The Air Mystery of Isle La Motte

lized that something catastrophic was taking place in the air a

tense and rigid as they sat for a paralyzed instant staring through the darkness toward that fla

raced toward that flaming, careening plane. With lightning rapidity the boy calculated to a nicety the speed of the doomed mail-plane, and into both their brains flashed the ghastly question as to the sort of spot on to which she was making

streak of brightness, and in a minute she was above her falling fellow. The altimeter read three thousand feet, so Bob climbed higher, circled when he was sure he would have the grade he wanted, then, tipping the nos

tepped over the rim of the cock-pit. He seemed as cool as if he were doing a stunt at a fair-ground. A moment later he waved again, then jumped into space, making as wide a le

ht he had in an effort to pick out a landing place. One thing they were positive of, they were not over a village,

g out like sentinels. At five hundred feet Bob pulled Her Highness out of the mad drop, leveled off and circled in swift short turns. He maintained the height, and the two looked over the side. Presently they saw the pilot dropping toward them

d anxiously at the work of destruction, then looked up to And the pilot, but he gasped with dismay as he discovered that the fellow was over trees and seemed unable to spill enough air to guide

ut a rope. In fact they would have felt as if they were not fully dressed, so now long lariats were

of the plane," the pilot shout

down," Jim said quickly to his brother. "

tarted to save the mail or as much of it a

way to get onto the branch, but if I s

some garment and hampering. He stood away on a slight knoll, gave the lariat a few expert turns, th

Buddy," the

revent the lariat from tangling with the branches, but luckily the tree was a yellow pine, and one side of its trunk had only a few short stubs. The boy went like a monkey and was soon a few feet higher tha

oesn't smash,"

parachute. I'll make a hitch her

will hold

ood green

forward to watch. The pilot released himself from the straps, then eased himself by hanging on with one hand. Finally he let go, and swun

l O

to the ground was much simpler than making the ascent, and presently

" he w

re all out of the compartment, and none too soon, for the flames had gained great he

hose, and in a few minutes the blaze was extinguished. The darkness seemed to settle about them more thickly than ever, but the light from

little bus,"

here can we

r. Her Highness would certainly carry the three of them and some freight, but whether she was capable of suc

might stay here,"

ess had never been pressed into service for such an emergency and he was determined to leave nothing behind if that could be avoided. The mail man was already dragging bags from

ere," Bob offered

ed Her Highness through her latest hazard and must be fagged. "Pile in." He took a moment to inspect th

don't know what a relief it was to see you tearing to help me. Had an idea tha

a mile over, so of course we came back," Jim replied

usly close to the trees, then began to climb. That part accomplished, Austin was relieved, and he concentrated on the long grill ahead of him. He wished that he had discussed the course with this man who must know every inch of air along his route, but the whole affair had taken but a short time. The excitement

nothing on the way which would add to their difficulties. He thought of the Fentons. They were early birds and probably in bed long ago, but Bob's aunt was a nervous woman and she might not sleep soundly because of their absence. They could let her know from Albany what was delaying them, but that might only add to

to go higher, Jim nodded that he understood, so began to climb. They were fifteen thousand feet when he got the signal to level off. Then he pointed to the speaking tube, and the pilot nodded that he would use it if he had anything to say. One o'clock came, and one-thirty.

ome. As he glided down he noticed men looking at him curiously. He decided that they expected the

thing of

ld Timer," Mas

sighted, and we've been on pins and needles ever since

gsters." Mason prepared to hop out, and he turned to

en visiting relatives in Vermont," Jim explained. By that time Bo

You want to bunk here

supply of gas. I'm not sure I have enou

as accomplished with efficiency, but the boys had to shake hands with a lot of relieved pilots who were grateful that one of their num

ilot, old man

sleep back ther

licate controls. Thoug

f I get so my eyes won't stay open. I'll wake

aved his hand, and Jim nodded. Taking off on the drome was simple, and in

back toward the northern part of Vermont, Bob's head nodded and finally dropped forward as sleep overtook him. Jim grinne

he first streaks of dawn were softening the sky before the Fenton Cove met his tired vision. With a whistle of relief that at

n's tone was distressed. Then B

didn't you let me do pa

d added to his step-brother, "I'll let you have

rrangement was entirely satisfactory to Jim, and in five minutes he was in their room, in ten minutes he was stretched out

, Old

self. What

did you notice the l

looming thing. Is

o'clock. I'd thought of going over today and have a t

se

cotton up to

ou could

ed under those trees yesterday when we were going over. I've been wondering what he was d

"Did your Aunt think we had fl

and she saw the beds-then she got scared for fair and came flying down stairs. Abo

p the stairs and they both closed their eyes tight, then began

aren't ready to have something to ea

," they

guess you did more than Bob told me." She looked reproachfully at her nephew and shook her finger. "Now, hustle up-I've got huckleberry pie-" They were out of bed before the words were fairly uttered, so s

g slowly forward. The vehicles were every one of them piled high with household effects and the people of the island whose homes were already below the danger line, were looking for a safe place to settle until Champlain should recede within bounds. The meal over, the two boys went to the veranda at the back. There was something te

through the water driving his cow, and right behind him, seated on a queer old carriage was his wife driving a horse that lifted his hoofs wearily

something t

d out clumsily, and right behind him came a smaller m

ck of the woods," the

ctive to the prevailing discomfort. The fellow talked and cussed the weather, but the s

" he declared. The big man brought his fist do

e, understand, and I'm going to find them. You can get on the train and go to blazes i

m paralyzed, but he recovered himself in a second, leaped nimbly to the veranda, stepped with amazing swiftness to the window and cautiously peeped in. It was just one brief

then added quickly, "Don't tell me to ask yo