CHAPTER XVII
THE BIG PLAY
"Look here, Mr. Fulton," began Jerry, almost stammering in hiseagerness. "It wouldn't be any trick at all to get over to theinterurban tracks in time to catch the four o'clock northbound. Thatgets to Watertown at four twenty-five--say half-past. We ought to beable to get the gas and rout out a machine to haul it in inside anotherhalf hour. That's five o'clock. Then an hour certainly would see usback here, with a good hour and more of daylight left."
"I've gone over all that in my mind a dozen times. But I've also spenta little time figuring what these men would be doing in the meanwhile.There's just one place in Watertown that keeps any quantity ofgasoline--the rest buy of him. And he'd die of fright if he should becaught with more than a hundred gallons at one time."
"But we don't need more than five!" exploded Tod.
"Sure, son, sure. But suppose somebody just ahead of you made it hisbusiness to buy the hundred--how about that?"
"But there's a chance," objected Jerry, returning to the attack. "Wemight be able to get away without their seeing us."
"Don't worry; they're watching every move we make."
"Then I've got another scheme. See if you can pick it full of holestoo." There was more than a touch of impatience in Jerry's voice."They're watching this side, that's sure; and they know we're bound tofigure on either Watertown or Chester. We'll fool them. I'll swimacross to the other side, reach a telephone, get my dad, who's atCorliss these days on business. There's a Standard Oil tank at Corliss.Dad'll start the gas out inside of twenty minutes----"
"Corliss is a good two hours' trip by auto, my boy. It would take atleast half an hour to get the message through, and another to get thegas here from the road. That means at least seven o'clock, and it wouldbe dark before we were ready to go up."
"All right," agreed Jerry, refusing to give up. "Suppose it does getdark: there's such a thing as flying by night, isn't there? All we'vegot to do is to build a dozen flaring bonfires to see by----"
"Now you're talking!" exclaimed Mr. Fulton with sudden enthusiasm."You've hit it. Not brush--that would smoke us out. But there are tenor a dozen open air torches here like those they use at street shows,and there's not enough water in the gasoline to hurt it for thatpurpose. Moreover, we can switch our engine onto that dynamo in theshop, and we'll string incandescent lights all through the trees; we'vegot plenty of them. There's at least a mile of bare copper wire aboutthe place--what you two standing with your mouths wide open for?Thought you were going to get that gas! Where in thunder are all thoseboys?"
"Here they come--tired of waiting out there in the sun, I guess. Solong, dad; I'm going with Jerry."
"You are _not_. You're going to be chief electrician. If Jerry can'tput through his part of the job alone he doesn't deserve credit forhaving thought of the whole scheme."
The first part of Jerry's task proved easy enough. It took him wellover the half hour Mr. Fulton had predicted, to find a farmhouse with atelephone, and Central seemed an unusually long time in ringing throughto the office Jerry's father had been making his headquarters for thepast weeks. Then it developed that Mr. Ring was out at a conference ofbusiness men. Jerry took the telephone number the girl gave him, andrepeated it to Central, who again took her time in giving theconnection. Jerry was about ready to drop with nervousness before hefinally heard his father's gruff voice at the other end of the line.
The words simply tumbled over themselves as Jerry told his story;fortunately, Mr. Ring was shrewd enough to guess the half that Jerryjumbled in his eagerness.
"Where are you--so I can call you back?" was Mr. Ring's only reply.
Fifteen minutes later the telephone rang. Jerry answered, to hear: "Tengallons of gasoline, double strained, left here five minutes ago on afast delivery truck. It ought to reach the road opposite Lost Islandinside of two hours. You be there to tell them what to do. Good luck,Jerry--I'm going back to that conference. This skylark may cost me afive hundred dollar profit."
"It isn't a skylark--it's a sky_rocket_, and Mr. Fulton will pay youdouble over!" But it was into a dead transmitter he shouted it, for Mr.Ring had not waited.
Jerry did not wait long either, but raced across fields and throughwoods to the river road. He found a shady spot, which he established ashis headquarters, but he was too restless to wait there long. Theyseemed a mighty long two hours. The sun sank lower and lower; Jerryheard a bell ringing far off, calling the farm hands to supper--he wasgetting hungry himself. Shadows began to darken, the clouds flared upin a sudden crimson, first low down on the horizon, then high up in thesky. The sun dropped out of sight behind the trees.
