbe wise enough to treat it confidentially. "

"I love to keep secrets, " declared the ardent Hiram, and Dave smiledand nodded assent to the sentiment. 

"I have been thinking and planning for a big event for some time, "continued Mr. King. 

"As how, now?" asked Hiram, devoured with suspense. 

"Well, in the first place I propose to build a giant airship. "

"I know, " said Hiram. "A big passenger monoplane. "

"No, " interrupted the aviator. "What I want is a dirigibleairship. "

"Pshaw! only a balloon!" remarked Hiram disappointedly. 

"Not at all, " corrected the good-natured airman. "Except for theself-sustaining power, it will be constructed on the best aeroplaneprinciples. I have been working on it for some months, and onlyyesterday I got figures on the machine. "

"What is it for, Mr. King?" submitted the inquisitive Hiram, "exhibitions?"

"No. It's first big feat is to cross the Atlantic. "

"Cross the Atlantic Ocean!" almost gasped the excited Hiram. 

"Cross the Atlantic!" repeated Dave, in a startled yet thoughtfulmanner. 

He sat looking fixedly at the aviator as if fascinated. Thenovelty, the immensity of the proposition, stunned Dave. 

"Can it be done?" he asked in a low, intense tone, vast dreamsrunning through his mind a lightning speed. 

"According to my calculations, yes, " replied Mr. King definitely. "Oh, it is no new idea with me. The project has been the constantideal of every advanced airman. It has got to come to that, ifaeronautics is the progressive science we enthusiasts believe it tobe. "

"I would like to be the first one to win such a triumph, " said Dave. 

"Yes, the first one gets the fame, " said the airman. "The prize, too. If such an experiment was rationally started I believe theprofession and its backers would put up a small fortune to go to thesuccessful winner. Now, boys, I have great confidence in you. Whathas held me back has been the lack of capital. "

"Say, Mr. King, " broke in Hiram impetuously, "I've got nearly thirtydollars saved up, and Dave--"

"It will take bigger amounts than we three put together can earnjust to get the plans of the giant airship on paper, " said Mr. King, with an indulgent smile at his loyal young friends. "If I go to anyregular aero promoters they will want all the proceeds. I can raisea few thousand dollars myself and do as much more among my friendsbut, all put together, the amount wouldn't make even a beginning. "

"How much will it take, Mr. King?" asked Dave seriously. 

"At least twenty-five thousand dollars. "

"Whew!" whistled Hiram. 

"It's no child's play. It's a big risk, and there's no doing ithalf way, " declared Mr. King. "Last night while I was planning overit, a sudden idea came to me. Dashaway, you remember that fellowwho stole my watch and money and medal from you?"

"You mean the young thief who called himself Briggs, and thenGregg?"

"Exactly. "

"Yes, Mr. King. "

"And how he used some letters sent to your father from a greatfriend of his?"

"Mr. Dale?" nodded Dave, wondering what all this had to do with thegiant airship scheme. 

"Well, as you know, that young scamp, Gregg, had gone to Mr. Dale, who had never seen you, and by means of the letters stolen from youmade him believe that he was the son of his old friend. Sodelighted was Mr. Dale, that he practically adopted young Gregg. Infact, he was on the point of making the pretended Dave Dashaway heirto all his fortune. "

"You told me about that, " said Dave. 

"When we left Dayton to come here, we had to make a hurried jump tofill our contract, as you know. I let Gregg go, after recovering mystolen property from him, but I got a written confession of his boldimposture, first. You know my plan was for you and me to go whereMr. Dale lives, and introduce him to the real Dave Dashaway. Yousee, although I have managed to scare that old tyrant guardian ofyours, Silas Warner, into leaving you alone, I feared he might worksome trick to get you back in his clutches again. "

"I've thought a good deal about that lately, " said Dave. 

"My plan was to have this Mr. Dale go to Brookville, show up Warner, and apply for your guardianship. "

"Yes, then I would feel safe, " said Dave. 

"Well, Mr. Dale, having been an old balloonist, would probably notobject to your remaining in the same line of business in which yourfather was famous. "

"I should think he would be pleased, " remarked Hiram, who was alwaysinterested and active in any conversation going on. 

"I counted on that, " resumed the aviator. "At all events, not beingable to go or send Dave to Warrenton to meet this Mr. Dale, I wroteto a friend of mine who lives at Warrenton. I told him the wholestory, instructing him to inform Mr. Dale, so if this Gregg camearound again, he would be ready to treat him as an imposter. Myfriend wrote me only yesterday that Mr. Dale was off on anautomobile trip, and might not be back for a day or two. He saidthat Mr. Dale was a very lonely old bachelor. He had been delightedto take up Gregg, believing him to be the son of his old balloonistcomrade, so you would, be sure to receive a really grand welcome, Dave. "

"I'm glad of that, " said Dave, filled with deep gratitude as hecontrasted his present circumstances with his former forlorncondition. 

"Now then, to business, " continued Mr. King briskly. "I don't wantto 'work' anybody with my personal schemes, but I see a chance toput my giant airship project on its feet. "

"Why, " cried Dave brightly, "you mean to interest Mr. Dale?"

"That's just what I do mean, " assented the aviator. 

Dave rose to his feet, excited and pleased. 

"Mr. King, " he said earnestly, "I not only would do all I could tohave Mr. Dale join you, but I feel sure he would be glad to take aninterest in your plan. "

"It's worth trying, anyway, " responded the airman. "I'm going to goby rail to Warrenton to-morrow, in the hope of finding Mr. Dale athome. I shall send you to him later. "

"All this isn't grand, or exciting, or anything of that sort, is it, now!" ejaculated Hiram, as Dave and he returned to the Baby Racerhangar. 

"I hope Mr. King's plans come out, all right, responded Dave. "I'lldo a good deal to repay him for all he has done for me. "

"And me, too, " echoed Hiram. "He's a fine fellow!"

Mr. King departed on his journey the next day. Dave was not on theprogramme, so he practiced some with the hydroplane. Coming homefor dinner, he found a letter from the Interstate people. 

They were cheery and optimistic over the completion of their newmodel aero-hydroplane. It had been tested and worked splendidly. The company stated that they would ship the machine to the meet atColumbus two days later. 

Dave told Hiram about the machine, and the hitter was in a fever ofexpectation over its anticipated arrival. 

The boys were eating their supper at the King hangar later in theday, when a telegraph messenger appeared. 

"Message for Mr. Dave Dashaway, " he said. "I'm your man, " repliedDave. 

He signed for the message, tore open the envelope, and glancedrapidly over the enclosure. His face clouded as he did so, for themessage was from his employers, the Interstate Aero Company, and itread:

"Cancel all dates. Come on at once. Trouble. "

CHAPTER X

SOMETHING WRONG

"What is it, Dave? " inquired Hiram, tracing a sudden seriousness inthe manner of his comrade. 

Dave did not reply. With a thoughtful air he passed the telegram toHiram. 

"Wonder what's up?" queried the latter. 

"I can't imagine, " said Dave. 

"They tell you to cancel your dates, " went on Hiram, looking verymuch worried. 

"Yes, that's what bothers me, " replied Dave. 

"And to come on to the factory at once. "

"Perhaps they want to pay me off and let me go, " suggested Dave, pretending to smile. 

"Don't take any trouble on your mind on that score, " cried Hiram. "They'd search a long time before they'd find a better demonstratorthan you are. "

"Thank you Hiram, " said Dave. "The telegram is plain. "

"Yes, cancel all dates. "

"That's easy, I have nothing on the programme for the rest of theweek. "

"There's the aero-hydroplane stunt. "

"But the machine hasn't arrived. "

"That's so. "

"Let's go down and see Grimshaw. I want to talk to him about this, "said Dave. 

They found the airman at the Aegis hangar. Dave read him thetelegram. Grimshaw looked bothered. 

"Too bad, when things are going so finely for you, " he remarked. 

"I wish Mr. King was here, " said Dave, "but he probably won't beuntil tomorrow. "

"Hardly, I should judge, from what he said, " replied Grimshaw. 

"I had better start right off for the Interstate plant. "

"Yes. I would do that if I were you, " advised Grimshaw. 

"I wish you would see the managers and explain about this, "continued Dave. 

"Suppose the Drifter comes Dave?" asked Hiram. 

The Drifter was the name of the new model aero-hydroplane concerningwhich Dave had received a letter from the Interstate people thatday, but written the day previous. 

"I'll see that it is handled all right, " promised Grimshaw. 

"Tell Mr. King I will wire him just as soon as I learn what's up, "said Dave. "You'll look after the Racer and the hydroplane, won'tyou, Hiram?"

"Surely I will, " pledged Hiram. 

Dave returned to his own quarters and packed a small hand bag. Hiramwent to the railroad depot with him. They had to wait two hours for asouth-bound train. 

The factory of the Interstate Aero Company was located at a city inOhio. It was over three hundred miles from Columbus. The trainDave was on arrived at a junction about daylight the next morning. There he had to wait for a train on another road. 

He had slept a few hours and got his breakfast at the depotrestaurant. According to schedule he would reach the Interstateplant about ten O'clock in the morning. 

Dave had been looking out of the car window enjoying the scenery andthinking over affairs in general, when he chanced to direct his gazeat a newspaper the man in the forward seat was reading. A glaringhead line had caught his eye: "A Burglar In The Clouds. "

Anything suggestive of the air was of interest to the young aviator. He wondered what the item might refer to. Dave leaned over to tryto scan the body matter of the article, when the locomotive whistledand the train slowed up for a station. The man in front of himshoved the newspaper into his pocket to leave the train. Then theincident drifted from the youth's mind. 

Dave reached Bolton on schedule time. An inquiry directed him tothe extensive works of the Interstate Aeroplane Company. He foundit to be a very large plant. The company, besides manufacturingaircraft, also turned out automobiles. 

Past the entrance gates of the big establishment, Dave became atonce interested in a large building bearing the sign "Aerodrome. "He could not resist the impulse to enter it. Then he found himselfgoing from section to section, viewing the splendid assortment ofaircraft on exhibition and for sale. 

To a devotee of aeronautics the display was most fascinating. Therewere monoplanes, biplanes, and hydroplanes. In one section weresamples of the various accessories of the craft. Dave was lookingover a splendid passenger monoplane when some one hailed him. 

"Dashaway--say, we've been expecting you. "

Dave turned to face the man who had been sent on by the Interstatepeople to drill him in the use of the hydroplane at Columbus. 

"Yes, " nodded Dave, I got a hurry call wire, and came on at once. "

"Seen the manager?"

"Not yet. I drifted in here and lost myself among so many beauties. I don't see the new hydro-aeroplane. "

A quick shade came over the face of Dave's companion. 

"No, " he hesitatingly replied. 

"Has it been shipped to Columbus yet?" inquired Dave. 

"Why--that is, I guess I had better let the manager tell you aboutthe machine. "

Dave noticed a singular constraint in the manner of his companion. 

"Come along, I'll introduce you, " volunteered the latter. 

Dave accompanied his guide from the aerodrome. They passed severallarge factory buildings. In their center was a small one storybrick structure labeled "Office. "

Dave had never met the manager of the Interstate Company. He hadtransacted all his business with the agent of the company and thehydroplane expert. His companion led him past a row of desksoccupied by clerks and stenographers and into a neatly furnishedoffice. 

"Here is Dashaway, Mr. Randolph, " he said. 

A fine looking man writing at a desk wheeled quickly in his chair. He arose to his feet with a pleasant smile and shook Dave's hand ina welcoming way. 

"I am glad to meet you, " he spoke. "You received our telegram?"

"Yes, sir, and came on at once. "

"I suppose you know why we sent for you?" questioned the manager. 

"Why, no, sir, " replied Dave. 

"We tried to keep our loss a secret, " proceeded the manager, "butthe newspapers got hold of it. "

Dave recalled the newspaper heading he had glanced at, "A Burglar InThe Clouds, " and wondered if that had anything to do with the case. 

"I have not read a newspaper since leaving Columbus last night, "said Dave. 

"Well, " explained the manager of the Interstate Company, "our newmodel aero-hydroplane his been stolen. "

CHAPTER XI

"N. A. L. "

"Stolen!" exclaimed Dave, in dismay. 

"It startles you?" spoke the manager of the Interstate Aeroplaneconcern. "So it did us. "

"But--"

"You are mystified--unusual occurrence rather. You can follow thetrack of a stolen automobile. But when it comes to pursuing anairship, you won't find many familiar roads in the clouds. "

"How did it happen?" inquired Dave. 

"Why, we had tested the machine and it was to have been shipped toyou yesterday. The day before, our expert made a very fine andsatisfactory demonstration. The tanks were full, everything inperfect shape for another spurt early yesterday morning. During thenight some one scaled the fence, evaded the watchman, and broke intothe aerodrome. "

"It must have been some one familiar with the place here, " suggestedDave. 

"We don't know that. It is certain, though, that they knew allabout airships. "

"Why so?"

"Because from the trail they left we could trace where they ran themachine outside. They gauged its ground run just right. They musthave put on the muffler, for the watchman heard no sounds. Thenthey flew away. "

"Do you suspect anybody?" questioned Dave. 

"No. "

"Could it have been a business rival?"

"Scarcely. We have some hard competitors, but we have canvassed thesituation and do not believe they could afford to mix up in adeliberate steal. "

"It is strange, " commented Dave, in a musing tone. 

"Our belief is that the Drifter was selected as the nearest andhighest type of aircraft in existence. The people who stole it didso with some definite purpose in view. "

"What could that purpose be?" asked Dave. 

"We cannot as yet decide. One thing is certain--they will notventure to use it at any of the aero meets. "

"Then they must design to take it to a distance. "

"Of course. "

"You have no trace of it?" asked Dave. 

"None whatever. We can account for that, however. The night wasdark, they started out when everybody was asleep, and they couldhave gone in one certain direction and struck a positive wildernessin a few hours time. "

"You mean north?"

"Among the pineries, yes. "

"Or over the Canadian border?"

"Exactly. "

Dave sat silent and thoughtful for some moments. The situation wasa novel one. He had never heard of any one stealing an airshipbefore. The Interstate manager aroused him from his reverie withthe words:

"We sent for you, Dashaway, because you are our most active man inthe field. "

"That sounds pretty grand for a young fellow like me, " returned Davewith a smile, and flushing up, too. 

"We gage out men by what they do, " replied Mr. Randolph in amatter-of-fact tone. "We have found blood the best in our business. You have made good, Dashaway. "

"Thank you, sir. "

"Mr. King said you were the most promising aviator in the field. "

"Oh, he is always saying something good about me. "

"You proved it in your ideal work with the Baby Racer. "

"Who wouldn't, with any pride and that perfect machine?" challengedDave. 

"That dash of yours after that Lyon order when you outwitted theStar people was simply brilliant. It showed your loyalty to us. The newspapers have given your hydroplane work so far the biggestkind of a send off. "

Dave was silent. He looked modest and embarrassed at all thispraise. He could not, however, feel otherwise than pleased at allthese eulogies bestowed upon him. 

"The Drifter has got to be found, " resumed the manager. "It is ourfirst perfected model, and we can hardly build its counterpart intime for full seasonal exhibitions. We think you are the man tofind it, Dashaway. "

"Oh, Mr. Randolph, " said Dave with a slight start. 

"I am expressing the opinion of the head men in the company here, who knew your good record. You are young, ambitious, a capableairman, and above all you are loyal to the interest of youremployers. "

"I should hope it, " exclaimed Dave, roused up to genuine emotion. "Just think--you picked me out, a mere boy, and trusted me. And seewhat you helped me do, already!"

"Exactly, " interrupted Mr. Randolph quickly. "That is just thepoint--you've outdone some of the veterans in the service and jumpedto a high place in a bound. That's why we trust you. "

"I don't know about what you propose, though, " said Dave, soberingdown. 

"Yes, it's a pretty hard task to set. We're all at sea. "

"So am I, " admitted Dave. 

"Put those keen wits of yours at work, Dashaway, " urged the managerencouragingly. "I know after thinking this affair over you'll beready to suggest something. "

"Well, all airmen should know of the theft of the Drifter, and be onthe lookout. "

"We notified every association and meet in the country after wefound that the newspapers had got onto the theft. That advertisesit widely. The persons, however, who stole the Drifter knew thatwould come about. Rest assured of on point, therefore--they won'tstay within range of possible identification any longer than theycan help. "

"That's so, " acknowledged Dave musingly. 

