CHAPTER XXIII
A NOBLE DEED
Whatever the “light” was that Hiram Dobbs saw, he did not share theillumination with Bruce. In fact the latter did not expect it, andasked no questions.
So much had happened during the past two weeks that had tested thesense, courage and good judgment of the boys, that they had come totaking things conservatively, no matter what transpired.
Bruce was aware that Hiram attached a great deal of importance to thediscovery of the disguised Borden. The mention of the barograph haddecidedly stirred Hiram. Why, or wherefore, the young pilot of the_Scout_ did not just then say. Perhaps outside of a theory he hadformed, Hiram could not clearly have told himself. At all events, Brucewas satisfied to wait for further developments at a time when hisfriend was ready to divulge them.
The long distance flight was on for the next day. It was the big eventof the meet, with a large number of entrants, and nothing else much wastalked of that evening or the following morning. “Biplane and onepassenger,” ran the schedule and Hiram was glad of that.
“It’s a hundred and ten mile flight,” he remarked, “and the winner willcome in under two hours.”
“Not with that choppy northwest wind,” reminded Dave. “There is onething, though: the _Ariel_ is made for all kinds of weather. It reallygives the others a handicap.”
The contestants were fully advised as to the rules of the race. Thecourse was laid along the shore of the lake and described a completesemi-circle seventy miles in length. The turning point was at GrandBay. All along the course men were posted to watch out for anydeviation exceeding two miles from the shore line of the lake. At GrandBay it was a straight away course back to the International grounds.
The _Whirlwind_ came out with Valdec in the seat sneering and arrogantas usual. A youth about the age of Hiram occupied the cockpit. Themachines were thus evenly matched. There were eighteen other entrantsfor the event.
“There’re some pretty good machines in the race, Dave,” his assistantremarked as they awaited the starting signal.
“I see that,” replied the pilot of the _Ariel_. “We mustn’t miss apoint, or lose a yard, on turns or drifting. Is everything all right?”
“As right as could be,” answered Hiram buoyantly. “What’s theprogramme, a rush?”
“Not at the start. We won’t risk any mix up. Let the others,particularly the _Whirlwind_, catch a gait. Then we’ll strike thehigher level and get a clear course, if we’re lucky enough tooutdistance the others.”
The start was very fine. It resembled the progress of a flock of birdstrying their wings after a rest. Mr. Brackett looked greatly pleased asthe _Ariel_ did just what it had been built to do—rose lightly, madesmooth upward progress and showed itself to be a very superior model ofgrace and efficiency.
“Oh, dear! over two hours’ blind waiting,” sighed Bruce, as the aerialfleet spread out, and grew less distinct, so that, even with a fieldglass, it was difficult to distinguish one machine from another.
“There’s a breakdown!” Hiram announced, just as they passed the firstobservation station on the lake shore.
It was number six, a rather poor craft, and Dave could tell from itsmaneuvers that some of its gearing had gone wrong.
At the end of fifty miles, Hiram, watching out in every direction, gavea quick cry of satisfaction.
“I’ve counted them,” he told his chum. “The ragtag and bobtail fell outbefore we got forty miles. There’re two men even with us below, Dave.That one pegging away on the lower level is the _Whirlwind_.”
“Yes, and doing very finely,” commented Dave. “There’re the smokestacksof Grand Bay ahead.”
“Speed up, Dave,” urged Hiram, his usual excitable nature getting thebest of him.
The young aviator did not reply, but all his expert senses were on thealert. So far as he could judge, he had now but three rivals to fear.The _Whirlwind_ was in the lead, but not for any great distance andwould have to change its level when a turn was due.
Dave had a point in view in first ascertaining the number of his realrivals, and then their possible capabilities in the return flight. Thewind had steadily grown stronger with the hours. The lake was rough andmuddy, and a cloud film had overspread the sky.