Away down the road sounded a faint drumming noise that grew nearer andlouder until around the bend whirred a dust-raising black monster thatcame to a halt a few feet away from the boy who had sprung out,shouting and waving his arms. "You waiting for gasoline?" a grouchyvoice demanded. "Are you Mr. Ring?"
"I sure am!"
"Well, come on back here and help h'ist it out. We're in a hurry to getback to town--why it's only a kid!" as Jerry came up. "Who's going tohelp you handle it? It's in two five-gallon cans."
"I guess I can manage it all right. I've got some friends waiting downon the river bank."
"All right; it's your funeral. There you are, sealed, signed anddelivered." The motor roared out, then settled to a steady hum; the manbacked and turned and soon was swallowed up in the dust and the growingdark.
Jerry braced his shoulders for the stiff carry to the Plum, afive-gallon can in each hand. He was willing to stop now and then for abreathing spell, but at last he set the load down on the narrow fringeof sandy beach. Cupping his hands about his mouth, he sent a lustyshout ringing across the water; he was too weary to swim it, and theredid not seem to be much need for further concealment. There was aninstant answer, showing that the boys had been awaiting his signal. Thesplash of oars told him that the boat was on the way, and he feltsuddenly glad that he could now think of a few minutes' rest.
It proved to be Dave and Tod and Phil in the Scout boat. They madequick work of loading in the two cans, and then they all piled in, Daveand Tod at the oars. They were perhaps halfway across when Jerry asked,anxiously, it seemed:
"Can't you get any more speed out of her, fellows?"
"What's eating you? It's as dark now as it's going to get," answeredDave, at the same time letting his oars float idly up against the sideof the boat.
"I'm worried, that's why," exclaimed Jerry, slipping over and pushingDave out of his seat. "Do you hear anything?"
They all listened, Tod holding his oars out of the water. Sure enough,a purring, deeply muffled sound came faintly across the water. It wasunmistakably a motorboat.
"Some camper," suggested Dave.
"It sounds more like--trouble," declared Phil, a significant accent onthe word. "The enemy, I bet, and trying to cut us off."
"Well, we've got a big start on them. They're a long way off" againDave volunteered.
"You mean you're a long way off. They've got her tuned down--she isn'tover two hundred yards away and coming like blue blazes. They meanmischief--they aren't showing a single light. What's our plan?"
"Keep cool," advised Jerry. "They'll probably try to bump us. We'll rowalong easy-like, with a big burst of speed at the last second. Beforethey can turn and come at us again, we can make shore. Steady now!"
The drone of the motor was almost upon them. The dusk lay heavy overthe water; they could see nothing. Louder and louder sounded theexplosions, but now they had slowed up. A dim shape showed through thegloom.
"All set!" came the low command from Jerry, just as the boat, mufflercut out, the engine at top speed, and volleying revolutions anddeafening explosions, seemed to leap through the water.
"Down hard!" cried Jerry, lunging with his oars. Tod grunted as he putall his strength into the pull. The Scout boat seemed to lift itselfbodily out of the water as it plunged forward--only inches to spare asa slim hull slipped by the stern.
"Yah!" yelled Phil, jumping to his feet and shaking his fist wildly."You're beat!"
The Scout boat hit shore just then, and Phil, caught off his guard,took a header and landed astride one of the gasoline cans. "I wonder ifthat was a torpedo," he grunted as he picked himself up.
"No," chuckled Tod. "Just a reminder not to crow while your head isstill on the block."
The boys wasted no time in getting the gasoline out of the boat and upthrough the bushes, sending a lusty shout ahead of them to tell thewaiting islanders that they were coming.
"Over on the far side of the clearing," directed Tod, who was carryingone side of a can with Jerry. "We hauled the _Skyrocket_ over there asthe ground is more level and free from stumps."
They found the whole crew waiting about the airship, their eager faceslighted up by the flaring flames of one of the gasoline torches."Hooray for Jerry, the Gasoline Scout!" they shouted as the boysdropped their loads at the first convenient spot.
"Bully for you!" exclaimed Mr. Fulton, coming over and clapping Jerryon the shoulder. "Have any trouble?"