"The company wishes you to take charge of a search for the Drifter, "went on Mr. Randolph. "Any machine we own, half a dozen of them ifyou like, are at your disposal. You may proceed regardless of theexpense. If Mr. King could be induced to assist--"

"I think he is under contract clear up to the end of the season, "explained Dave. 

"Sorry for that, but he is such a good friend to you and to us, andI fancy he would gladly cooperate with advice and direction. "

"Yes, indeed, " assented Dave. 

"We owe you a good deal more than your contract income already, Dashaway, " said the manager. "I don't think there's an aviatorliving ever had a finer settlement than you will have if you succeedin running down the Drifter. "

"I'll try, " said Dave. 

"That's capital. "

"Give me a few hours to think it over, " suggested Dave. 

The young aviator left the Interstate plant very thoughtful andserious. Dave decided that he had assumed a big responsibility. Heseemed to feel an actual ponderous weight on his young shoulders. 

A score of theories ran riot through his mind its to the motive forthe theft of the Drifter. Then he decided that it must be someprofessional who had done the act. It was hard to fathom theultimate plans of such an abstractor, who would not dare to use themachine in any public way and could scarcely sell it. 

"It's a puzzle, a big, worrying poser, " said Dave, walking slowlyfrom the factory grounds. 

About half a mile city-wards from the plant Dave passed through asquare devoted to public park purposes. He sat down on atree-shaded rustic bench. There, alone, quiet and undisturbed, heset his wits at work. 

Whoever it was who had committed the theft must have been aprofessional airman. Dave formulated a plan to ask Mr. Randolph ifanybody in Bolton, or any employee of the plant was missing. Incase this was not discovered then some stranger must have come toBolton. There might be a trace found of the party at some of thehotels. 

"There's a bit of detective work to do by some one besides myself, "decided Dave. "I'm going to suggest this plan to Mr. Randolph. "

"Hello, boss, " spoke an approaching voice as Dave got up to returnto the plant. 

He observed a man he had noticed on a bench directly opposite to theone he had occupied sidling towards him. The fellow was ragged andtrampish looking. There was a queer leer in his face and his eyeswere fixed on the coat Dave wore. 

"Well, what is it?" inquired Dave. 

"Excuse a question, matey?"

"Oh, that's all right. "

"Noticed a badge you're wearing, " said the tramp. 

"Oh, that?" spoke Dave lifting his hand to his coat lapel, andwondering at the man been so observant. 

"Yes--N. A. L. , " nodded the tramp. 

Dave eyed the speaker keenly. At the distance he was, it wasdoubtful that he could have dearly made out the monogram, yet henamed the letters glibly and correctly. 

"N. A. L. " stood for the National Aero League. Dave was not amember and neither was Hiram Dobbs. Mr. King was and during themeets it had become the custom with professionals to furnish theirassistants with duplicate badges, which enabled them to enter andleave the aero grounds unchallenged by the gateman, and tickettakers. 

"You must have pretty good eyes to make out those letters on thatbadge at a distance, " said Dave. 

"I've seen them before, " readily explained the tramp. 

"Oh, you have?"

"Yes, and I've got a badge for sale just like the one you'rewearing. "

CHAPTER XII

DAVE'S DISCOVERIES

"You have got a badge like mine for sale, you say?" exclaimed Dave. 

"That's so, " bobbed the tramp with a grin. 

"Where did you get it?"

"That don't go with the sale, but I didn't steal it. "

"You found it, I suppose?" suggested Dave. 

"Well, you might call it so. " The man drew from his pocket a badgewhich was the exact counterpart of that worn by the young aviator. 

"Let me have a look at it, " said Dave. 

"No, sir. "

"Why not?"

"You can see what it is, can't you? I don't want to get intotrouble, boss. "

"I'm not going to get you into any trouble, " declared Dave. 

"Then why do you want to look at the badge? It's no different fromyours, is it?"

"Are there no marks on it?"

"Why, I didn't notice. Say, yes, there are, " announced the tramp, scrutinizing the little piece of metal on the back of the badge. "Looks like T. O. "

Dave put his hand in his pocket. 

"What do you want for it?" he asked. 

Evidently the tramp was about to say "fifteen cents. " He shrewdly, however, observed an interested if not an eager expression on Dave'sface, arid added:

"--ty cents. "

"It's yours, " replied Dave, promptly producing the coin. "Wh-e-w!"

Dave stared, started and gave utterance to a prolonged whistle. Hecame to his feet with a shock. Upon the rear plate of the badgewere scratched two letters, indeed--but the tramp had read themwrong. As read by Dave they were a mine of information. 

Dave's mind ran rapidly. He sat down again on the bench. The trampgrinned broadly as Dave turned an eager and excited face upon him. 

"Why, " he chuckled, "you're real friendly, aren't you?"

"No trifling, " said Dave seriously. "I'll give you a good deal morethan fifty cents if you tell me truthfully and right away how youcame by that badge. "

"How much now?"

"Two dollars. "

"The information is yours, Cap, " answered the tramp, with an assumedair of grandness. "I found it. "

"When?"

"At one o'clock yesterday morning. "

"Where?"

"By the fence of the big Fly factory down yonder. "

"You mean the Interstate works?"

"That's the place, I guess. "

Dave became more interested than ever. He handed a two dollar billto the tramp without further question. 

"Now, my man, " he said, "I've been square with you. "

"That's right, " assented the tramp. 

"I want you to tell me all about how you came by that badge. "

"Well, boss, I'm troubled with asthma, and have to sleep out ofdoors nights. "

"Go on. "

 "The police in the city know me moderately well, and I prefer thesuburbs. "

"Don't fool--give me the facts. "

"Night before last I camped down in a grassy spot near the fence ofthe big Fly factory. It must have been about midnight when I waswaked up. I heard somebody say: 'Oh, at take it!'"

"Who was it?"

"A boy about your size. "

"What was he doing?" asked Dave. 

"He was up on top of the fence. He had climbed up one of theslanting outside supports, I guess. You know there's two rows ofbarbed wire a-top of the boards. Well, there he was, making a greatfuss. "

"What about?" inquired Dave. 

"The back of his coat was all tangled up in the barbs. He couldn'tpull it loose. Then I heard some voices speak on the inside of thefence. There were two men there. "

"You think they had got over first?"

"It looked that way. They told the boy to pull out of his coat. Hegot his arms out, started to untwist the coat, stuck his fingerswith the barbs, and tumbled over into the factory yard. "

"And then?" pressed Dave eagerly. 

"H'm! I went to sleep. "

"What! not knowing but what they were burglars?"

"Boss, I never mix up with other people's business, good or bad. "

"How did you come to get the badge?"

"Why, when I woke up at sunrise I saw the coat sticking on the fencewhere the boy had left it. I climbed up and got it. The badge waspinned to it. "

"You haven't got the coat on. "

"Good reason. "

"What's that?"

"Well, my own coat is pretty ragged but it ain't a marker to the waythat boy's coat was riddled and torn by them barb wires. "

"Didn't you search the coat?"

"Every time that, matey. "

"And found--?"

"Humph! nothing. "

"Nothing at all?"

"Oh, yes, there was some cigarettes, a stub of a pencil and a cardwith some marks and writing, on it. "

"What did you do with the card?" asked Dave. 

"Tossed it into the ditch with the coat. "

"Do you remember where?"

"Sure, I do. "

"I'll give you another dollar to take me to the spot. "

"Say, you're a gold mine to me, Cap. Come ahead. "

Dave was doing a good deal of active thinking. More than once, ashis companion led way around the high board fence enclosing theInterstate plant, Dave took out the badge he had bought andscrutinized the scratches on its back closely. 

'The tramp guided the way across a bleak prairie stretch. Then hefollowed the dry ditch, until they came to a spot where thick clumpsof weeds directly lining the fence suggested a cozy resting andhiding place for any stray wayfarer. 

"There's where I was asleep, as I told you, " spoke Dave's companion, pointing to a spot where the weeds were somewhat trodden down. "Andthere's the place where the coat caught. See, there's one or twopieces of the cloth of the coat hanging in the barbs yet. "

"Yes, I see, " assented Dave. "Now, where did you throw the coat andthe things you found In it?"

The tramp moved about from place to place, got in line with thefence support, and looked down into the ditch. He moved alongslowly, his eyes on the ground. Finally he stooped down. 

"Here's the coat--what there's left of it, " he reported. "Here'sthat card, too. I can't find the pencil. "

"Never mind that, " replied Dave, extending his hand for theproffered objects. 

"I smoked up the cigarettes. "

Dave glanced eagerly at the card. He shoved it in a safe pocket. Then he rolled up the coat and placed it under his arm. 

"Very good, very good, indeed, " he said. 

"Here's that dollar I promised you. "

The tramp received the money, beaming all over his face. 

"Say, " he observed, as he moved on, "if it wasn't that you've mademe rich enough to retiree from business for a time, I'd offer tofind the owner of that coat and the fellows who were with him. "

"I'll do just that, " said Dave to himself in a satisfied way. 

Then, his hand resting on the card in his pocket, he added:

"What luck!"

CHAPTER XIII

HIRAM DOBBS AND THE BIPLANE

Dave walked straight along the fence. By the shortest routepossible he reached the gateway entrance to the factory yard. 

The tramp had put nimbly in the opposite direction. He was headedfor the nearest business street, where he could spend some of themoney that he had earned so easily. 

The young aviator was very much excited. He had made certaindiscoveries that had amazed him. He could not help but mentallyrejoice over the strange fortune that had come from his straymeeting with the tramp. 

"It's a clew--a sure clew, " said Dave to himself. "Now to move justright in this affair and make no mistake. "

The youth crossed the grounds of the plant and again entered theoffice building. He did not wait to announce himself, but, as hereached the door of the manager's room and found it closed, hetapped briskly. 

"Come in, " spoke Mr. Randolph. "Hello, you, Dashaway?"

"Yes, Sir, " bowed Dave, removing his cap. 

"You are back soon. "

"Sooner than I planned, " replied Dave, "But I--"

"You've thought the affair over, I hope?"

"Something more than that, Sir, " responded Dave. "I have come totell you that I think I can be of some service to you about thatstolen aero-hydroplane. "

"Good for you!"

"I've thought out a plan, Sir, " went on Dave. "I feel certain thatthe people who raided the aerodrome and made off with the Drifterare bound for a distant and unsettled section. "

"But why? What benefit can they hope to secure way off fromcivilization?"

"That we have to guess at and work out, " replied Dave. "I will say, Mr. Randolph, that I think I have a faint clew to the disappearanceof the airship. "

"You don't say so!"

"I shall know more inside of twenty-four hours. In fact, Mr. Randolph, I feel pretty certain that I can soon submit a plan thatwill satisfy you that I know what I am about. "

"We already think that of you, Dashaway. "

"And that I can bring results. "

"Capital! I knew we were not mistaken in you. Now, see here, I seeyou have something working in your mind. I don't want to evenhamper you by asking what it is. "

"I would like to go back to Columbus on the first train, Mr. Randolph. "

"Very well. "

"I want to look up some affairs there, consult with Mr. King, andcome back here the next day. "

"And then?"

"I shall perhaps want to use the very best aircraft you have in yourfactory. "

"To hunt for the Drifter?"

"Yes, Sir. "

"Dashaway, the whole plant and everything in it is at your service. "

"Thank you, Sir. "

"I consider this theft of the Drifter even more important than I atfirst thought. "

"How is that, Mr. Randolph?"

"I have been thinking that if some competitor was concerned in theaffair, he might steal and utilize many points in our new modelwhich are not yet protected by patents. "

"I feel pretty sure that no business rival had anything to do withthe theft, " observed the young aviator confidently. 

"Well, you work this affair out in your own way. Remember, as Itold you, expense is no point whatever. When shall we see youagain?"

"To-morrow evening, or the next morning at the latest. "

Something in Dave's manner seemed to convince the shrewd manager ofthe Interstate Aeroplane Company that their young employee wasstarted on the right track. He shook hands cordially with Davewhen the latter left the office. 

Dave went at once to the railroad depot. He learned that a trainleft in two hours. 

"That will bring me to Columbus before dark, " he reflected. "Iwonder what Mr. King will say?"

The young aviator had a good deal on his mind, enough to make theaverage lad impatient. He had, however, learned a hard lesson ofdiscipline with his tyrannical guardian, old Silas Warner. Then, too, since coming under the helpful influence of Mr. King, he hadacquired a certain self reliance that now stood him in good stead. 

Running an airship took nerve, steadiness of purpose, a definite, concrete way of looking at things. Dave knew in his own mind thatthe Drifter was each hour speeding farther and farther away from thehaunts of men. He recalled the old adage, however, which says "themore haste the less speed, " and he determined to stick to the planhe had mentally outlined at the start. 

"I'm going to work on this affair slow but sure, " he told himself. "I think I can guess where the Drifter is headed for. If I amright, I know that I shall find it. "

Dave reached Columbus about dark. He went straight from the depotto the aero grounds. The plan he had formed in his mind took in atalk with Mr. King right away. The Baby Racer hangar, however, wason his way to the Aegis quarters. As he neared it he saw a light inthe shed where the little biplane was housed. Dave went to the halfopen door of the place to find Hiram Dobbs with a lantern putteringabout the machine. 

"What have you been up to, Hiram?" challenged Dave. 

"Why, hello! Got back? Good!" cried Hiram, rushing forward towarmly welcome his best friend. 

"Yes, just arrived, " answered Dave. 

"I've been cleaning up the machine, " explained Hiram. "It's oldGrimshaw's fault. "

"What is?"

"Taking the Baby Racer out. "

"Oh, the machine has been out, then, has it?" remarked Dave. 

"Yes, and up. Say, Dave, I made the five hundred feet level. Ihope you're not put out. It was a chance to make fifty dollars. "

"Fifty dollars?"

"Uh-huh, " bobbed Hiram in a broad grin. 

"How was that?"

"Why, Grimshaw was piloting a party over the grounds. Rich man andhis family-wife, son and two daughters. The youngest one was adaring little miss. She wanted to fly, and would fly. Grimshaw gotto bragging about what you had done with the Baby Racer. Well, nothing would do but I must roll the little beauty out. "

"That was all right, Hiram, " the young aviator hastened to say. "Ishould always feel that the biplane is safe in your hands. "

"Well, finally the father consented to let his daughter try a flyalong the ground. I settled her in a comfortable seat, and away wewent. I made it a good stiff run, and there was some jolting, butthe girl was wild over it. She begged for a second run. We gotsuch a fine start that I lifted about twenty feet in the air. "

"And then, of course, she screamed out in fear?" said Dave, with asmile. 

"Screamed nothing, " dissented Hiram. "She just spoke one delighted'O-oh!' and then: 'Higher, oh, please keep on going!' Say, Dave, she looked so bright and brave I couldn't help it--Z--I--P!"

"What does 'Z--I--P!' mean, Hiram?" asked Dave. 

"A slide, a swoop, then a circle, another, a shoot upwards, and thegirl laughing out, 'Oh, this is just grand!' Her sister shrieked, her mother fainted away, and her father was shaking his cane at usand yelling for us to come back. The Racer did her prettiest in twogrand circles of the grounds, and came down light as a feather. Thegirl jumped out, one big smile. 'Just think of it!' I heard her cryto her sister, 'when I've told my seminary chums that I've been upin a real airship!' Then, seeing that she was safe, I think herfolks were just as proud of her exploit as she was. Anyhow, she ranup to her father in a coaxing way, and came back to place a banknote in my hand. When they were gone, and I found that it was afifty dollar bill, old Grimshaw chuckled and said he had hinted tothe party that the regular fee for a ride in an airship was onehundred dollars. I'm mighty glad you're back, Dave. "

"Why, you seem to have got along finely without me, " said Dave. 

"We've missed you, all the same. Where you going, Dave?" askedHiram, as his friend moved out of the shed. 

"Why, I'm anxious to see Mr. King as soon as I can. I havesomething very important to talk about with him. "

"It's about that rush telegram?"