To fly to the best advantage when the turn was made at Grand Bay, Davesaw that a system of tacking and circling would be necessary. The_Ariel_ had been built purposely to meet these exigencies. He doubtedif any of the three other machines could go through on any great rateof speed.
“I am sure of one thing,” he reckoned quite confidently; “the _Ariel_can outdo the _Whirlwind_ two to one in drifting with the wind at itsstern.”
“Dave! I say, Dave!” cried Hiram Dobbs breathlessly. “Here comes the_Whirlwind_!”
“I see,” answered Dave calmly.
“She’s turning, she’s first in rounding for the home run. Can’t youspeed up?”
Dave kept his eye on the machine he regarded as his principal rival. Hewatched its maneuvering narrowly. The _Whirlwind_ had indeed turned,but now it was evident it had to contend with new and more difficultconditions.
“It’s one thing to face the wind, and quite another to run away fromit. Watch the control, Hiram,” directed Dave.
“I’ve got both eyes in use,” reported his assistant.
“Now then,” said Dave simply. “Careful!”
He circled the point where a group of men were gathered, one with awhite flag in his hand. This individual stood near a score board, andtallied off the machines as they passed.
The _Ariel_ made a sort of leap, as her pilot brought the machinebroadside to the fierce breeze. In two minutes the young aviatorcomprehended, and analyzed, the conditions as would an expert running ayacht.
“A fog is coming up, and it’s misting,” announced Hiram. “We’re notcutting due west, are we?”
“Not on this occasion,” responded Dave coolly. “Hiram, we’ll make timeand distance drifting south of the grounds. When we strike the landbreeze it will be easier to fight our way back north.”
“You know best, Dave,” said Hiram, and then for a full quarter of anhour nothing further was said. Dave did some fine maneuvering. Hiramfollowed the signals given him as to the rear control apparatus, amission that relieved the pilot from a sort of double duty under thepresent stress.
The muggy air prevented the young airman from making out what hadbecome of the _Whirlwind_ or their trailers. Dave had steadied quitesuccessfully on a lateral course when Hiram leaned over towards him.
“Dave,” he spoke quickly—“to the left, and a little ahead.”
“I see—a craft of some kind on the lake.”
“And a flag of distress—why, look! Dave, they’ve put off a raft, andit’s swamped.”
The young pilot lessened the speed of the _Ariel_. He eased itsprogress through a sliding drift. This brought them nearer to the crafttossing on the waters below.
“Water-logged and sinking!” exclaimed Hiram excitedly. “Dave, it’s areal peril! See, the ship has no wireless, and their lifeboat is gone.She can’t last long, Dave!”
Dave had turned the head of the _Ariel_ straight back landwards. In aflash his assistant understood.
“Top speed for a rescue steamer, or the life-saving service,” announcedDave. His voice was slightly unsteady, for he realized the sacrifice hewas about to make. “There’re women and children aboard that boat.”
“Yes, we’ve got to lose the race!” cried Hiram in disappointed tones.
“Better that than forget our humane duty,” responded the young pilot ofthe _Ariel_, but he said it with a sinking heart.
The wind was now coming by fits and starts, and the sky looked anythingbut encouraging to the young airmen.
“We’re in for a nasty blow, Dave,” came from Hiram, anxiously.
“Looks that way.”
“It’s bad for that schooner.”
“So it is.”
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“Do you think we can get help in time?”
“We’ve got to do it, Hiram. Think of those on board—maybe women andchildren as well as men!” and our hero shook his head sadly.
“It’s quite a run.”
“I know that as well as you do.”
“And to miss winning that prize——”
“Do you want to win and let those people drown?”
“No, no, never!”
“Then don’t say anything more about that prize.”
“I won’t, Dave. Yes, run for shore, and get help as soon as possible.”
“I’ll do it—and we’ll save those poor people. Hiram, there may be——”
Dave did not have time to finish what he was going to say. A suddengust of wind had struck the air craft, sending it whirling off itscourse.
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