The Boy Aviators' Flight for a Fortune

. Frank had set the alarm clock for midnight, when it had been arranged that he and Billy were to turn out on patrol, and its insistent clamor had on

eems to me that we are making a lot of fuss over nothing, Frank.

happened to Dr. Perkins' invention now it would be almost im

Frank had prepared while they were dressing, and then set out into the ni

ey should hear the footsteps of one of the young sentries. They had not long to wait. Hardly fifteen minutes had elapsed before Frank's sharp ears

Harry?" h

aculated Frank with

gularly, and the last three times

n in the darkness, but all his alarm

have becom

cided to look over the motor boa

y had been beached. A moment later he stumbled over the anchor and, closely following th

e exclaimed apprehensively, "ther

at do you mean?" gasped

nd taken Harry along with them. I can't think of any o

ried off?" The question

lanation. Pudge, did you hear a

a sound. Let's fire a pistol

d idea, Pudge

y Barnes, as Frank broke off short

get a light. There! Now, see all his oute

rass hoppers, if th

burst out Billy, "but if he wasn't, ho

adful fear into his mind. What if the boy had heard a disturbance on the hulk or on the motor b

ghts were by far too unnerving to be dwelt on. The others remained silen

as he could command. "Let's fire three shots-the signal we agreed upon-and t

, and Pudge, taking Harry's discarded weapon, fired it three

voice. Once more three sharp reports s

"something has happened to Harry. We must

dinghy's g

g to swim

balk of timber which they sometimes used to tie the dinghy to. Frank

g out there," he said; "the water's prett

" urged Billy; "it won't be

ut him shor

id in a sharp, decisive voice, "and I'm g

imber before him and heading, as nearly as he knew how, for

ain. Then he reappeared, chilled through and shivering in every

gone!" he

and Pudge simultaneously. They guessed by s

repeated Frank; "the Betsy

nquired Billy, unwilling to believe the exte

"I cruised about on my log for quite a radius, and couldn't discover a sign of

ners and succotash! The Be

ut I wouldn't care about either if I

it over," said Billy, who saw that Frank, besides being almos

as to the fate of the missing boy. All three of the lads were pretty sure that the two Daniels had

at he expected to arrive that afternoon at Motthaven, and wished them to meet him. Frank f

the reply through the air; "make the best of it till I co

scover, if possible, some trace of the marauders. But none was to be found. The tide had even obliterated any footmarks they might have left

ter at a rapid rate. A quarter of an hour later Dr. Perkins was hearing from the