"Yes, Hiram. "

"What did it mean?"

"When we meet with Mr. King you shall, hear all about it, Hiram. "

"Well, Mr. King isn't home yet, " explained Hiram. 

Dave looked disappointed. 

"That is, " continued Hiram, "he hadn't got back when I was last upat the Aegis hangar. "

"When was that?"

"About four o'clock this afternoon. Mr. Grimshaw, though, said heexpected him on the six o'clock train. "

"We'll go and see if he has returned, " said Dave. 

They started for the aviator's headquarters. Half the distancecovered, they met him coming in search of them. Mr. King lookedpale and worried. Dave knew that something had happened to upsethim. 

"I'm glad you're back, Dashaway, " said Mr. King. "Grimshaw told meyou had been called to headquarters by the Interstate people. Ishould have wired you to return right away if you had not returned. Something very important has transpired. "

"About Mr. Dale--about my father's old friend, Mr. King?" askedDave. 

"That's it exactly. Bad news, Dashaway, I'm sorry to say, "announced the aviator in a very serious tone. 

CHAPTER XIV

THE MISSING AIRCRAFT

The aviator led the way back to the Aegis hangar. Dave saw that Mr. King was not inclined to explain any further until they were off thepublic course, so he asked no more questions, for the present. Davehad a good deal to tell himself. His mind had been full of it allday. Something in the grave, thoughtful manner of Mr. King, however, caused him to defer his own anxiety and impatience. 

When they were inside the comfortable room where the aviator madehis office, Mr. King turned to Dave with a very sober face. 

"I said I had bad news, Dashaway, " he spoke, "and that's nomistake. "

"Then you failed to find Mr. Dale at Warrenton?" inquired Dave. 

"He has not been there for over a week. "

"Why, I thought he lived there?"

"He did. He went away, or was kidnapped, nearly ten days ago. "

"Kidnapped?" exclaimed Dave in surprise. 

"That's what I think. Mr. Dale lived alone, except for a very oldman servant. As near as I can figure it out, that young thief, Gregg, appeared at Warrenton two days after I had him arrested. Idid a very foolish thing in dealing with the young scamp. "

"You mean letting him go free?" inquired Dave. 

"Yes, I feared at the time that I was unwise in not punishing him, to serve as a lesson against more mischief. He acted so scared, though, he helped me get back the property he had stolen from you, he signed a confession telling that he was not the real DaveDashaway and had imposed on Mr. Dale, so I thought he would proceedto at once make himself very scarce. I felt sure that he would notbe able to play any more tricks on Mr. Dale, for I expected that youand I would go the very next day and see this old friend of yourfather. You know we were rushed from Dayton to the next meet, andhad no chance to get to Warrenton and explain matters to Mr. Dale. Iblame myself for not sending you at, once to him at the time. As Itold you, I wrote to a friend, a lawyer at Warrenton, to learn what Icould about Mr. Dale. He reported Mr. Dale was absent on a trip. When I got to Warrenton yesterday and met the old Dale servant, I sawat once that something was wrong. "

"How do you mean, Mr. King?" asked Dave quite anxiously. 

"Well, I learned that this young scamp, Gregg, had appeared atWarrenton two days after I let him go. "

"Still pretending to be Dave Dashaway?"

"So the old servant says. Gregg and Mr. Dale went away together. There is no doubt in my mind that Gregg put up a plot to get Mr. Dale away from Warrenton before we could expose him. "

"But he could not keep Mr. Dale away from home forever?"

"No, but he and his accomplices might get the old man to some remoteplace and make him a prisoner. "

"And force him to give up a lot of money before they let him go. "

"Yes, that has been done before, " admitted Dave. 

"Anyhow, two days alter Mr. Dale left Warrenton, a check passedthrough the bank signed by him for one thousand dollars. "

Dave was both interested and alarmed. 

"Four days ago a check for two thousand dollars arrived. The bankrefused to cash it. "

"Why, Mr. King?"

"Because it was a forgery. "

"Not Mr. Dale's signature?"

"That's it. "

"But where did the checks come from?" inquired Dave. 

"From two cities, widely apart. I know the places. It looks to meas if the first check was given willingly by Mr. Dale. Then he musthave become suspicious, and refused to pay out any more money. Thesecond check was numbered correctly, and Gregg must have gotpossession of the old man's regular check book. "

"This is a pretty serious affair, Mr. King, " commented Dave. 

"It is, and I came straight back here to tell you about it, and thencancel all my engagements at the meet. I shall start out at once torun down this Gregg and locate Mr. Dale. "

"And I must join you-I see that it is my duty, " declared Dave. 

"Not at all, " responded the aviator definitely. "I have mapped outthe best plan of procedure, and I believe I can run down thisbusiness alone in a very short time. "

Dave was really anxious concerning Mr. Dale. He truly believed ithis first duty towards the old friend of his father to do all hecould to assist him. For all that, Dave was relieved to know thathe could go on without interruption in service of his employers. 

"Yes, " proceeded the aviator, "I feel that I have an interest infinding Mr. Dale. In the first place, he is your friend. Next, Ifeel responsible for letting that young scamp, Gregg, go free. At aselfish motive, I believe that if I succeed in rescuing the old manhe will gladly finance my giant airship scheme. "

"He surely will, Mr. King, " said Dave confidently. "I believe hewould help you, anyway. I do hope he can be found. "

"I shall not rest until he is, " declared the aviator. "Now, Dashaway, I don't want you to take this affair on your mind. If Ifail in what I have planned, I will certainly call you into thecase. I fancy, from what Hiram here has told me, that you have someimportant business of your own on hand. "

"Yes, that is quite true, " replied Dave seriously. 

"Are you having some trouble with the Interstate people?" inquiredthe aviator pointedly. 

"Not on my account, I, am glad to say, Mr. King, " replied Dave. "There is some trouble, though, for all hands around. It's aboutthe stolen aero-hydroplane, or hydro-aeroplane, they haven't justsettled on the exact name. "

"The Drifter?"

"Yes, sir. "

"I read about that strange case. I suppose it puts you back in yourarrangements at the meet here?"

"Not only that, Mr. King, " explained Dave, "but it has placed me ina position where I shall have to give up all my engagements for atime. "

"Why, you don't say so, Dashaway?" exclaimed the aviator, muchdisturbed. 

"Those are the orders, " replied Dave. "I have hurried back toColumbus purposely, to consult on your helping in a search for theDrifter. "

"Of course that is not possible, now that this Dale affair has comeup, " said Mr. King. "As to a search for the stolen aircraft, thatis going to be no easy task, I'm thinking. Have the Interstatepeople no theory as to the way the Drifter was stolen, and themotive for the theft?"

"I had better tell you all I know about it, Mr. King. "

"Do so, Dashaway. "

Dave proceeded to relate his interview with Mr. Randolph, themanager of the Interstate factory. He did not refer just then tohis experience with the tramp. 

"It's a good deal of a puzzle, " commented the aviator. "What isyour plan?"

"Why, I expected that I could induce you to take charge of thesearch. As you cannot, I am thinking of Hiram going back with me toBolton. "

"What's your idea?"

"The Interstate people have offered me their best monoplane to startthe chase for the missing Drifter. "

"It will be a blind start, Dashaway, without a clew. "

"But I have a clew, " announced Dave. 

"You didn't say so. "

"I hadn't come to that yet, Mr. King. I haven't even told theInterstate people. I am pretty certain that the Drifter left Boltonon a due northwest course, " and Dave drew from his pocket the cardhe had got from the tramp. 

"Capital!" cried the aviator, becoming very much interested. "Ifyou know that, you have half solved the problem. "

"Besides that, " went on Dave, producing the duplicate N. A. L. Badge, and glancing at the scratched initials on its back, "I knowwho stole the Drifter. "

"What's that?" almost shouted the aviator, springing to his feet, ina great state of excitement. 

"Say, Dave, are you sure?" pressed the eager Hiram Dobbs, worked upto fever heat with curiosity and suspense. 

"Who was it?" asked Mr. King. 

"Jerry Dawson, " was Dave Dashaway's reply. 

CHAPTER XV

AT THE AERODROME

"That is the machine I want, Mr. Randolph, " said Dave Dashaway. 

It was two days after the young aviator had told his friends atColumbus the name of the person he suspected of stealing theaero-hydroplane, the Drifter from the Interstate Aeroplane Company. 

Now, he and Hiram and the manager of the Interstate plant stood amidthe half hundred or more aero machines that comprised the stock ofone of the largest factories in that line in the country. 

They had left the aero meet at Columbus the evening previous, not, however, until Dave had explained how he came to suspect JerryDawson. 

"It's simple and plain, Mr. King, " the young aviator had said. "Thebadge I bought from the tramp at Bolton was the property of youngDawson. "

"Sure of that, Dashaway?" Mr. King had inquired. 

"Oh, yes. The initials are crude, but they certainly stand for 'J. D. ' and not 'T. O. ' as the tramp thought. "

An inspection of the duplicate badge by both Mr. King and Hiramsatisfied them that Dave's theory was correct. 

"Another thing, " Dave had added-- "the coat found on the barb wiretop of the factory fence I have seen Jerry wear many a time. "

"And the card?" pressed Hiram. 

"The card has some scrawls on it, made by Jerry, I think. It showsa sort of rough outline of the upper lake district here. Somearrows show a straight course due northwest. I believe the Drifterwas started on its way over the Canadian border. "

"And the two men with Jerry?" asked Mr. King. 

"I can't figure out that they could be anybody but Jerry's fatherand the man who left Columbus with them--Ridgely. "

"The man the revenue officer was looking for!" exclaimed Hiram. 

"The smuggler, as he was called, yes, " replied Dave. 

Mr. King and Hiram indulged in all kinds of conjectures as to thepossible motive of the party of three in stealing the aircraft. 

"The way I figure it out, " said Mr. King, "is that this Ridgelywanted to get out of the country knowing that the revenue peoplewere dose on his trail. "

"Perhaps, " agreed Dave thoughtfully. "There's another thing, though. "

"What's that?" inquired the interested Hiram. 

"His coming all the way around the lakes to find his friends, theDawsons, looks as though he had some future scheme in view, with anairship a part of it. "

"That's so, " assented Mr. King. "Well, Dashaway, you have donefamously so far in finding out what you have. The Interstate peoplethink the only way to chase the fugitives is with one of their ownmachines. I don't know anybody better adapted to do just that thanyourself. "

"Thank you, Mr. King, " said Dave modestly

The two boys left Columbus with pretty clear minds. They had adefinite purpose in view, and Mr. King, Dave felt sanguine, would doall that the interests of Mr. Dale required while they were gone. 

"Say, Dave, " spoke Hiram, as they boarded the train bound forBolton, "this is just like acting out some story, isn't it?"

"In a way, " acquiesced the young aviator, "only there won't be muchacting--it will be real, earnest hard work. "

"I see that, and I am anxious to do my share, " declared Hiram. 

"You always are, Hiram, " said Dave. 

Now, the morning following, the two aviator friends found themselvesat the Interstate factory, where both received a warm welcome fromMr. Randolph. 

Dave now related to the manager all that he had held back during hisfirst visit to the great plant. 

"I say, Dashaway, that's simply wonderful, " was Mr. Randolph'senthusiastic comment. "Anybody with the genius to gather up allthose clews cannot fail to work out this entire case. We shall soonreceive some great reports from you. "

"I hope so, " said Dave. 

"Now then, you and your friend go over to the aerodrome and seewhich one of our machines there suits you best. "

It was after Dave and Hiram had spent the most fascinating half hourof their lives viewing the wonders of mechanism on display, that themanager rejoined them. It was then, too, that Dave reported to himwith the words:

"That is the machine I want, Mr. Randolph. "

As Dave spoke he pointed to a monoplane of which he had made a closeinspection for over ten minutes. The manager burst out into ahearty laugh. 

"Well, well!" he cried, clapping Dave on the shoulder in anapproving way, "I must say you are certainly a grand judge ofmonoplanes. "

"How is that?" asked Dave. 

"You have picked out the best machine in the place. "

"Why, I was looking for the best one, wasn't I, Mr. Randolph?" askedthe young aviator with a smile. 

"It is our new model of the composite hydro-aeroplane, " explainedthe manager. "It's the best standard built in this country--theMonarch II. "

"It's easy to see that, " responded Dave. "It is the equal of theDrifter in a great many ways. "

"That is true, " replied Mr. Randolph. "While it may not be as swiftin the water as an all-steel hydro, it is built on the best floatsystem and will sustain a weight of one thousand three hundredpounds. "

"And the front elevation and tail are also of the newest type, " saidDave. 

"You studied that out, eh? It's a model of lightness as suchmachines go. The engine is only three hundred pounds, it carriestwenty gallons of gasoline, and has a lifting capacity of twelvehundred pounds, giving leeway for a three hundred pound pilot. "

"Dave and I wouldn't weigh that together, Mr. Randolph, " said Hiram. 

"Its simplicity strikes me, " remarked Dave. 

"Yes, " said Mr. Randolph, "and it can be knocked down andreassembled in a hurry. You see, the ailerons never leave theirsections and in the planes not a wire is changed. The outriggersfold, keeping them in pairs together, each piece is bent, notbuckled, and can be straightened good as new in case of adisarrangement. "

The manager went over the entire machine in a speedy but expert way. He saw that all locks on the turnbuckles were fastened, and that thelocks had lock washers beneath them. All the movable wires werereinforced with a piece of loose hay wire, and provisions againstrust perfected. 

Hiram stood mute, but fascinated, as the manager explained in detailthe fine points of the Monarch II, as the composite hydro-aeroplanewas named. 

What interested Dave immensely was a self starting apparatus. Thiswas operated by a handle inserted in a socket, fastened on a specialball ratchet on the large sprocket. Pulling this handle turned themotor over two, sometimes three compressions, and started up themachine without difficulty, Mr. Randolph explained. During theoperation the throttle shut down so that the operator might resumehis seat and take the levers. 

The planes had double covered fabric on top and bottom, tightened atthe rear of the planes by lacing. A single lever controlled theelevator and side flaps and there were radical bearings to take bothside and end thrusts. 

"Tell you, Dashaway, " said Mr. Randolph in conclusion, "I'll trustyou with the Monarch II because you are something more than agrass-cutting pilot by mail trying to coast a flying machine off theground. "

"I hope to deserve your compliment, " laughed the young aviator. 

"You've got a horse power engine and planes hard to beat. There areself-priming oil pumps, an auxiliary exhaust, and the machinefollows the lines of the lowest gasoline consumption. Remember thetriple axis conditions, Dashaway. One controls the fore and aftaxis, producing tipping. The second is the vertical axis, producingturning. The third is the lateral axis, producing rising andfalling. "

"Some one at the office wishes to see Mr. Dashaway, " just hereinterrupted a lad from the plant. 

"To see me?" spoke Dave in some surprise. 

"Yes, sir. He asked me to give you his card, and said he had comequite a distance to see you. "

Dave took the card the lad handed him. He was a little startled, and then curious, as he read the name--

"JAMES PRICE, Revenue Officer. "

CHAPTER XVI

THE "MONARCH II"

The manager of the Interstate factory and Dave and Hiram followedthe messenger from the plant back to the office. 

"The gentleman who wishes to see me, " the young aviator explained toMr. Randolph, "is the revenue officer I told you about. "

"Ah, I think I understand the purpose of his visit, then, " said themanager. 

Mr. Price was the same keen-faced, ferret-like person he alwaysappeared, as Dave introduced him to the manager. 

"I have heard of you from our young friend, Dashaway, " said Mr. Randolph. 

"Lucky I ran across him, " responded the officer, in his usual short, jerky way. "Lucky to catch you here, too, before you got off, Dashaway. "

"Then you came specially to see me?" asked Dave. 

"And your friends, " replied Mr. Price with a comprehensive wave ofhis hand. "Mutual interests all around, it seems. You see, I metMr. King at Columbus after you left, " explained the official. "Hetold me of your remarkable discoveries, Dashaway. You are keenerthan I, young man. I have been chasing all over the district, andhere you get a clew to Ridgely, while I and my men were blunderingaround. "

"If it is really a dew to him, Mr. Price, " submitted the youngaviator. "You know, it is all a theory so far. "

"As the facts stand, I have no doubt from your story that Ridgely isone of the men who ran away with the Drifter, " declared the officer. 

