s, without which he seldom made a long distance flight. This was only second nature to him, becaus

couple of ground workers who chanced to be close by, possibly in a

be a simple thing for Jack to taxi across the strip of ground adjoi

that quarter. He could only see that both men were fully equipped with dungarees, helmets, and even chutes fastened to their bac

vements, for he was looking that way through his goggles, that had been pulled down as if in preparation for some species of flight. The o

aking a second look; he failed to have the same interest in the possible sporting excursion of the unk

cockpit of the ship, Jack of course occupying the front seat, since he h

ervice with whatever they need, from means for swift travel to the customary "grub" necessary to their upkeep when "on the road." These air detectives in whom we are particu

t, and now we've just got to put in our best licks along the line of business. Huh! seems like them two guys are meaning to pull out right on our heels, from the lively way that greasy lad is jumping around-ke

ulled the gun in his accustomed careful fashion; after which they started along the level

eady drowned most of the clamor from the surging crowd, while the racket of the whizzing propeller added to the chorus so joyous to the ears of all real air pilots,

eir example, and was already making the preliminary dash across the field-which luckily enough had chanced to be fairly cl

be seen slipping out from certain patches of pine trees ahead. But the higher they climbed, now that a start had b

which were doing the barrel roll, and others making successive somersaults, with the dari

y his course directly for New Orleans. Perk seemed to find a subtle attraction back where they had just c

musement over his shrewd guess. "And say, that little Ryan crate's no slouch 'bout making speed, I'd mention. Come along you sportin' crowd-plenty of room in the ceiling over

l ship, and indulging in all kinds of wild speculations as to what th

at the taking to the air of the shining Ryan boat had the first thing

ng thing I c'n sight back there, 'cept them circlin' buzzards huntin' for a carrion supper. Guess everything's going along first class and we're in for a comfortable night run down over the co

utely impossible to distinguish what lay beneath them some two thousand feet more or less earthward-there might be forests, farms, hills or swales following each other in rapid succession; but all masked by the sable curt

hip that had started off immediately after their own jump,

ld be no possible connection between this Ryan monoplane and their own old bus, bent on reeling off so many miles per hour, and aiming to make t

ng nor losing as the two sped along their way; a fact that began to mak

ur Whirlwind motor. Now what game c'n that pair of sports be playin' right now, I want to know-must be they're so used to bettin' on anyth