"You better guess we did," broke in Dave. "A motorboat tried its bestto run us down."
Mr. Fulton looked grave as he listened to the tale of their adventure.As Dave finished a spirited account of their narrow escape, the manturned to Tod with:
"Guess you'd better look after filling the tank, son, while I chaseover to the house and get my goggles and my harness," referring to aleather brace the doctor had brought him a few days before to use untilhis shoulder grew stronger. Unfortunately, the thing was not properlymade and it held the arm too stiffly, so Mr. Fulton used it only whenhe absolutely had to.
The boys all wanted to have a hand in this final operation andconsequently it took twice as long as was necessary to fill the tank.Enough was spilled, as Tod said, to run the _Skyrocket_ ten miles. Inthe meanwhile, one of the boys took the small can and went the roundsand filled all the torches with gasoline, while another came closebehind him and started them going.
Tod finally left the rest to finish the job of filling the _Skyrocket_,and disappeared in the direction of the workshop. Within five minutesthe boys heard the steady chugging of "Old Faithful" as they had namedthe shop motor. An instant later the whole field was suddenly lightedup as the twenty incandescent lights flashed up brightly.
"_Some_ illumination!" cried Jerry, delightedly, turning to Mr. Harris,who happened to be nearest him.
"Yes," agreed the man coldly, "but it's all on the ground."
"Sure. Because there's nothing up in the air to see. Wait till the old_Skyrocket_ shoots up," and Jerry walked over to where the boys werestanding. "Old grouch," he said to himself. "You'd think he didn't wantto see us win out."
Tod came hurrying back from the hangar. "Where's dad?" he asked.
"Hasn't got back yet."
"That's funny. I saw him leave the cabin as I went in to start up thedynamo. He called something to me about hurrying so as not to givethose fellows any time to think up new tricks. Who's that over therewith Mr. Harris?"
"Phil, I guess. Your dad hasn't come out yet or we'd have seenhim--it's light as day."
"What's the cause of the delay now?" came from behind them. Mr. Lewishad approached the group unobserved.
"Waiting for my father," answered Tod. "Guess he's having a hard timewith his harness. I'd have stopped for him only I thought he'd havecome back ahead of me. I'll chase over now and see if he needs any helpwith his straps."
Tod ambled off across the torch-lighted open. It was a weird sight,that flaring line of torches, the paler gleam of the electric lightshung high in the trees, the animated faces of the excited boys, the twostolid men, and the adventurous looking _Skyrocket_, its enginesthrobbing, the tiny searchlight ahead of the pilot's seat sending afan-shaped road of white light into the trees. It was like a scene onthe stage--just before the grand climax.
Tod furnished the climax for this scene. Hardly had he disappearedwithin the door of the cabin, before he came running out again,shouting at the top of his voice:
"Fellows! Quick!"
There was a note in his cry that went through the boys like an electricshock. It was anger and fear and a dozen other emotions at once. Theyfairly flew across the hundred yards or so to the cabin, crowding intill the main room was filled.
"What is it, Tod?" cried Phil, as his cousin flung open the door to thetiny lean-to bedroom. Tod's face was pasty white and his eyes bulgedout.
"They've--_got_ dad! I'm afraid he's--killed!"
"No!" exclaimed Jerry, pushing past.
But the first look made him believe the worst. On the floor, toppledover in the chair to which he had been bound, lay Mr. Fulton, hisinjured shoulder twisted way out of place, his distorted face the colorof old ivory. Gagged and tightly laced to the bed lay Mr. Billings, hisfeatures working in wildest rage.
But Mr. Fulton was not dead. He came to under the deft handling of Philand his fellow Scouts, but it was Mr. Billings who told the story ofthe attack.
While Mr. Fulton had been struggling with the strap that held hisshoulder-brace in place, two burly men had burst through the doorwayand quickly overpowered him, handicapped as he was by his useless arm.They had bound him to the chair, and then, after gagging and tyingBillings, had calmly proceeded to ransack the room, one holding apistol at Fulton's head while the other searched.
Papers scattered about on the floor, wrecked furniture and brokenboxes, testified to the thoroughness of the hunt. But they had foundnothing until they had thought to go through the bed on which Billingslay. Under the mattress was a portfolio packed with blueprints andplans. That was when Mr. Fulton had fallen; he had tried to freehimself from his bonds and get at the two, no matter how hopeless thefight.