"Have you fathomed his purpose in taking the air route, Mr. Price?"asked the factory manager. 

"Most certainly. "

"I am puzzled to guess what it may be. "

"Why, it's plain as the nose on your face, " said the officerbluntly. 

"How is that?"

"You know that this man, Ridgely, is a professional smuggler?"

"So Dashaway has told me. "

"We drove him from one point on the border. He has selectedanother, that's all. He has worn out the old methods of evading therevenue service, so he is adopting new ones. In fact, I ratheradmire his brilliant originality. Why, I can conceive no situationso ideal as that capture of an airship, and professional operatorsin his employ. "

"Then--"

"I am positive that the Dawsons and Ridgely have made for someobscure point, probably near Lake Superior, and will open upbusiness in the old way, do their work only at night, and I havecome on here to ask Dashaway to work in harmony with me. "

"Most certainly he will, " pledged the factory manager. 

"I am after Ridgely, you are after your aircraft. We can worktogether, " pronounced the officer. "I intend to start at once forthe Lake Superior district. I shall set my men at work clear alongthe line and over the border, to try and find a trace of my man. Ihaven't an airship, though, you must remember, and wouldn't know howto run one if I had. That's where you come in, Dashaway. Yousearch the air, I'll watch the land. What I want to do is to giveyou a list of points where I or my men can be reached at a moment'snotice any time. If we keep in touch with each other, I believe wecan land those rascals. "

For over an hour after that the officer and Dave had an earnest, confidential chat together. Mr. Price brought out maps, and gaveDave great deal of information as to the smuggling system on theborder. In the meantime, Randolph and Hiram again visited theaerodrome. After the revenue officer had departed, Dave came acrossHiram looking for him. 

"Say, Dave, " exclaimed the excited youth, "it's like a new world tome, all this. I declare, I never had such a time in my life. ThisMr. Randolph is a prince. "

"Fixed things up for us, has he, Hiram?"

"Right royally. He's stocked up that monoplane like a banquet hall. Why, say, if we can keep the Monarch II aloft, we can live likemillionaires in an up-to-date hotel for a week to come. "

Hiram in his enthusiasm was exaggerating things considerably. However, when Dave revisited the aerodrome, he found that the cleverInterstate manager had stocked up the aircraft, with every necessityfor safety and comfort he could think of. 

The Monarch II was certainly a marvel in its construction and scope. It had been made to accommodate an operator and one, or even two, passengers. The seating space was quite roomy, and there was ahandy basket-like compartment, arranged to hold wraps, provisionsand duplicate machine parts. 

It was late in the afternoon when the Monarch II was rolled out intothe broad roomy yard of the factory. Everything was in order forthe finest start in the world. Dave had thought out and mapped outevery detail of the proposed air voyage. Mr. Randolph personallysuperintended all the initial arrangements. The starter workedliked a charm. There was no wavering. A turn of the handle, andthe magnificent machine spread its wings like some great bird poisedfor a steady flight. 

Hiram gave a great shout of delight. Dave smiled down at themanager proudly. 

"Good luck!" cried Mr. Randolph. 

Just then the factory whistle sounded out shrilly for quitting time. Workmen appeared at the open windows of the factor. Some camerunning out into the yard. 

The word had gone around that the young aviators were bound on anextraordinary cruise--a search for the stolen airship. A greatchorus of ringing hurrahs went up from the crowd. 

"It's great, isn't it, Dave?" chuckled the delighted Hiram. 

"The Monarch II acts prettily, that's sure, " replied the youngaviator. 

Dave delighted his companion by giving him charge of the barographreadings and attention to some of the minor duties of aviation. Therapid progress of the machine in mid air was exhilarating. Theweather conditions were ideal, and Dave had a definite goal in view. 

There was not a break in the pleasant twilight journey. The MonarchII fulfilled all expectations and promises. About nine o'clock inthe evening the record showed over two hundred miles accomplished, when they descended on a level stretch of prairie near a smallbustling city. Here the gasoline supply in the tanks wasreplenished. The basket had been stored with over a hundred gallonsof this in separate packages, without embarrassing the buoyancy ofthe machine, as the young aviators were far below average operatingweight. 

"This high living of ours makes and hungry, " intimated Hiram, asthey finished getting the machine in shape to renew the flight. 

"Time for lunch, you think?" proposed Dave with a jolly laugh. "Here we are. "

They selected from the packages in the accommodation basket enoughthings for a feed. Mr. Randolph had certainly provided for them ina liberal way. The packages produced two kinds of sandwiches, somedoughnuts, a cream cakes, cheese, celery and a prime apple pie. 

Dave was pleased and proud with their progress thus far on theirstrange journey. There was a steady but mild head wind, and if heheld till daylight the young aviator counted on reaching the firstimportant destination on the route he had mapped out. 

His idea was to reach a certain point in the dark. They would thenseek a hiding place, or at least seclusion, until evening again, resting through the day. Dave's plan was to travel so that theirprogress might not be noted and get to the Dawson group through thepublic prints or by some other avenue, and thus warn them that theywere being traced. 

There was not a landmark on the route, such as a city, lake orriver, that Dave had not memorized, from standard "fly" directoriesduring the past two days. The Drifter, being in the hands of theDawsons, who knew considerable about aviation, would probably followthe same course. At night it was more difficult to tally offprogress than in daylight, but so far Dave felt that he had notdeviated from the due northwest course that was to bring him to acertain destination. 

For over five hours after lunch and rest the Monarch II keptsteadily on its way. Dawn was just breaking when Dave passed a fewmiles to the west of a town he knew to be Millville. He glanced atHiram, about to address him. Hiram was fast asleep. 

"We will have to get down somewhere near here, " decided Dave. 

As he changed the course of the aircraft there was a slight jar, andHiram woke up. 

"Hello!" he cried, "have I been--"

"Asleep at the switch?" smiled Dave. "Yes, but it hasn't needed anyattention. We are going to land, Hiram. "

Dave knew his bearings, as has been said. His anxiety, however, wasto get to cover, so to speak, before the airship was seen by anyonein the vicinity. He soon knew that he had failed in this. Circlingabout and drifting in trying to select a suitable landing spot, Davemade out rising farmer staring up at the machine from his chickenyard. 

A little farther on the driver of a truck wagon, bound town-wardsevidently, espied the Monarch II, even in the dim morning light, forhe stopped his horses, his face turned in the direction of themachine. 

Finally Dave located a spot that suited him. It was where there hadbeen mining going on some period in the past. Some hills shut inthe deserted diggings. Several great heaps of ore surrounded a sortof pit, broad and roomy. 

"I don't think we can find a better resting place, " said Dave, asthey reached the ground and he shut off the power. 

"Going to stay here all day?" inquired Hiram. 

"That is the programme, yes. "

"Well, I suppose breakfast is the first move?" asked the youngaviator's assistant. 

"I'm hungry as a bear, " announced Dave. 

"So am I, " agreed Hiram, and he set at work to explore theaccommodation, basket. 

Hiram soon had a tempting spread. There was cold ham, a roastedchicken, an abundance of bread and butter, and a two gallon jug ofcold coffee. 

The boys did full justice to the layout. Then Dave went over themachine, seeing to it that every part was in order. 

"I'll have to take a little nap, Hiram, " he advised his companion. 

"No, a good long one, " corrected Hiram. 

"If we're going to lay off until night, there isn't much to do. I'll stay awake and keep a look out for anything happening. Yousee, I had quite a snooze up there in the air. "

Dave made a comfortable couch by spreading out some of the wrapsfound in the accommodation basket. It was after ten o'clock when hewoke up. He insisted on Hiram taking a turn on the couch. 

"Can't do it. Not a bit sleepy, " declared Hiram. 

"Well, you can try it while I'm gone, " suggested Dave. 

"Oh, going somewhere?"

"Yes, to the town. I want to make a few inquiries as to the countryaround here and ahead of us, and I may wire Mr. Randolph. "

"All right, go ahead, " replied Hiram. "I'll see that everything iskept trim and safe about the machine. "

Dave visited Millville, and posted himself as to certaingeographical points in which he was interested. He also sent abrief dispatch to the Interstate people. Provided with somerailroad maps, and some fresh rolls from a bakery, he started out torejoin his chum. 

He found Hiram busy burnishing up every bit of metal about theMonarch II. They had their noon lunch. On his way back from townDave' had noticed a little brook. He was telling Hiram about it, and they were discussing a plan of a plunge and a swim, when Hiram, facing the point where the pit began, sprang suddenly to his feet. "

"Hello!" he cried excitedly. "Someone is coming. "

"Sure enough, " echoed Dave, also arising. "Why, I noticed that manin Millville. Can it be possible that he has followed me? I didn'tknow it, if he has. "

The boys stood motionless, awaiting the coming up of the intruder. He was a brisk, smart looking man. There was something in his sharpway of glancing at things that made Dave think of a lawyer. Thestranger came up within a dozen feet of them. Then he halted, tookin the flying machine with a grim smile, and then looked the youngaviators over from head to foot. 

"Reckon I've landed on both feet, " he observed, a confident, satisfied drawl in his voice. 

"What do you mean by that?" inquired Dave. 

"Why, I've been looking out for an airship said to be cruisingaround this neighborhood. Truck farmer said he saw one early thismorning. Then I noticed you in town. I think you'll understand me, young man, " continued the stranger, "when I say that I'm on the huntfor a chap about your size running a stolen airship, and whose nameis Jerry Dawson. "

"Why, " exclaimed Dave with a quick start, "so are we!"

CHAPTER XVII

ON THE WING

Hiram stared his hardest at the stranger, Dave's eyes quickened withsudden intelligence. Almost in a flash he took in the situation. 

"You just mentioned a name, " he said. "I would like to mentionanother one. "

"All right, what?"

"James Price. "

"Hello!"

The stranger looked flabbergasted, as the saying goes. He furrowedhis brow as if puzzled. 

"You have made a mistake, " continued Dave. "You think one of us twois Jerry Dawson. "

"I did think it, yes, " admitted the man, a trifle less self assuredthan at first. 

"Wrong. "

"Is that so, now?"

"Yes. You know Mr. Price, don't you?"

"Perhaps I do. "

"And you are on the lookout for an airship, but not this machine. Let me explain briefly, and see if we cannot come to anunderstanding. "

Dave surmised that the stranger must be one of the assistants of Mr. Price, the revenue officer. In a very few minutes he knew that thiswas true. Assured from Dave's talk that he was not the Dawson boy, andthat the hydro-aeroplane before him was not the Drifter, the man becamevery friendly. 

It seemed that he was one of the agents of the revenue service. Hemade his headquarters at Millville, and had received a telegram fromMr. Price the day previous to look out for the stolen airship. Thiswas before Mr. Price had met Dave at Bolton, but immediately afterMr. King at Columbus had told him of the discovery that the Dawsonshad made away with the Drifter. 

So far as the man knew, none of the many assistants of Mr. Price hadfound any traces of the missing aero-hydroplane. Dave did notenlighten him as to his plans and destination, for the man's presentduties were simply those of a lookout at Millville. 

The stranger stayed and chatted with the boys for over two hours, and then went away. Dave had told him that they would not start outagain with the Monarch II until after dark. About six o'clock theman drove up with a wagon. 

"Thought you might be getting tired of cold dry fare, " he said, "soI've brought you a real supper for a change. "

"Why, say, you're a prince!" cried the impetuous Hiram, as the manlifted a gas oven from the wagon, and then a shallow box, and thecontents of both receptacles were revealed. 

The oven contained two heaping dishes of lamb chops, and potatoes, still quite warm. From the box the stranger produced all thetrimmings for a first class meal. 

"This is pretty kind and thoughtful of you, " said Dave. 

"Nothing too good for friends of Mr. Price, " insisted the man. "Besides, I remember how good the present of a meal has been whenI've got stranded on duty myself. "

The speaker, it seemed, had been a member of the Canadian mountedpolice. The boys whiled the time away interestingly during the nexttwo hours, listening to some of, his exciting experiences withIndians and outlaws in the Winnipeg wilds. 

It was just after dark when the Monarch started on the second stageof the journey. Three stops were made during the ensuing six, hours. Dave was very tired and Hiram pretty sleepy, when, at threeo'clock in the morning, the machine came to rest on a littlereed-covered island in the center of a swampy stretch. 

"We may stay here for several days, I don't know exactly how long, "the young aviator told his assistant. 

"You don't suppose that the Dawsons and the Drifter are anywherenear here, do you?" inquired Hiram. 

"Perhaps not, but we are near Ironton, on the American side of LakeSuperior. If Mr. Price's theories are all right, that fellow, Ridgely, will begin his new operations somewhere in this district. "

"I see, " nodded Hiram. "What are we to do now--sleep?"

"As much as we like for the next eight or ten hours. "

"I'm ready, " announced Hiram. "It's been fine and dandy up aloftthere, but I notice that when it doesn't make a fellow hungry itdoes make him good and sleepy. "

"All right, we'll bunk down, Hiram. I don't think any one is likelyto run across us in this out-of-the-way place. "

"I don't think so, either, " responded Hiram, and was soon asleep andsnoring. 

The breakfast programme of the previous morning was repeated later. Hiram called the whole thing a picnic, and was jolly and happy. 

"One thing, though, " he said; "isn't something exciting going tohappen soon, Dave?"

"We ought to be pretty well satisfied with the splendid cruise ofthe Monarch II, " suggested Dave. 

"Yes, but I'm getting anxious to run across some of the smugglers. I've read a lot about them in the papers and books. They must begreat fellows to tackle, with their cutlasses, and walking theplank, and treasure hoards. "

"Why, Hiram, " laughed Dave, "you're not thinking of smugglers. "

"What am I then?"

"Pirates. "

"Oh, yes, that's so, " agreed Hiram. "Well, the Dawsons are worsethan pirates. They won't give up that airship without a tussle, Ican tell you. "

"All I want to do is to locate them, " said Dave. "The governmentwill do the rest. "

Dave left the camp, as they called it, about noon. He had somedifficulty in getting from the island to the mainland, as the soilwas soggy and at places two feet deep with water. He accomplishedthe task, however, with only a slight wetting. 

The young aviator had been given the address, of one of Mr. Price'smen at Ironton. He visited his office, but found him absent for theday. Then he wired his progress to the Interstate people and toldthem if necessary to reach, him at the Northern Hotel. 

Dave went to the hotel and made arrangement with the clerk as tomail and telegrams. He decided to remain in the vicinity of Irontontill he got in touch with the revenue officer's agent there. He wasjust leaving the hotel when one placed a hand on his shoulder, withthe friendly words:

"Why, hello, Dashaway. "

Dave turned quickly, startled for a moment. Then his face brokeinto smiles of warm welcome. 

"Mr. Alden, " he said, and returned the friendly hand clasp of hiscompanion. 

The chance meeting took Dave's mind back instantly to a mostpleasant period of his experience since leaving his guardian's homeat Brookville. 

It was Mr. Alden, the moving picture man, who had given Dave whatmight be called his first start in business life. Dave had posedfor the "movies, " and later he and Mr. King had taken a prominentpart in some motion pictures bringing in the monoplane, the Aegis. 

"I didn't expect to see you way up here, Dashaway, " spoke Mr. Alden. "How are you getting along?"

"First class, thanks to the friendly help you gave me in the firstplace, " responded the young aviator. 

"I'm glad of that. Come up to my room and tell me all about it, Dashaway. Now then, for a talk over old times, " resumed the movingpicture man, as they were comfortably seated in his room at thehotel. 

Dave parried a good many questions. He did not exactly wish to tellMr. Alden about his business, which in the present case was alsothat of his employers. He managed to lead Mr. Alden to talk of hisown affairs. 

"Oh, I've had the actors up here on a lot of marine scenarios, "explained the moving picture man. "They went away only thismorning. We've been picturing 'The Island Hermit of Lake Superior, ''Iron Miners' Revenge, ' 'Flight Across the Border, ' and 'TheMystery of the Pineries. ' Great scenery around here for fittings, you see. There are some of my key negatives on the table there, look them over. "

Dave examined some of the films with interest. The former kindnessof Mr. Alden and his party had left a warm spot in the heart of theyoung aviator for anything concerning the movies. "

"There's some plain slides we made to catch the costumes andfigures, " added Mr. Alden, pointing to a rack containing about adozen glass negatives. 

Dave began holding them up to the light in turn. He had inspectedperhaps one half of them, when he somewhat startled the movingpicture man with a sharp sudden exclamation. 

"Mr. Alden, " he asked quite excitedly, "where did you take thatslide?"

CHAPTER XVIII

ON DESERT ISLAND

The young aviator might well ask the question he put to the movingpicture man, for the negative in Dave's hand showed plainly the faceand figure of Jerry Dawson. 

There could be no mistake. The boy who had run away with theDrifter had features strongly marked and not readily forgotten. Thepicture had been taken in the open street. Jerry was standing theretalking to a Chinaman. 

"Some scene you know, Dashaway?" asked Mr. Alden. 

"No, somebody I know--and am very anxious to find, " replied Dave. 

"So? Let me have a look at it. "

Dave handed the plate to the moving picture man, who slanted itagainst the light and nodded intelligently. 

"Oh, that?" he said. "Yes, I remember all about it. "

"Where did you take it, Mr. Alden?" pressed Dave. 

"At Anseton. There's a sort of foreign quarter there, and I wascatching up some street scenes. It was the Chinaman I shot. Wantedthe costume, you know. "

"When was that?" asked Dave. 

"Yesterday morning. "

Dave asked a score of questions. The moving picture man saw thatDave had some important motive in his inquiries. He did not askwhat it was, and was patient and careful in his replies. 

Dave left Mr. Alden feeling that he had learned a good deal. Thepresence of Jerry Dawson in Anseton, and that, too, with a Chinaman, verified many of the theories of the young aviator. Dave lost notime in getting to a telegraph office, to send a dispatch that wouldreach Mr. Price. It told briefly of the progress of the Monarch IIand of the definite clew Dave had just discovered. 

That afternoon our hero hired a hand cart he saw in a blacksmith'syard labeled "For Sale. " He drove it as near to the swamp island ashe could, without getting stuck in the mud. Then, he called toHiram, who put himself in wading trim. The empty gasoline cans wereover to the cart by Hiram. Dave trundled them to the town, got themfilled and to the island, and, returning the cart, was ready toprepare for a new night journey. 

"It's less than sixty miles that we have to go, Hiram, " he advisedhis assistant. 

"Then you've found out something definite?" guessed Hiram. 

"Yes, I have got a trace of Jerry Dawson. "

"You don't say so!"

"I do, and I'll tell you how, " and Dave recited the story of hismeeting with the moving picture man. 

"Why, that's just grand, " commented Hiram in his exuberant way. "You've good as run down the Drifter. "

"Not quite, Hiram. "

"Oh, you'll find the stolen airship. I feel it in my bones. I'vefelt it ever since I saw the way you took hold of this affair. "

"Well, I've had good help and a splendid machine, you mustremember. "

"I don't go much on the help, " declared Hiram modestly. "As to theMonarch II, though, I never saw such a well-behaved machine. If shedoes in the water what she's done in the air, she's a recordbreaker, sure. "

The machine was put in the best possible trim. It lacked two hoursof nightfall but Dave had plenty to occupy his mind. For over anhour he sat looking over maps and memoranda, and blocking out hiscourse. He had been very explicit and painstaking in questioningthe moving picture man. He had made inquiries concerning Ansetonand its vicinity down to the smallest detail. From all this Davehad decided on a permanent landing place, a sort of headquartersfrom which he could branch out in his personal investigations in theday time and sally forth on an air hunt in the dark. 

The aviators could distinctly hear a bell in some tower tolling thehour of nine as they circled a busy city that lay beyond and below, them, a blur of light. Dave at the levers kept the Monarch II at afair height, constantly scanning an expanse to the north dotted onlyhere and there with lights. Once past the outskirts of the city heturned due north. 

"Why, hello!" exclaimed his companion, "we're over water!"

"Yes, " replied Dave, "it's the lake. "

"Lake Superior! Dave, are we going to cross it?"

"A good many times in the future probably, but not tonight. I amlooking for a revolving light west of the city, right along thecoast. "

"I'll keep a lookout, too. "

The lake was here and there dotted with the signal lights ofsteamers. Along the shore, which Dave skirted closely, variouslights their met view. Both boys strained their gaze. FinallyHiram called out sharply: "I see it, Dave. "

"See what?"

"A revolving light. "

"Where?"

"See, just beyond that little cluster of town lights--quite highup. "

"Yes, " answered Dave in a tone of satisfaction. "That is RockyPoint lighthouse. I know my bearings, now. "

"Are you going to land, Dave?"

"Presently. "

"But you're driving out further over the lake. "

"Just for a short distance, Hiram, " advised Dave. "There's anisland down shore where they run a smelter--ah, I think I locateit. "

Dave was not mistaken. He came within range of some tall, stackssending out sparks and flames. Now he changed his course. He kepthis glance fixed below him and to the right as steadily as hisduties at the lever would permit. 

The Monarch II passed over two small islands. Half a mile beyondthem arose a third larger one. It was quite prominent, for thereason, that it presented a range of great cliffs. Dave navigatedthe air in narrowing circles. Then, timing and calculating avolplane glide, he let the machine down easily to the ground. 

"Well!" ejaculated Hiram, "you've hit on a pretty dark spot for acamp, Dave. "

"And a safe one, " replied the young aviator. "Mr. Alden describedthis place to me. It is called Desert Island, and has noinhabitants on it. It seems dark because we are so shut in, butyour eyes will soon become used to that. "

It was a singular place into which the Monarch II had descended. High declivitous, masses of rock formed a sort of immense cairn. They seemed shut in on every side, fully one hundred feet below thelevel of the cliffs. 

The farther north they had run the cooler air currents had become. Both boys felt somewhat chilly. 

"See here, " spoke Hiram, after they had seen that the machine wasall right and a rubber sheet thrown over the machinery to protect itfrom the heavy night dews, "a warm cup coffee wouldn't hurt us. "

"That's right, Hiram, " agreed Dave. "We are all shut in here, andeven a big fire wouldn't show from the land or the deck of apassenger steamer. You can try your hand at coffee making, if youlike. "

"The coffee is all made, but cold, in these bottles, " explainedHiram, fishing out two from the accommodation basket. 

There were both trees and bushes near by. Hiram gathered some drybranches and roots and soon had a comfortable little campfiregoing. He poured out the coffee from the bottles into a tin waterpail, and soon had it steaming hot. Sandwiches and some bakerystuff Dave had bought at Ironton made a very satisfactory meal. Then they spread some wraps over a heap of dried grass, which theygathered up without much trouble. They rested in luxurious ease, watching the bright, snapping fire glow and feeling its genialwarmth. 

"Well, this is just like Robinson Crusoe, isn't it, Dave?" askedHiram, with an air of great comfort. 

"If you are a man Friday, then, " rejoined the young aviator with asmile, "you scout around in the morning and see if there are anybreaks in these great walls of rock shutting us in. "

"Oh, then you're not counting an leaving here again by the airroute?" inquired Hiram in some surprise. 

"Not in daylight. I want to find some other way out for that. Yousee, " explained Dave, "this is just an ideal spot as a rendezvous. I want to get over to the city tomorrow, though, to attend to someimportant business. "

"How are you going to get there?"

"Why, I'll have to trust to my swimming skill, I guess, " repliedDave. 

"Um-m, " observed Hiram thoughtfully, and, if the young aviator hadbeen more watchful, he would have noticed that for the rest of theevening his willing assistant seemed to have something on his mind. 

CHAPTER XIX

THE SEARCHLIGHT

"Hallo! Hallo!"

Dave made the echoes ring with the loud call as he moved up and downand across the queer basin, or cairn, where they had landed in theMonarch II the night previous. 

He had awakened just at daylight to find Hiram Dobbs mysteriouslymissing. Dave was not worried at the first, but as he looked aroundand then explored the immediate neighborhood, he began to getmystified, if not alarmed. 

Neither did his vigorous shouting bring any response. Dave cameback to the camp spot to make a new discovery that puzzled him. Onthe ground near where they had slept were Hiram's coat, vest, shoesand cap. 

"Why, I can't understand this at all, " mused the young aviator. "Hiram couldn't have done much in the way of climbing up, he appearsto be nowhere within hail, and he is not given to play tricks. "

Dave did not wait to eat anything. He was really concerned abouthis comrade. He got a long tree branch, stripped it, and went alongthe side of the cairn, poking in and out among the dense dumps ofshrubbery. 

"Hello, " he exclaimed suddenly, as disturbing some vines he saw anopening, and not twenty feet away a natural rocky tunnel, "daylight, and the waves of the lake. I think I understand now. "

Dave penetrated the passage. As he came out at the other end, hefound he faced a rock-strewn stretch of sand. The waves of the lakelapped this. In the distance he could make out Anseton, and nearerstill, about a mile distant, the main shore. 

The shore he was on terminated in a ridge of rocks that ran far outinto the water. Dave wondered if the exploring spirit had movedHiram to attempt an entire circle about the island. 

"He went away in swimming trim, " thought Dave, "so that may be so. I'll go out on that ledge of rocks and explore a little myself. "

"Hello, Dave Dashaway!" sang out an exultant voice, just as Dave wasabout to remove his shoes. 

Around the ledge of rock came a light skiff. The oarsman was Dave'smissing comrade. He drove the boat upon the sandy beach and leapedout with a gay laugh. 

"Why, Hiram, " exclaimed the young aviator in marked surprise. 

"It's me, " chuckled Hiram. "Stole a march on you. Nearly dry, " headded, shaking his clinging garments. "And oh! what a swim. "

"You have been to the mainland?" questioned Dave. 

"Where else? When you said 'swim' last night, it gave me an idea. I'm some swimmer, Dave Dashaway. Always was. Took the prize in acontest in Plum Creek back at home one Fourth of July. I found away out of that shut in place and made a jolly dive for shore. "

"But the skiff?"

"You'll need one, won't you?" challenged Hiram. 

"Why, yes. I intended hiring one when I got across from theisland. "

"So you said, and I acted. I did better than hiring a boat, Dave. "

"How is that?"

"Bought one outright. I took my money with me. Found an old fellowwho lets out a lot of boats for fishing, and made a bargain. Theskiff isn't the staunchest craft on the lake. Leaks a little, andone oar has been split and mended, but it's all right for our littleuse. Four dollars and a half--and we can sell it for something whenwe get through using it. "

"You're a great fellow, Hiram, I must confess, " said Daveadmiringly. 

"I'd like to do something to help on this trip of ours, you know. "

"You've done a good deal this time, I can tell you that, " declaredDave. "I can manage all my plans finely, now. "

They pulled the boat into the shelter of some rocks. Then theyreturned to the rocky hollow. A good breakfast was in order. Daveannounced the importance of his getting to Anseton at once. 

An hour later the little skiff was launched once more. Dave rowedover to the mainland and lined the shore till well into city waters. He secured the skiff near a public pier, and started on foot for hisdestination. 

Left to himself on the island, Hiram proceeded to dry his clothing. Then he puttered about the machine. He read for an hour or two in abook on aeronautics he found in the basket, well on towards theafternoon. 

Hiram got tired of waiting for Dave. He went through the tunnelfinally and roamed about on the rocky shore. There was more ofscenery and variety here. The youth watched the boats in thedistance. Then he made out the little skiff he had bought thatmorning making its way in and out among other craft between theisland, and the mainland. 

"What's the news, Dave?" inquired Hiram, as they gained the campafter securing the skiff where it could not be easily seen or found. 

"The best ever, " reported Dave cheerily. 

"Tell me about it, won't you?"

"Well, I saw Mr. Price. "

"Is he here at Anseton?"

"Yes, with his men. I had a long talk with him. He feels prettygood to know that we got here safely with the Monarch II. I toldhim all about the place where the moving picture man saw JerryDawson and the Chinaman. He thinks that is an excellent clew. "

"I should think it was, " said Hiram. 

"He wants us to try and discover the Drifter. He says it's only aquestion of time, he and his men running down the smugglers. Yousee, Hiram, we are interested mainly in finding the aero-hydroplane, and getting it back to the Interstate people. "

"That's so. "

"And we must think of that first. "

"I understand. "

"We will make a long trip tonight--clear across the lake. "

"Suppose you get a sight of the Drifter?"

"Then we'll know that it is really here, won't we?"

"Yes, but are you going to jog right into them and capture them?"

"Hardly, " laughed Dave. "I hope if we do come across the Drifter, that we can follow it or keep it company, or find out where it ishidden away in the daytime. We will have to run across it before wecan decide what circumstances will lead us to do. "

"They're an ugly crowd--the Dawsons, and probably the fellows withthem, too. "

"I realize that. Mr. Price insisted on my taking these, " and Davebegan opening a boxlike package he had brought with him in theskiff. 

"Hello, " cried Hiram, as two good sized weapons and some boxes ofcartridges were disclosed. "Do we have to use them?"

"I hope not, " replied Dave, "but Mr. Price said we might come to apinch where we could use them to show we were not unprotected, andto scare any crowd that tried to interfere with us. "

"Well, it begins to look like real business, " commented Hiram. 

"That's what we're here for. "

"Yes, indeed. "

They had no difficulty in getting the Monarch II aloft, the hollowextending for several hundred feet. The night was ideal for asecret sky voyage. A slight mist hung over the ground, but at aheight of five hundred feet the air was perfectly clear. There wasbright starlight, and against the radiance they could make outflying birds quite a distance away. 

Dave took a route across the lake diagonally from Anseton. Theyskirted the other shore for about ten miles. Then they recrossedthe lake. The machine made a sweep along the coast line. 

"Well, Dave, " remarked his trusty assistant, "we've run across noair bird so far. "

"I didn't expect to, all at once, " was Dave's reply. "We can onlykeep at it. "

"And trust to luck--I say!"

Hiram interrupted himself with a shout. Just beneath them anexcursion steamer was ploughing its way through the waves, boundcitywards on its return trip. They could hear the music of the bandaboard, until now drowned out by hoarse blare of the fog whistle. 

At the same moment a broad vivid flare of electric radiance shotacross the sky from the deck of the steamer. It waved horizontallyin some signal to the landing dock two miles further away. Then theoperator of this glowing searchlight sent its gleams upwards in aslow way, as if for scenic effect for the passengers on board. 

"The mischief!" exclaimed Dave bending to levers and starting theMonarch II forward at best speed. 

Hiram sat staring. He blinked, half-blinded. The machine wasirradiated in clear, sharp outlines as the great searchlight glarewas focused, a speck of action in the sky. 

A chorus of cheers went up from the deck of the steamer as itspassengers caught sight of the airship. Only for a moment, however, was the brilliant sky picture in view. Dave turned the head of themachine on a volplane sweep, and the searchlight operator could notlocate it again. 

"Well, we've been seen, " observed Hiram, "I'm sorry for it, " replied Dave simply. 

"Look there!" cried Hiram abruptly. 

Dave had selected a course leading over the land, away from thewater. As Hiram spoke, his own eye caught sight of some brilliantsparkles of light. 

It was a rocket, exploding in mid air directly in their course, andit was to this that Hiram Dobbs had directed the attention of theyoung aviator. 

CHAPTER XX

ACROSS THE BORDER

"Did you see it?" asked Hiram, in a great state of excitement. 

"Yes, " responded Dave. "A rocket. "

"See! See!" continued Hiram-"there's it second one!"

"Sure enough. "

"Dave, this means something. "

"For us, you think?"

"Yes, I do. Keep near the place where these rockets were fired, Dave. Now then, what do you think?"

Dave slowed down. There was certainly something to his companion'ssurmises or suspicions, whatever they were. Directly at the spotwhence the rockets had been fired there now suddenly flared up agreat reach of flames. 

Watching these, the interested aviators saw them change to a reddishhue. Three times, at brief intervals, they did this. 

"Don't you see?" persisted Hiram. 

"See what?" asked Dave. 

"A signal. "

"You think so?"