As Mr. Billings finished the story, Mr. Fulton opened his eyes weakly."Tod----" he gasped--"where's Tod?"
"Here, dad," coming close beside him where he lay on a big pile ofblankets.
"Look quick and see if they found the little flat book--you know."
Tod rummaged hastily through the disordered mess of drawings litteredover the bed and floor. "Not here," he confessed finally.
The man gave a deep groan. "We're done for, then. It had the contractfolded up in it. And it had the combination to the safe at the house,and there was the list of the specifications Mr. Billings made out forme when we packed away the first draft of the _Skyrocket_."
"What difference does that make, if they've already got theblueprints'?" asked Jerry.
"Oh-h!" cried Mr. Fulton, despair in his voice, "don't you see? Theaeroplane itself was made here; Billings did all the work on it. ButTod and I did all the experimental work at home. All the dataconcerning the invention is back there in the safe!"
"And they're already halfway there in their motorboat!" groaned Phil.
But Mr. Fulton made no answer. His eyes were closed; he had fainteddead away.
Tod jumped up from where he had been kneeling beside his father. "Lookafter him, Phil," he directed briskly. "Jerry, you come with me. Thosevillains have got the contract and they will soon have dad's secret--itmeans that we're cleaned out. There's only one thing to do in a tightplace like this, and you and I are going to do it--if you've got thenerve!"
"I've got it," responded Jerry quickly. "What is it?"
"We're going after those crooks in the _Skyrocket_!"
CHAPTER XVIII
A CLOSE FINISH
The incidents of the next hour or so would be hard to picture from thestandpoint of Jerry's emotions. As they half ran over to where the_Skyrocket_ stood ready, snorting like an impatient racehorse, hisheart was filled with a kind of frightened determination. Once he wasstrapped into his seat, his pulses stopped galloping so fast, but asTod began an endless fumbling with levers, plainly as nervous as hischum, Jerry's nerve oozed out at his fingertips; he might have climbedout had it not been for the straps--and the two men, who now cameforward and insisted that the boys give up their hair-brained plan.Jerry wou
ld have been killed by inches rather than give in to them.
A sudden terrifying lurch, a dizzy parting company with solid earththat almost made Jerry part company with his stomach. He yelled, but itmight easily have been through excitement rather than fear. He hopedthe two and Tod would think so. He dared not look down--all he could dowas grip the rod before him with a death-defying clutch. Faster andfaster, higher and higher they mounted, the air whistling by them likemad.
"Can't you slow her down a little?" he yelled in Tod's ear, but Todgave no answer. He could hardly have heard above the roar of the motorand the sickening whine of the propellers--not to intention a steadydrumming of taut wires and tightly stretched silk. "Can't you tune herdown?" Jerry yelled, louder this time, "and get her level?"
"Can't!" shouted Tod. "I've forgotten which handle to pull, even if Iknew which way to pull it!"
He tried first one and then another, but although they lurcheddangerously, first this way and then that, they kept mounting into thesky. Finally there was but one chance left--Tod cautiously drew thelever toward him, then with an "Ah!" heard above all the noise, broughtit all the way. The _Skyrocket_ quivered, dropped to an even keel, andthen turned her nose earthward. But Tod was ready for that. Halfwayback he shoved, the lever and once more the _Skyrocket_ rode level.
They had left Lost Island far behind, but in which direction they couldnot be sure. A long streak of flame to the left told them that arailroad lay there, and it could be none other than the Belt Line thatran into Watertown. Through a rift in the clouds a cluster of starsshowed briefly--the Big Dipper. "See!" shouted Tod. "We're headednorth, all right."
They were going much slower now, and the noise was not so deafening;they could talk without splitting their throats. Dimly they made outPlum Run directly beneath them, while a haze of lights indicatedWatertown, the goal. Even as they watched it seemed to be drawingnearer.
"Were you scared?" asked Tod.
"Stiff," confessed Jerry. "You?"
"Should say. Bet my hair's turned white. Where'll we land?"
"Where can you?"
"Don't know. River, most likely. Say, we're lucky we're alive. Ithought I knew how to run it until we got off the ground. Then I foundI'd forgotten more than I ever learned."