"I surely do. Now, then, look sharp. There are figures about thefire. The fire is pitch or oil, or something that could be made toflame up quickly. One of the men threw something into it from abox. It was red fire. "

"Why, yes, " observed Dave slowly. "I'll admit that was some kind ofa signal. "

"For the airship, " interrupted Hiram quickly. "Look, look again, Dave! One of the men is shading his eyes from the glare of thefire, and is looking straight up into the sky. Why, it's plain asday. They saw our airship when that searchlight caught us. Theywere waiting for an airship to come along. "

"Another airship than ours, you mean?"

"That's it, and I'll bet the Drifter! They took ours for theDrifter. They want us to land. Why, see there, one of the fellowsis looking through a field glass--as if he could make us out in thedark away up here!"

It did not take Dave long to drift to Hiram's way of thinking. Thespot where the fire showed seemed to be a large yard of some kind, attached to a factory. 

"Of course this is all guess work, Hiram, " said Dave, after amoment's thought. "Just the same, it fits in to your theory. "

"Say, " spoke Hiram suddenly, "I've an idea. "

"What is it, Hiram?"

"Make a stop just as soon as you can. "

"What's that for?"

"Let me out, and give me a chance to find out who that signal wasintended for. "

"I declare, it's not a bad plan, " said Dave at once. 

"Can't you find some safe place where we can land?"

"There won't be much trouble about that. "

"Do it, Dave, " urged Hiram, "and right away, so I won't lose trackof the place yonder. "

Dave inspected the country below as closely as he could at adistance. He circled to a lower level, and selected a patch of highgrass between two corn fields. 

"Now then, " announced Hiram. "I'm off. "

"I shall wait anxiously for your return, Hiram. "

"Don't worry, I shan't get into any trouble. "

Dave did not leave the flying machine. He kept himself in readinessfor a flight, should anyone approach the spot. There was not muchfear of that, though, he reasoned, as the place was away from thetraversed roads and paths. 

The young aviator had quite a spell of waiting. He began to fearthat Hiram had lost his way or that something had happened to him, as an hour passed by. Suddenly, however, his active young assistantbounded into view, chipper and lively as usual. 

"What news, Hiram?" inquired Dave. 

"The best in the world. "

"You have found out something?"

"You'll think so when I tell you, " declared Hiram. "I found theplace where they sent up the rockets without much trouble. "

"What was it, Hiram?"

"An old factory yard. Part of the buildings have been burned down, and three or four loaferish looking fellows seem to live in an oldshake down there. They belong to the crowd of that fellow, Ridgely, the smuggler, right enough. "

"How did you know that, Hiram?" asked Dave. 

"Because I overheard them. They had let their signal fire burn downlow, and were sitting around it talking. I crept up behind an oldshed and listened. It was as near as I dared to get, and I couldcatch only a word now and then. They spoke the name Drifter, "asserted Hiram positively. 

"You didn't see anything of Jerry Dawson?" asked Dave. 

"No, but--say, yes, they mentioned his name, too. They were allexcited about seeing our airship. It seems they were trying towarn the Drifter. "

"To warn the Drifter?" repeated Dave somewhat puzzled. 

"Yes. "

"Why, what for?"

"To keep away from the American shore. Somehow, they had found outthat the revenue officers were at Anseton. They knew, too, that theInterstate people had an airship out after them. It seems that whenwe didn't reply to their signal, they guessed that they had hailedthe wrong airship. They have sent a man to the city to telegraph tothe men on the Canadian side to look out for an airship on theirtrack. "

"You don't know where they are going to telegraph to, Hiram?"

"But I do, " cried Hiram triumphantly. "That's my big discovery. They talked over the whole thing. The message is to be sent to afriend at Brantford. He is to ride post haste horseback ten mileswest of that place to where the Drifter people have a camp in whatthey call Big Moose Woods. "

"Hiram, " applauded the young aviator, "you're a jewel. Why, youhave simplified the whole business. "

"And you're going right after the Drifter?" propounded Hirameagerly. 

"'We're going to try to, " replied Dave, "but first we must get wordof all this to Mr. Price. "

The Monarch II had mounted aloft while they were conversing. Davestarted the machine in a direction opposite to that in which theyhad been going. Hiram noted this. 

"Are you going back to Desert Island?" he asked. 

"First, yes. Then I shall skiff over to Anseton and report to Mr. Price direct or through any of his agents I may find. "

The machine was brought safely to her old moorings within an hour. Dave, after landing on Desert Island, at once rowed over to themainland. Hiram was full of curiosity when he returned. 

"It's all right, " Dave explained. "I was lucky enough to meet Mr. Price himself. He and his men had already acted on the clew thatpicture of Jerry and the Chinaman gave us. The old factory yardwhere the rockets were sent up will be under watch before the nightis over, and Mr. Price is going to Brantford on a special boat. "

"Then the crowd who stole the Drifter are as good as caught!"exclaimed Hiram hopefully. 

"Hardly, " replied Dave. "Mr. Price has advised me to get theMonarch II over to the Canadian side of the lake to night!"

"Which you are going to do, Dave?"

"Right away. "

Dave, while in Anseton, had made some necessary inquiries as to thelocation of Brantford. He had also got a very good idea of BigMoose Woods. His arrangements with the revenue officer had beenprecise. He was aware that their only chance of getting near to themissing airship was to make new headquarters somewhere in thevicinity of Brantford, just as they had on Desert Island. 

The darkness was fading in the east when Dave selected a plateau onthe top of a high hill as a landing place. Once landed, trees andbushes at its crest hid them from view except from overhead. Davehad used diligence and haste in getting out of possible sight, forday was breaking. 

They had reach Brantford, sailed over it, and Dave calculated hadskirted the vicinity of Big Moose Woods. Nowhere, however, hadlights, a campfire or any other token indicated the camp orrendezvous of the Drifter party. 

"We are within twenty miles of Brantford, " Dave announced. 

"And what's the programme?" inquired Hiram. 

"Sleep, for we need it. We seem to be safely shut in here. Laterwe'll plan just what we will do. "

"If the Dawson crowd are warned all around about us and the revenueofficers, they may run for some other territory, " suggested Hiram. 

"We want to be on the lookout for that, " replied the young aviator. 

They made themselves a comfortable bed, and both were soon asleep. Hiram woke up first; and found the sun shining in his eyes, and wasabout to shift his position, intent on a longer nap, when he checkedhimself not moving a muscle. 

Through his half closed eyelids, still feigning sleep, Hiram kepthis glance fixed on one spot. He almost held his breath. Thus fornearly five minutes he lay inert, but every nerve on the keenestedge. 

His glance widened and seemed to be following some disappearingobject. Then he sat straight upright, stared fixedly down the hill, and leaning over pulled his companion by the sleeve. 

"Dave! Dave!" whispered the excited boy-"wake up! We've beendiscovered!"

CHAPTER XXI

A CHASE IN MID AIR

Dave roused up, wide awake in an instant. He was about to spring tohis feet, when Hiram pulled him back with the words:

"Don't get up. "

"Why not?" inquired the somewhat puzzled young aviator. 

"You'll be seen. "

"Who by?"

"A man who was just here. "

"Do you mean that, Hiram?" exclaimed Dave in a startled tone. 

"I certainly do. Look, " said Hiram, pointing, and then he added:"No, the trees shut him out now. As I just said, though, we havebeen discovered. "

Now Hiram arose to his feet, the danger of being seen appearing tohave passed. Dave followed his example. 

"Some one was here, you say?" began Dave. 

"Yes. "

"Who was it?"

"A fellow who looked like some of the half breed Indians we sawfishing over near Anseton. I woke up, and he came in range clear asa picture. It was over by that thicket of pine trees. There hestood, staring at our machine, then at us. He seemed to take it inwith a good deal of surprise. Finally he threw up his hands as ifhe was making up his mind to something, and started on a run downthe hill. "

"In that direction?" asked Dave, pointing due east. 

"Yes, in the direction of Brantford. I tell you, Dave, he's a spy. If he ran across us accidentally then he's gone to tell his friendsabout discovering the airship. "

"That doesn't follow, " remarked Dave thoughtfully, "but I'm glad yousaw him. "

"Yes, I think we need to keep a pretty close lookout. Say, Dave, "questioned Hiram, "if he is some friend of the Dawson crowd, and hasgone to tell them about us, what do you suppose they'll do?"

"I have no idea, " replied the young aviator. "But they won't catchus napping. "

Dave kept a close watch out in all directions while Hiram hurried upa quick breakfast. They got through with the meal rapidly. ThenDave went over the machine, seeing that the gasoline tanks were fulland the gearing and oiling apparatus in good order. 

Two hours went by, and there were no developments that indicatedthat the visitor to their camp had been other than a straggler, withno purpose in view in his rapid disappearance. Hiram became morematter-of-fact, and guessed he had "got scared for nothing. " Allthe same he kept a close lookout all of the time, particularly inthe direction of Brantford. 

Dave was planning a visit on foot to that town. He decided, however, that he would wait till afternoon so as to be sure thatthere was no occasion for worry. Both lads discovered the fallacyof their theories at the same moment. 

"Look!" suddenly shouted Hiram, pointing. 

"I see, " said Dave calmly, but under the surface greatly stirred up. 

"It's the Drifter!"

"Yes. "

"What are you going to do?"

"Come, " spoke Dave simply, and sprang into his seat in the Machine. 

Hiram hastily collected their few belongings scattered about thespot. He bundled them into the accommodation basket, and was in hisplace almost as soon as Dave. 

The eyes of both of the young aviators were fixed on a rapidly approachingobject--an airship. Dave did not have to glance at its construction morethan once to know definitely that it was the stolen Drifter. 

Whoever was at the levers, Jerry or his father, thoroughlyunderstood his business, Dave saw that. The aero-hydroplane camerather abruptly into view over a wooded hill top, and was rapidlyapproaching them. 

"You see, I was right, " said Hiram hastily. "That half breed was aspy, at least to that crowd. He has directed them here. "

"All ready, " ordered Dave, in a set, sturdy tone, and the selfstarter began to work. 

"What is it--a chase?" fluttered Hiram. 

"We'll have to wait and see. You know what kind of fellows theDawsons are. I'm not going to sit like a bird in a nest and havethem swoop down upon us, though. "

"There are three--you can count them in their airship, " said Hiram, shading his eyes and craning his neck. 

"Four, " corrected Dave. "The Drifter has a capacity of fiveordinary people, Mr. Randolph told me. "

The Monarch II made a magnificent slanting rise up into the air. Dave knew the splendid qualities of the machine under his control. They included an ability for a quick light ascent. He had no ideaof the purpose of the Drifter crowd, but of course their main objectwas to capture their rival. The question was, failing in this, how, far would they go in the way of crippling or even destroying theMonarch II. 

The Drifter was headed on a course directly towards the eminencewhich the boys had just left behind them. There had come up aneight hour wind about noon, and Dave knew that would be child's playmaneuvering to avoid the enemy intent on annoying or injuring them. He drove ahead at a six hundred feet level and waited for theDrifter crowd to indicate what their purpose was. 

"They are changing their course!" said Hiram quickly, as the Drifterwheeled suddenly. 

"They are going to try a new ascent, " explained Dave. 

"Why?"

"o get to a higher level than ourselves. "

"Then they mean mischief?"

"I am afraid that they do, " replied the young aviator. 

"Maybe they are trying to scare us, " suggested Hiram. 

Dave was now certain that the purpose of the Dawsons was to pursue, capture or intimidate them, or drive them away. They had a superbmachine, and as they made a far lateral shoot it brought themconsiderably higher up than the Monarch II. 

In fact, after one or two circles, like a huge bird swooping afterprey, the Drifter came almost directly over them. 

Dave's tactics were now purely defensive and evasive. There werefive people aboard the aero-hydroplane, and they were desperatepersons. He was not surprised when an object same shootingdownwards from the Drifter. It struck one of the plane wires andthen dropped earthwards. 

"Something's whipped loose, " spoke Hiram quickly. 

"It's one of the elevator wires, " said Dave, darting a quick glanceat the spot. "This won't do. "

Now it was an over-water flight with no measured course to pursue. The Drifter tried to repeat its recent tactics. Dave noticed thatthe Monarch II had become somewhat faulty in its running. He wasanxious to get away from the enemy. His main efforts were directedtowards preserving a sure balance, for once or twice there was awobble, as if the machine was hurt in some vital part. 

The young aviator made out a buoy a few miles to the west. Beyondit was a little settlement. He set his course for reaching it, anddirected his full attention to the levers and the angle indicated. 

The indicator was directly in front of the pilot seat. It showedpositively how the machine was flying, on the top or down bank. Itcomprised a cup with lines set about ten degrees, and gave a suresafety limit. Only the pendulum was movable. This was mounted onan arm always perpendicular, a small mirror reflecting thevariations of the pendulum. 

Climbing and banking, Dave got quite a lead on the Drifter, but theaero-hydroplane kept up a steady pursuit. 

"There's something the matter besides the broken wire, " spoke Daveto his anxious companion. "The oil intake is dogged or one of theplanes loose. We can't take any risks. "

Dave sent the Monarch II on a downward shoot. There was a singlepontoon in the center of the craft, with small tanks beneath theplanes to prevent tipping over in the water. Dave aimed to hit thebay near to the shore. 

Suddenly the aircraft acted queer. It had evidently struck a holein the air. The machine seemed fairly to drop from under itsoccupants, and thirty feet from the water, Dave was lifted from hisseat and took a sudden plunge over-board. 

He went under the surface and came up dazed and nearly stunned. Ashe floated, dashing the water from his eyes, he saw the Drifter, nowa flying boat, cut around a point of rocks, bearing straight downupon him. 

Dave looked quickly about him for the Monarch II. To his surprise, as it scudded across the waves for perhaps a hundred feet on itsmomentum, it lifted again free of the surface of the bay. 

He made out Hiram clambering from his seat like a sailor among theriggings of a ship. He saw the machine go up on a sharp slant, clear the shore of the bay, and disappear beyond the high cliffslining it. 

Then something struck him. It was some light part of the rotaryengined aero-hydroplane, the Drifter, cutting the water like aknife. His head dizzied, and the young aviator went under thesurface of the lake with a shock. 

CHAPTER XXII

DAVE A CAPTIVE

It took Dave an hour to find out just what had happened to him. Heroused up to find two men carrying him, one at his feet, one at hisshoulders. All that he could guess was that they were on land. Howhe had been fished out of the water, and what had become of theDrifter, the young aviator had no means of knowing. 

The two men were rough looking fellows and reminded Dave of docklaborers or loiterers. They were big and sturdy, and as Davestretched out and showed signs of life, one of them remarkedgruffly. 

"None of that--no squirming, now. "

Dave's clothes were soggy and dripping. He felt somewhat sore onone side of his head, but so far as he could figure it out he wasnot crippled; or seriously hurt. 

The young aviator cast his eyes about him to, learn that they weregoing through a patch of timber. Then came a meadow-like stretch, and then a thicket. They had not gone far into that before the mendropped him on the ground and stood over him. 

"Can you walk?" asked one of the two. 

"I think I can, " replied Dave, arising quite nimbly to his feet. 

The instant he did this both of the men reached, out and seized anarm. Dave was thus pinioned tightly as the men forced him along. 

"Most there, " growled one of them gruffly. 

"Good thing, " retorted the other. 

Finally they came to a dense thicket that covered a rise. Abouthalf way up this, almost hidden by saplings and vines, Dave madeout a grim looking patched-up building. 

It was an old hut to which various additions had been made. One ofDave's companions uttered a peculiar whistle. The door of the placewas opened, and a disreputable looking fellow like themselvesadmitted them. 

"Hello, who's this?" he spoke in a tone of curiosity. 

"Oh, some one to take care of, " was the short reply. 

"He don't look like a revenue. "

"Worse than that. Ridgely will tell you when he comes, " was theindifferent retort. "Have you a place to keep him tight and safe?"

"I guess so, " laughed the other, "a dozen of them. "

"One will do. "

Dave was led through several rooms. Then they came to a partitionformed of heavy timbers. In its center was a stout door with animmense padlock. 

"Get in there, " spoke the most ferocious of his captors, giving Davea push. 

Then the door was closed with a crash that showed how heavy it was. Dave could hear those outside securing the padlock. 