"Did you ever run it before?"
"With dad watching, yes. Once, that is. But I've faked running it ahundred times there in the hangar. Suppose we could come down in yourback lot? It's level--and big enough, maybe."
"We might hit a horse. Dad's got Daisy in there nights."
"We'll have to chance it, I guess. But you hold on good and tight,because I'll probably pull the wrong strings at the last minute. Whereare we now?"
"That's the mill yonder, I think. We want to swing west a little now.Suppose _they_ are at the house by now?"
"Most likely. They had a good start. Shall we get your dad?"
"Uhuh. And several others--with guns. Better have old Bignold." Mr.Bignold was the only night policeman in Watertown. "There's the citylimits, that switch-tower on the Belt Line. Hadn't we better come downa bit. I don't like the idea of falling so far."
Tod obediently let the _Skyrocket_ slide down a few hundred feet, tillthey were just above the tree-tops. They could see that their arrivalwas causing a commotion below. They could even hear the cries of alarm."Bet they think we're a comet," chuckled Tod.
Now he began to circle a bit, for it was hard to identify houses andstreets in the dark and from this unfamiliar view. At last Jerry gave ashout of joy. "There's our house--and I bet that's dad coming out tosee what's up. Hey, dad!" he yelled, but the running figure below madeno answer.
"Well, here goes for Daisy!" chuckled Tod, at the same time pointingthe _Skyrocket_ earthward so sharply that it made Jerry gasp. Down,down they shot, the black underneath seeming to be rushing up to crushthem. At the last Tod managed to lessen their slant, but even then theystruck the ground with a force that almost overturned the machine. Overthe rough ground the landing wheels jolted, but slower and slower. Afinal disrupting jar, and they stopped dead.
Not so the object they had struck. With a wild squeal of fear poorDaisy struggled to her feet and went tearing out of sight and hearingat better speed than she had shown for years.
"That'll bring dad on the jump," declared Jerry, climbing painfullyfrom his seat. "Say, to-morrow I'm going to take a good look at thisrod I've been holding to; I'll bet it shows fingermarks."
"What's the meaning of that rumpus out there?" demanded a stern voice.
"Oh, dad--we need you the worst way."
"That you, Jerry? What in tarnation you up to anyhow?"
"We're not up any longer--we're glad to get back to earth."
"Eh?" said Mr. Ring, perplexed, as he came up to them. "What ye drivingat? What was that thing that just sailed over the house? Did you seeit? I heard Daisy going on out here like the devil before day--or wasit you two who were pestering her? What's that contraption you'resitting on?"
"The same thing that just sailed over, dad," laughed Jerry, then,unable to hold in any longer: "We came from Lost Island in Mr. Fulton'saeroplane that he's just invented, and there's robbers in Mr. Fulton'shouse, and we want you to get a gun and Mr. Bignold and all theneighbors, and go down and get them!" Jerry stopped, but only becausehe was out of breath.
"Get them? Who are _them?_ And what in thunder you two doing in anaero----" "Oh, dad," Jerry almost screamed in his fear that delay mightmake them too late, "don't stop to ask questions. Let's get to thehouse and Tod can be telephoning while I tell you what it's all about."He caught hold of his father's arm to hurry him along. "There are twomen breaking into Mr. Fulton's safe this minute, most likely, and wemustn't let them get away."
"Well, what in thunder's Fulton got in a safe that any robber wouldwant?" grumbled Mr. Ring, but stepping briskly along nevertheless. "Twomen, you say? Guess Bignold and I can handle them. I've got my oldhorse-pistol--if it doesn't blow out backwards."
They had reached the house, and Tod went in to telephone, while Mr.Ring went upstairs to get his revolver, which, instead of being a horsepistol, was an automatic of the latest type. Jerry stopped him for amoment at the stair door. "I'm going ahead. I'll be just outside thegate over yonder, keeping an eye on the place to see they don't getaway." He was gone before Mr. Ring could object.
But the house was dark and silent. Not a sign of unwelcome visitors wasto be seen. All the windows were tightly closed; both doors were shut.Jerry felt uncomfortable. Suppose there was no one there--had been noone there? The two men would roast him and Tod unmercifully. He heard alight step on the walk behind him and turned, expecting his father. Hiswords of greeting died in his throat.