"A prisoner, eh?" mused Dave, looking about him. "Yes, it is, indeed, tight and safe. "

Dave's prison place was gruesome in the extreme. On three sides wassolid rock, forming a semicircular back to the room. The partition, closed the entire front. Near its top in several places were cutout apertures, admitting air and a little light. 

There were some broken boxes in the place and a heap of burlap. Dave decided that it had been used at some time or other as a placeof storage. He did not yet feel normal, so he sat down on one ofthe boxes and felt about his head. 

"Just a bruise, " he reported. "I suppose they, dragged me aboard ofthe Drifter from the water, but what about Hiram and the MonarchII?"

Dave started up, all weakness and dizziness disappearing as if bymagic, as he thrilled over the possible peril of his comrade. Witha recollection only of his last sight of Hiram grid the Monarch II, he feared what might have happened to either or both. 

It worried Dave a good deal and made him restless and unhappy, butfinally he figured out a theory. In some unaccountable way theMonarch II had no sooner glided along on its pontoon, than it hadrun straightway up into the air, as though the self starter was inperfect action. Dave recalled Hiram struggling to reach the pilot'sseat. Then he had witnessed the disappearance of the Monarch II. 

"I doubt if Hiram could manage the machine--I even doubt withsomething wrong with it, as there surely was, if he could keep itadrift, " decided Dave. "What then?"

The young aviator pictured Hiram and the machine in a tangle amongthe trees, or dropping upset among the rocks. He had not seenanything of the Dawsons or the Drifter since he had fallen into thewater of the bay. Perhaps, he reasoned, they had resumed an airchase of the fugitive. 

Dave had several hours to himself. He detected no sound or movementoutside of the strange room he was in. It was dreadfully dull andlonesome, and he wondered what the outcome of his present adventurewould be. 

It was well along in the day, when Dave from sheer weariness andworry had lain down among the heaps of burlap, that a diversion cameto monotony. He started up as he heard voice outside of the door. Then the padlock rattled, the door opened, and some one steppedacross the threshold. The visitor stared about to locate Dave, andspoke the words:

"That you, Dashaway?"

The room was lighter now, with the door half open. Dave rubbed hiseyes and strained his gaze, and took a good look at the speaker. 

"Don't you know me?" challenged the latter. 

"Oh, yes, " replied Dave, "I see now. You are the gentleman werescued from the lake at Columbus. "

"I don't suppose you think me much of a gentleman just now, Dashaway, " spoke Ridgely, for, he was, in fact Dave's visitor. 

His tone was somewhat regretful, and not at all unfriendly. Davewas shrewd enough to discover this, and politic enough to take quickadvantage of it. 

"Oh, I don't know, " he said. "Of course you are with the crowd whohad me locked in here. "

"I'm sorry to say that's true, " responded Ridgely. 

"It's not pleasant here, I can tell you, " said Dave, "and the wholething is pretty high handed, don't you think so, Mr. Ridgely?"

"I don't think it, Dashaway, I know, it. See here, I've got nothingagainst you. On the contrary, I owe you a good deal. I'm notforgetting that you saved my life when my launch struck the rocksnear Columbus. "

Dave was silent, resolved to let the man have his say out. 

"I was in a fix then, I was in a fix before I got there, and I'mafraid I'm in a fix now, " continued Ridgely. "I've come to see youin the right spirit, Dashaway. "

"How is that?" inquired Dave. 

"Sick of the whole combination. I thought I was smart, but you andyour people are smarter. Young Dawson convinced me that we couldrun things so our airship could make trips for a long time, and hereyou are on our trail within seventy-two hours. "

"Yes, Mr. Ridgely, " acknowledged the young aviator. "They found aclew and started pursuit right after you stole the Drifter. "

"You mean you did. Don't be modest, Dashaway. I've learned a gooddeal about you, and if I hadn't about decided to quit business I'doffer you a job. "

"What!" smiled Dave--"smuggling?"

"Well, it pays pretty big, you know. "

"Does it?" replied Dave. "I fail to see it. I wouldn't like to bein a position where I was being chased half over the country. "

"H'm, we won't discuss it, " retorted Ridgely in a moody tone. "Icame to tell you that you won't be hurt any. "

"But I want to get away from here, " insisted Dave. 

"That will be all, too, " Ridgely assured him. "You see, we know nowthat things are going to break up. I don't suppose you would tellme how closely the revenue officers are on our track. "

"So close, " replied Dave gravely, "that you won't dare to cross theborder any more. "

"Are they on the Canadian side yet?" questioned Ridgely anxiously. 

"I don't know that, and I shouldn't feel right in telling you if Idid, " replied Dave. "You had better let me go, Mr. Ridgely. Itwon't sound well, when things get righted, that you kept me aprisoner here. "

"I haven't all the say about that, Dashaway, " confessed Ridgely in arueful way. "I don't think the Dawsons will let you go until theyare sure of making themselves safe. "

"Do you know what became of our airship, Mr. Ridgely?" Dave askedpointedly. 

"No, I don't--none of us do. Young Dawnson is pretty good in theair, but he didn't seem to know how to get off the water quickly. After we got you aboard, we lost a lot of time getting you ashore, and, up in the air again, when we started in the direction we hadseen your airship go, we could find no trace of it. "

"I hope nothing his happened to Hiram, " thought Dave, veryanxiously. 

"If I get away, " resumed Ridgely, "I want you to tell the peopleafter me, if you can, that I'm all through with the smugglingbusiness. I've had my fill of it. "

The speaker turned to leave the room, but Dave halted him with thequestion:

"What are you going to do about me, Mr. Ridgely?"

"I am going to order the people here to treat you the best they knowhow, " was the prompt response. 

"That's all very well enough, " said Dave, "but I have business toattend to. "

"What business, Dashaway?"

"Our airship and my friend. "

Ridgely looked troubled. He was thoughtfully, silent for a momentor two. Then he said:

"Look here, Dashaway, our men are looking for your airship, and thatmeans your friend, too, of course. I've got to go to Brantford, butI shall leave word that they must look after your friend, and letyou go the minute I send back word that the coast is clear for themto scatter. "

"But what about the Drifter, Mr. Ridgley?" persisted Dave. "It isthe property of my employers. I came after it, and I want it. "

A faint smile of mingled amusement and admiration crossed the faceof Ridgely. Reckless fellow that he was, he could not fail torecognize the fact that Dave, indeed, had business to attend to. 

"You take it pretty cool, Dashaway, " he observed. 

"Because I am in the right, " asserted Dave, "as you well know. TheDawsons are malicious people. I want you to warn them that if theydo, any unnecessary injury to the Drifter, it will make it the worsefor them in the final reckoning that is bound to come. "

"I don't think they will do the airship any injury. "

"You don't know them as I do. Desperate fellows like the Dawsonswill do anything at times. "

"Dashaway, don't you think you are rather hard on them--and on me?"

"I know the Dawsons--I don't know much about you. "

"I am not so bad as you think I am. "

"Then why don't you set me free?"

"We won't discuss that, now. You had better think it over. "

"I have thought it over. I am grateful to you for saving me, but--well at present I can't do anything. "

"You mean, you won't. "

"Well, have it that way if you wish. "

"You'll be sorry some day, " said Dave, bluntly. 

Ridgely left the room. He closed the door after him with anassurance to Dave that things would be "all right. " Just then therewas the sound of some one hurrying into the next room, and anexcited voice shouted out in an exultant tone:

"Say, father, we've got the other one, too!"

CHAPTER XXIII

HIRAM'S ADVENTURES

The young aviator at once recognized the voice in the adjoining roomwhich spoke the excited, words:

"We've got the other one, too!"

It was Jerry Dawson who had spoken. Dave knew that the statementcould refer to no other than his missing chum. Dave was insomething of a flutter of suspense. Then his eye brightened and acheery smile overspread his face, as he caught the words in a dearlyfamiliar tone:

"Say, do you want to kill a fellow?"

It was Hiram who spoke, in a resentful and disgusted voice. Itsaccents were as pert and ringing as ever, and Dave was overjoyed toknow that his loyal comrade was alive and apparently unhurt. 

"Say, Dawson, " here broke in Ridgely, "I want to speak to you. "

"Put this fellow in with Dashaway, " ordered Jerry, and then the doorof Dave's prison place was pulled open. A familiar form camelimping and stumbling across the threshold, and the door was slammedto and locked after him. 

"Hiram!" cried Dave in genuine delight. 

He drew back as his friend faced him. He had noticed that Hiramlimped. Now he saw that one arm was in a sling. Besides that, Hiram's face was one mass of cuts and scratches. One eye was nearlyclosed. 

"Oh, Hiram!" cried Dave aghast. 

"Look is if I'd been through a threshing machine, do I?" grinned theplucky lad. 

"What happened?" asked Dave seriously. 

"Dave, " declared Hiram almost solemnly, "I honestly don't know. Themachine drove upwards so quickly I wondered if some jar or thebroken wire that was switching about didn't start the lever. By thetime I got to the pilot's seat the machine was on a terrific whiz. "

"What did you do?" asked Dave. 

"Not much of anything, except to get rattled, " confessed Hiram. "Itried to circle, and she went banking. Then the Machine took theprettiest drift you ever saw. All of a sudden one of the planesdropped and then we landed. "

"Where?"

"On top of some trees. Right beyond was a deep basin, chuck full ofundergrowth. The machine just took a slide off the tops of thetrees, and slipped down to the bottom of the basin. Then sheturned, I was thrown out. "

"What then, Hiram?" pressed Dave in a concerned way. 

"Well, Dave, we had briers and brambles on the farm, but nothing tocompare with those Canadian thistles, or whatever they were. Lookat my face. "

"And your arm?"

Hiram shrugged his shoulders resignedly. 

"The half breed who looked at it said it was broken. He seemed tobe some kind of an Indian doctor. He rubbed my scratches andbruises with some leaves and set my arm in splints. "

"Why, where did the half breed come in?" inquired Dave. 

"Well, as soon as I got my wits from the tumble, I thought of you. I tried to get up out of the basin, but the sides were so steep Icouldn't make it. So I--well, Dave, " added Hiram with a queerlaugh, "I sort of busied myself about the airship. It wasn't muchbattered up. I feared the Dawson crowd might come hunting for themachine, so--well, I sort of busied myself about the airship, "repeated Hiram, with a strange chuckle. "I was resting when thathalf breed and another fellow came along. The Indian is a greattrailer, I guess, for he was sharp enough to notice the tree topsand the bushes the machine had rolled over. Anyhow, down he came ona rope into the basin and found me. "

"And the Monarch II, " said Dave. 

"No, he didn't find the machine, " declared Hiram. 

"But--"

"Let me tell my story, Dave, " interrupted Hiram. "He got me upaloft. Then he said I was badly hurt, and started in to mend me up. Then they brought me here. They kept talking about the airship, andtried to make me tell where it was. I wouldn't, and didn't. "

"Wasn't it in the basin you spoke of?" inquired Dave wonderingly. 

"Yes. "

"Then why--?"

"Hush! We're going to have visitors. "

This was true. There was a sound at the door of their prison room, and the padlock was displaced. Jerry Dawson stepped into view, hisfather behind him. 

"Well, " he said, with a leer meant to be clever, "I suppose youfellows know me?"

"We know you, Jerry, " retorted Hiram, "only too well. "

"I'm boss here, " boasted Jerry. 

"That's fine, isn't it?" said Hiram. 

"And I've got you. We'll have your airship soon, too. You'll dosome walking getting back home, I'm thinking. "

"What do you want of us, Jerry?" inquired Dave, coolly. 

"I want to know where that airship of yours is in the first place. "

"Put it in the last place, Jerry, " suggested Hiram, "for you won'tfind out from me. "

"I'll bet I will, " vaunted Jerry. "I have a good mind to punch youfor making all the mischief you have. "

"You're safe, Jerry, seeing I'm disabled, " said Hiram. 

"Bah! Say, Dashaway, who's working against us here or across thelake besides yourself?"

"You will have to, guess that, Jerry, " replied Dave. 

"You won't tell?"

"No. I'll say this, though: You had better try to even up things insome way. The Interstate people and the government know all aboutyou, and you are likely to have some explaining to do. "

Jerry looked worried, but he feigned indifference. 

"I'll keep you two safe and quiet till I get ready to quit, all thesame, " he snapped out, and slammed the door shut and locked it. 

Dave and Hiram listened in silence for some minutes to sounds in thenext room. 

They could only catch the echo of voices. Jerry and his fatherseemed to be engaged in conversation. 

Suddenly there was an interruption. There was the sound of anexcited voice, drawing nearer each moment. 

A door slammed. Then heavy running footsteps echoed out, endingonly as some one appeared to burst unceremoniously into the nextroom. 

"What's the row?" the boys heard in the gruff tones of Jerry'sfather. 

"Say!" shouted the intruder, evidently a member of their group, "they've done it!"

"Who have?" shouted out Jerry quickly. 

"The revenuers. "

"What do you mean?"

"They got Ridgely. "

A cry of dismay and excitement ran through the next room. 

"How do you know?" demanded the elder Dawson. 

"I saw them myself--right near Brantford. What's more, they'recoming this way to get the rest of us. "

At this announcement came another cry. 

"You are sure of that?"

"When was this?"

"How soon will they be here?"

"Who is responsible for this?"

So the cries and questions ran on. There was an excited discussionall around. 

"Maybe Ridgely is a turncoat!" cried somebody. 

"Well, we can't talk about that now--we must look out forourselves, " said another. 

"Right you are. Let us get out of here as soon as we possibly can!"

"That's the talk!"

CHAPTER XXIV

THE ESCAPE BY AIRCRAFT

"That's good, " instantly cried Hiram Dobbs. "They'll have troublesof their own now, maybe. "

He and Dave listening closely, could now detect bustle andexcitement in the rooms beyond their own prison place. 

They could hear Jerry Dawson fussing and bawling about, while hisfather's gruff voice seemed to give orders to the men in the place. 

"I wonder what they will do with us now?" inquired Hiram. 

"We shall probably soon know, " returned Dave. 

"Get those fellows out of there, you two, " they finally heard JerryDawson order. 

The door of the prison room was unlocked and thrown open. 

"March out, " ordered Jerry. 

Dave and Hiram took their time about obeying the mandate. Then at aword from Jerry two of his men hastened them across the threshold, seizing them by the arms. 

"Ouch!" roared Hiram. "Do you want to smash my arm all over again?"

The man who held him was less rough at this. In the room the boyssaw Jerry, his father, the two men who held them and three others. Before Dawson lay a large, round bundle. A smaller one lay at thefeet of one of the other men. 

"Now, then, " spoke Dawson, "ready and quick is the word. I'vedivided it up fair, and you'll find your share in that bundle. Youthree had better get it and yourselves to some safe place. "

"Yes, " spoke one of the men, "the revenuers will surely be heresoon. "

"You two, " continued Dawson to the men had Dave and Hiram in charge, "bring the boys along. "

"Where to?" was asked. 

"Just follow us, " was the surly response. 

"Give a hand, Jerry. "

The two Dawsons lifted the bundle at their feet and started from theroom. There were sounds as if some one was pounding on the door atthe front of the building. The Dawsons, however, did not go thatway. They quickened their steps, the captives were led throughseveral rooms, and finally a door at the rear of the place wasopened. 

"Hold them tight now, " ordered Jerry. 

"Yes, and if they make any outcry quiet them the way you know how, "added his father. 

Dave and Hiram were surprised to find themselves now in completedarkness. 

"We're going through some kind of a tunnel, " whispered the youngaviator to his companion a moment later. 

Their captors forced them along in the steps of the Dawsons. Theymust have proceeded several hundred feet thus, when the tunnel grewlighter. Then they arrived at an exit letting out into a deep, narrow ravine. 

"They must have taken this route to escape from the revenueofficers, " Dave told his companion, in a guarded tone. 

"Shall we set up a fight and yell?" proposed the audacious Hiram. 

"Not with that broken arm of yours and four to one, " dissented Dave. 

"Broken arm, nothing! Say-hello! Why, they're taking us to theirairship!" exclaimed Hiram. 

They had come upon the Drifter at a point where the ravine spreadout and a long level space showed. 

"Now then, brisk is the word, " spoke the elder Dawson. 

He and his son carried the bundle up to the Drifter and managed tostow it aboard. Jerry climbed into the pilot's seat. His fatherdrew some stout double cord from his pocket. 