Two men, looking unbelievably big and threatening in the darkness, werealmost upon him. He tried to shout for help. His tongue seemedparalyzed and his throat refused to give out a sound. Jerry was scaredstiff. He knew at once that these two were the men they had come tocapture, and somehow he had a feeling that they knew _that_, too.
Not a word was said. Jerry had backed up against the gatepost, hisfists doubled up at his sides.
The two pressed in close against him. He felt powerful hands reachingout to crush the life out of him, but still he made no outcry. Then oneof them spoke.
"You came in the airship?"
Jerry started, for the man's English was perfect, though heavy andforeign sounding in an unexplainable way. He repeated his question whenthe boy did not answer at once.
"Yes--yes," stammered Jerry, hoping that perhaps he might gain time.
"You came alone?" insinuated the same speaker as before, but now anominous note of threat in his voice.
Jerry was in a quandary. He realized that if he told them that he hadcome alone, that they would kill him. On the other hand, if he toldthem the truth, they would get away.
"Answer!" commanded the man, catching Jerry by the throat and shakinghim till the back of Jerry's eyeballs seemed to be red, searing flames.A sudden rage came over him, numbed as h
e was by the pressure on hiswindpipe. With a mighty wrench he freed himself. Kicking out with allhis might, he caught the farther man full in the pit of the stomach. Hefell, all doubled up. But the man who had choked Jerry, laughedscornfully as lie caught the boy's arms and gave the one a twist thatalmost tore it from its socket.
"More spirit than brains," he laughed derisively. "I'll break you intwo over my knee if you make another break like that."
"You'll kindly put up your hands in the meanwhile," suggested apleasant but firm voice which Jerry could hardly recognize as that ofhis father. "I think I'll take a little hand in this game myself."
"Look out, dad--there's one on the ground!" warned Jerry. "I kicked himin the stomach."
"Pleasant way to treat visitors. Why didn't you invite them into thehouse, son? Oblige me, gentlemen." He waved his automatic in thegeneral direction of the Fulton front porch. "I'd ask you to my ownhouse, but, you know, womenfolks----"
Jerry stepped out of the way. His assailant passed him and turned to goin the gateway. Then something happened, just what, Jerry was not sure.Afterwards it developed that he had been picked up bodily and hurledfull at his father. Mr. Ring went down like a tenpin when the ball hitsdead-center. As he fell, his finger pressed the trigger and six roaringshots flashed into the air. When father and son regained their feet,they had a last dim glimpse of two forms in rapid flight. Then thedarkness swallowed them up.
"We bungled it," said Mr. Ring, ruefully feeling of a certain soft spotin his body where Jerry's weight had landed.
"And here come Tod--and Chief Bignold, just a minute too late."
"Hi there, Mr. Ring," called the burly constable. "What is it--a riot?"
"A massacre, but all the victims escaped. Two blooming foreignerstrying to steal an airship out of Mr. Fulton's safe down there in hiscellar--wasn't that what you said, boys?"
The boys tried to explain, but both men seemed to insist on taking thewhole affair as a joke, though they talked it over seriously enoughwhen the youngsters were out of hearing. Tod opened the door and letthem inside the house, but did not go in himself, motioning to Jerry tostay beside him.
"You two youngsters chase along over to the house and tell Mrs. Ring togive you your nursing bottles and put you to bed."
"Huh," snorted Tod, "we daren't leave the _Skyrocket_ unguarded."
"Why it's Fulton's kid," exclaimed Bignold, for the first timerecognizing him. "Say, you tell your dad that he's been stirring upthis town till it's wild with excitement. Three telegrams this day, notto mention a special delivery letter that they've been hunting all overthe country for him with. And on top of that, an important little manwith brass buttons and shoulder-straps, struttin' all over the placeand askin' everybody if he's Mr. Fulton, the inventor. When'd your dadget to be an inventor?"
"Well, he had to be born sometime," answered Tod dryly.
"Eh? Well, you'd best tell that same little busy-bee where your fathercan be found. And the telegrams; don't forget them."
"I won't," answered Tod, starting off toward town on the run. "Watchthe old _Skyrocket_ till I get back, will you, Jerry?" and he was gone.
* * * * * * *
Two stiff, sleepy, disgusted boys sat up in their nest of blankets andlooked at each other through the framework of the _Skyrocket_ nextmorning at something like seven o'clock.
"And you said you wouldn't go to sleep," each said slowly andaccusingly to the other, then both grinned sheepishly.
"Oh, well, the machine's still here, so why grouch over a couple hours'sleep?" Tod defended. "Huh--I suppose not. But I'll bet dad had a goodlaugh over us when he came down here about breakfast time. What's thatpinned to your blanket?"
Tod crawled out of his nest and pulled loose the scrap of paper thathad been pinned in the region of his big toe.
"It's a note. Want to hear it? It says, 'Mother Ring tells me pancakesare ready for you when you've finished your guard-mount. Signed--ABurglar.' That's sure one on us."
It was scant justice that the two did to breakfast that morning. Fourtelegrams were burning holes in Tod's pockets; he could hardly keepfrom tearing them open, so curious was he to know their contents. Eventhe newspaper that Mrs. King brought in and laid beside their plates,could not entirely hold their attention, in spite of the startling newsheadlined on the front page. "BREAK WITH GERMANY--U. S. on Verge ofBeing Drawn Into World War."
"We'll take it with us and read it after we get there. No--not anothercake, Mrs. Ring. Excuse us, please--we've got to go."
"It seems a shame----" began Tod, when they were once more outside,then asked abruptly: "Willing to take a licking, Jerry?"
"And go back on the _Skyrocket_? Did you think we were going any otherway? And leave the machine here for anybody to come along and studyout--or steal? Not much! I'll take a dozen lickings!"
But he didn't. When the _Skyrocket_ finally circled about Lost Islandand settled down over the narrow landing field as easily as a homingpigeon, to come to a stop with hardly a jar, it was bringing news toMr. Fulton that was bound to soften the heart of any dad.
Tod's father was out in front of the little cabin, a bit pale andshaky, but cheerful. His face lighted up wonderfully when he saw the_Skyrocket_ aground and the two boys safe. He tried to rise to greetthem, but had to be satisfied to wave his hand instead. The two boyscame running over to where he sat, eager to tell their story.
"What's happened?" Mr. Fulton asked excitedly before they could begin.He was pointing at the newspaper Jerry had been waving wildly as theyraced across the open.
"War--maybe--with Germany! But we've more important news than that--forus just now, at least. Telegrams--four of them--look. And an officer'sbeen looking for you----"
"Police?" asked Mr. Fulton gravely.
"Army!" exploded Tod and Jerry together. "Bet it's about the----"
They paused, for Mr. Fulton was not listening to them. He had torn oneof the telegraph envelopes open and was reading the brief message, hisface going first red and then white.
"What's all the excitement?" demanded a slow voice in which there was atrace of resentment. It was Mr. Harris, who had appeared in the doorwayof the cabin.
"Nothing much," answered Mr. Fulton. "Nothing at all. In fact, theexcitement's all over. I'm certainly very glad that you balkedyesterday on buying that 'pig in a poke,' my dear baronet. It seems,"flapping the opened telegram against his other hand, "it seems, my verydear sir, that the American government, being confronted by a situationwhich bears more than a promise of war, has offered to buy the ideaswhich are embodied in the _Skyrocket_."
"Hooray for Uncle Sammy!" shouted Tod.
All the boys had come crowding around, slapping Tod and Jerry wildly onthe back and cheering till their throats were hoarse. It was fully fiveminutes before anyone could make himself heard above the din. FinallyMr. Fulton raised his hand for a chance to be heard, and after onerousing shout of "Three cheers for the Scouts of the Air!" the noisycrew quieted down.
"Phil asked me one day if I'd promise you all a front seat at thecircus and a ride on the elephant. Well, I'm going to keep my word,I've got a piece of timber about forty miles up the river from here,and on it there's a log cabin and one of the greatest little oldfishing lakes in the country. I'm going to take you all up there for amonth of the best sport you ever had."
"Bully for you, dad!" shouted Tod, then turned to Jerry with:
"And while we're there, what say we learn the first principles of BoyScouting, so that when we get back to Watertown we can organize apatrol of----"
"The Boy Scouts of the Air!" finished Dave and Frank and Jerry in abreath.
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