"Tie up those boys hand and foot, " he ordered grimly. 

"See here, Mr. Dawson, " spoke up Dave, "what are you going to dowith us?"

"You'll find that out very soon, " was the gruff reply. 

The two men proceeded to secure the arms and feet of the captives. Dave knew it was useless to resist the rough treatment he received. Hiram was not so patient. 

"Say, this is an outrage!" he cried out. 

"What's the matter with you?" demanded Jerry Dawson, leaning fromhis seat with a scowl on his face. 

"What do you want to tie a one-armed fellow up for?" grumbled Hiram. 

"That's so, " said the elder Dawson. "Just attend to his feet andone arm. No use making him safer. He won't be very dangerous withonly a broken arm free. "

First Dave and then Hiram were lifted into the seats behind thepilot's post. As has been said, the Drifter could carry fivepassengers, and they were not crowded or uncomfortable. 

"They are going to carry us away with them, " whispered Hiram to hiscompanion. 

"Let them, " replied the young aviator. "It may give us a chance tooutwit them someplace along the line. "

Hiram chuckled. Dave stared at him strangely, but his doughtycompanion did not explain what he had in his mind. 

"All ready, " announced Jerry, his hand on his lever. 

His father got into the seat behind him. 

"Wait a minute, " he spoke to his son. "You two, " he added to themen who had accompanied them, "better get to your friends, divide upyour plunder and make yourselves scarce as soon as you can. "

"That's what we intend to do, " replied one of the men. 

"Hold on!" exclaimed his companion, suddenly turning around at theecho of a loud shout. 

"What's the trouble now, I wonder?"

"Hey, stop the airship! Stop them! Stop them!" yelled the stridentvoice of a man coming pell mell down the ravine path. He was in afrantic state of excitement and waving his arms wildly. 

"Don't lose a second, " spoke Dawson quickly. 

Jerry gave the starter a whirl. Dave noticed that his father wasquite excited and kept watching the advancing runner. 

"Stop them, I tell you!" yelled this individual whom Dave recognizedas one of the three individuals left behind at the hut with theother bundle. 

"What for?" shouted one of the two men near the airship. 

"Robbers-thieves! That bundle they gave us!"

"What about it?"

"No silks--nothing but a lot of worthless truck. They've cheated usand are making away with the real plunder. "

Whiz! up went the airship. The three men ran after it. Thenewcomer shook his fist vengefully after the machine. The other twopicked up rocks and hurled them in its wake. 

"O. K. , " chuckled Jerry, as the Drifter shot far out of reach oftheir deluded confederates. 

"Do your level best, Jerry, " spoke his father. 

The revenue men may have another airship in commission. "

"Oh, I guess not, " retorted Jerry airily. "Say, what about the onethese fellows had?"

"They know and won't tell. Some of crowd will find it, though Itold them if they did to dismantle it. They can get something forthe old junk. "

"About all they will get, eh?" leered Jerry. 

"I'm thinking so. "

"You didn't give them any of the silk?"

"Not I. "

"That was slick, " chuckled Jerry. 

"Hear him! He's a fine one, isn't he?" observed Hiram to Dave. 

"Yes, Jerry can't be true, even to his friends, " replied the youngaviator. 

Dave watched Jerry at the lever. He had to admit that his enemyknew considerable about running an aircraft. The only criticism hecould make was that several times Jerry took some big risks indaringly banking, when the least variation of the wind would havemade the Drifter turn turtle. 

It was six hours later when the airship descended. At times themachine had made fully sixty miles an hour. Long since they hadpassed the apparent limits of civilization. The course was duenorthwest. Vast forests spread out under them. It was only for thefirst time in one hundred miles, as they neared a small settlementon a river, that Jerry let down on the speed, and they descended ata spot about a mile from a settlement in the center of a big field. 

Dave and Hiram were left in the chassis, while Jerry and his fatherleft the machine. They conversed for some time, then it wasarranged that Jerry should proceed to the settlement and purchasesome provisions. His father came up to the machine as Jerrydeparted. 

"See here, you two, " he spoke in his usual gruff way, "we'll giveyou something to eat and, drink when Jerry comes back. "

"Where are you taking us to, Mr. Dawson?" asked the young aviator. 

"We are taking you so far from home, that you can't tramp back intime to pat any more of your friends on our track, " was the bluntreply. "Another couple of hundred miles, and, if you behaveyourself, we'll set you loose. "

The man spoke as if the proposition was perfectly simple and honestone. 

"Another couple of hundred miles?" repeated Dave. 

"That is what I said, Dashaway. "

"You are carrying things with a high hand, Mr. Dawson. "

"Yes? Well, I know what I am doing. "

"You may overreach yourself. "

"Humph! I'll take my chances on that. You are smart, Dashaway, butyou can't scare me and you can't get the best of me. "

"But the law will get you, some day or another. "

"Bah! I'm tired and don't want to listen to your talk. I tell youI know what I am doing. "

"You won't release us now?"

"No. "

"That is final?"

"It certainly is, and you may as well save your breath and notmention it again. I am tired out and don't want any more of suchtalk. "

"Well, see here--"broke in Hiram. 

"I won't listen to any more. Shut up. "

With the words Dawson went over to a hammock at a little distance, spread his coat over it, and lay down to rest. It was not fiveminutes before his captives could hear him snoring loudly. 

Hiram had been watching his every movement in an intense way. Nowhe leaned over towards Dave. His eyes were snapping with excitementand there was a broad smile on his face, as he whispered into theear of the young aviator one word. It was:

"Hurrah!"

CHAPTER XXV

CAUGHT CONCLUSION

"Hurrah!" was the word that Hiram Dobbs spoke exultantly, and Davelooked at him in profound surprise. 

Hiram had lifted himself up from the seat. Now he went through somemovements that almost startled the puzzled young aviator. 

Suddenly his arm shot out of the sling, and as suddenly Hiram, though with a wince, swung it around once or twice, and the threesplints holding it cracked and split audibly. 

"Hey, Hiram!" gasped Dave. 

"S-sh!" uttered his assistant warningly. 

Hiram ran his free hand down into his pocket. He drew out the bigpocket knife he carried. It was more of a tool than a whittlingtoy, for he used it in tinkering about the airship. 

With his teeth, Hiram opened its largest blade. He gave a slash atthe cords surrounding his other arm and his feet. Then he leanedover towards Dave. A few deft strokes of the keen blade, and Dave, like himself, was free. 

"Easy, " he whispered, as Dave started up. "I'll watch Dawson. Youget into the pilot's seat. "

"Good for you, Hiram!" whispered back the young aviator, fairlythrilling with the excitement of the moment. 

Dave took in every detail of the mechanism before his eyes. He madesure of no faulty start. 

"All ready, " he announced after a minute or two. 

"Good-bye!" spoke Hiram, with a gay bold wave of his hand in thedirection of the sleeping, Dawson. 

"Put on the muffler, " ordered Dave, as the exhaust began to sizzle. 

Hiram did so. It was too late, however, to avoid sounding a warningto Dawson. The big man started up with a yell. He came to his feetroaring out:

"Come back!"

"I hope you'll find the walking good!" shouted Hiram, waving hishand in adieu to the amazed Dawson. 

"Hiram, you're a genius!" cried Dave. 

The Drifter struck a course as true as a die. The splendid machineand the young aviator were both at their best. There was a lastfading picture of a forlorn man convulsed with rage and despair. Then the two boy aeronauts turned their back on the enemies who hadbeen hoisted by their own petard. 

"It's great, its grand, " cheered Hiram, bubbling over with joy, asthe exhilarating air and their magical progress made him realizewhat freedom meant to its fullest extent. 

"I don't understand. Your arm, Hiram?" said Dave. 

His jolly assistant waved the arm in question gaily. 

"Wasn't it hurt?"

"Yes, and badly, I thought, " reflected Hiram. "It was numb anduseless when the half breed attended to it, but he was mistaken andso was I in thinking that any bones were broken. "

"They were not?"

"Not a bit of it. Don't you see? It pains, and I'm bragging when Iswing it around as if it was as good as ever, but I can use it. "

"You have used it to a grand purpose, Hiram. "

"I didn't notice that I could use it until they locked me up withyou. "

"Why didn't you tell me then?"

"Oh, I wanted to surprise you. "

"You have, Hiram. "

"I thought I'd play 'possum on those smart fellows. I played thecripple strong. You see what has come of it. "

When they had gone nearly one hundred miles, Dave saw that thegasoline supply was running low. Luckily they were near a littletown. They made a descent on a river, much to the delight andwonder of the whole place, bought a new supply, and resumed theirflight. 

It was after ten o'clock in the evening when the welcome lights ofAnseton came into view. Dave did not look around for some hidingplace on the outskirts on this occasion. He startled a drowsypoliceman by landing in the middle of some vacant lots on his beat. 

A brief explanation was made to the officer, and a man hired towatch the Drifter until they returned. Then Dave and Hiram hurriedto the hotel in Anseton where Mr. Price made his headquarters. 

The revenue officer was found. He listened to the story of the twoyoung aviators in amazement and admiration. Then he reportedresults of his own efforts. 

Ridgely was under arrest, two of his accomplices were being thenpursued by his assistants, and the smuggling combination was allbroken up. 

"The clews you have given us were fine ones, Dashaway, " said theofficial gratefully. "You have done the government a vast service, I can tell you. "

Mr. Price insisted on the boys taking a needed rest. He sent one ofhis men to guard the Drifter, and, after a famous meal, made hisguests agree to sleep in a comfortable bed for the first time innearly a week. 

It was just after they had entered their room that Dave made theremark. 

"You know we had better see if those friends of the Dawsons havefound the Monarch II and made away with it, Hiram. "

"Well, I can tell you that they haven't, " replied Hiram, with aconfident chuckle. 

"How can you know that?"

"Why, Dave, when I was shut in with the machine in that basin, Itook it apart. You know it was made to do that, so it could beshipped readily. Well, I'll bet you I hid those parts in places inthat basin where nobody can locate them but myself. "

"Good for you!" commended Dave heartily. 

"I think the Interstate people will have something pleasant to sayto you when they know all the wonders you've done in chasing theirstolen airship. "

It was the brightest day in the year, it seemed to the two youngaviators, as they reached Columbus by train, and started at once forMr. King's hangar. 

Old Grimshaw had met them at the depot. He was full of friendlychatter, seemed to be chuckling over some secret surprise he had instore for them, and rushed them towards the headquarters of theAegis. 

"Yes, Mr. King is back, " he advised the boys. 

"Did he find Mr. Dale?" inquired Dave anxiously. 

"He'll tell you. "

Dave and Hiram had much to relate. Two boys probably never receiveda more pleasant welcome than they, when with the Drifter theyreported to the manager of the Interstate Aeroplane Company. 

Mr. Randolph had the president and two directors of the concern onhand to meet them. Their stirring story was taken in by the augustbusiness men with an attention and appreciation that of itself paidthe lads well for all the duty done. 

The boys had remained long enough at Anseton to have some men gowith them and locate the hidden sections of the Monarch II, andarrange to have them shipped by rail back to the factory. 

Dave felt pretty rich when he left the Interstate works with a checkfor five hundred dollars in his pocket, and an offer of advancedemployment for himself and his loyal and useful assistant for twoseasons ahead. 

"I want to see Mr. King before I decide what I will do, " Dave toldMr. Randolph, his mind full of the much discussed flight across theAtlantic in the giant airship. "You can have your two hundred andfifty dollars any time you like, Hiram. " he added to his chum ontheir way to the depot. 

As they now reached the Aegis hangar, Grimshaw stepped aside with apleased laugh. 

"Safe and sound and famous. Here they are, Mr. King!" he shouted. 

"There's no doubt of that, " chorused the friendly voice of theexpert aviator. "Dave! Hiram! A thousand times welcome. "

If he had been own father to the lads, Mr. King could not havegreeted them more affectionately. 

"You've done us all proud, Dashaway, " he declared. "Got a telegramfrom the Interstate folks, and the noon paper. The paper has givenyou two columns. This way. A friend waiting to see you. "

Mr. King pushed Dave across the little room in the hangar he used asan office. 

A middle aged, noble looking gentleman arose from a chair as Daveentered. His face was beaming, and there was an eager light in hiseyes. 

"Dave Dashaway?" he said, half inquiringly. 

"Yes, sir, " assented Dave, grasping the extended hand of thegentleman. 

"My best and oldest friend's boy, " continued the gentleman. 

"It is Mr. Dale, Dashaway, " spoke Mr. King, following Dave into theroom. 

Somehow the young aviator felt his heart warm to the man of whom hehad heard so much, but had never before seen. The old gentleman'seyes rested on him in a kindly earnest way that made Dave feel lesslonely in the world. 

Briefly Mr. King told of the chase he had made to locate Mr. Dale. 

"I've got a long story to tell, " said the aviator, when he could geta chance to talk. He turned to Mr. Dale. "That is, if you wish meto tell it, " he added. 

"Certainly, " was the ready reply. "You can probably tell it betterthan I can. "

"Well, to begin with, it was no easy task to get on the track ofthis fellow Gregg, " commenced the well-known aviator. "I had to dosome tall hunting before I could locate him and his two cronies. "

"His cronies?" repeated Dave. 

"Yes, he had two fellows in the game with him. I guess he found outthat he could not manage it alone. The three of them called on Mr. Dale and at first got him to take an automobile ride. Then theytook him to a lonely house down near Slaytown, and there they kepthim a prisoner. "

"A prisoner!"

"Yes. "

"Just as we were kept prisoners, " muttered our hero. 

"Mr. Dale says he was treated very nicely, for Gregg no doubt, hadan idea he could get more money that way. "

"Well, after a good deal of hard work I located the spot and saw Mr. Dale from a distance. I knew I could not rescue him single handed, so I went back to town and notified the police. I had hard workgetting three officers to accompany me, because the police just thenwere having their annual inspection and parade and all wanted to bepresent. When we got to the lonely house we got a big surprise. "

"How was that?"

"Gregg and the two men and Mr. Dale were gone. "

"Where to?"

"At first I couldn't find out. But we saw wagon tracks in the softroadbed and followed these along the road and through a big field. Presently we came to a patch of woods, and there found what in yearsgone by had been a lumber camp. At the old house we saw a horse andwagon, and we knew the crowd must be somewhere around. Weseparated, and came up to the place from all sides. In a shed nearthe house we found Gregg and the two men. They were discussing thesituation, when we pounced on them and surprised them. "

"Did they resist?"

"Gregg did, and as a consequence he got a blow in the mouth from apoliceman's club that broke off two of his teeth. Then all of thecrowd gave up, and we handcuffed the lot and made them prisoners. "

"And Mr. Dale?" asked Dave, with interest. 

"We found him in the old house, tied up. "

"And very grateful for the rescue, " put in the old gentleman, warmly. 

"All of us came to town in the wagon the rascals had hired. ThenGregg and his accomplices were put in jail, and Mr. Dale and I cameon here, " concluded Mr. King. 

"I am mighty happy to see things have turned out this way, " said ourhero, heartily. 

"I am so glad to find the son of my old balloonist friend, " said Mr. Dale, "that I shall have to adopt you legally, Dave, before you slipaway from me again. Let me be your second father, my boy, and takean interest in your progress. I stayed over here with our mutualfriend, Mr. King, purposely to go over this wonderful plan to crossthe Atlantic in an airship. "

"Then you think well of it?" asked Dave. 

"You do not have to ask that of an old aeronaut enthusiast, my boy, "replied Mr. Dale. 

"Yes, Dashaway, " said the aviator, "Mr. Dale has promised gladly tofurnish the capital to put through our newest giant airship scheme. "

So, for the present, we leave Dave Dashaway, the young aviator, andhis friends. What happened to them in their new and daring project, will be told in the next volume of this series, to be called, "DaveDashaway and His Giant Airship; Or, A Marvelous Trip Across theAtlantic. "

The young aviator had won his way through pluck and perseverance. Dave had already done some great things in his apprenticeship as ajunior aeronaut. 

Now, the friend, and assistant of a noted expert in aeronautics, hewas eager and buoyant at the prospect of winning fame and fortune inan attempt that was the dream of the expert airman of the world. 

THE END