The Boy Aviators' Flight for a Fortune Part 7

As he spoke there was a flash from the side of the lead-colored craft, and a projectile shrieked by above the pair in the boat, causing them to duck involuntarily.

"Cracky!" shouted Harry, "I've got it. That craft is a derelict destroyer. One of Uncle Sam's craft whose duty it is to put obstructions to navigation out of the way."

"You're right, boy, and they are bent on sending that there _Betsy Jane_ to the bottom."

"We must stop them," e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Harry excitedly; "that schooner is wanted by Mr. Perkins to use in his experiments. That's why he had the runway built. We must signal them somehow."

"No need to, lad. See, here comes a boat."

Sure enough, as he spoke a cutter was lowered from the warlike-looking vessel's side, and before long, impelled by muscular arms, it was flying over the water toward the hulk.

"Pull round and meet them," suggested Harry.

But Ben was already doing that very thing. So fast did the government cutter approach that just as the skiff was rounding the stern of the ill-used _Betsy Jane_, the former craft, with a dapper young officer in the stern, was drawing alongside the hulk.

The astonishment of the officer was great when Harry explained matters.

"It's lucky that I decided to make an examination into the effect of the shots already fired before I finished her up," he laughed. "I am in command of the United States derelict destroyer _Seneca_, yonder. We've just despatched an old hulk some miles out at sea, and when, on our return down the coast, we saw your old hull, we thought it was a good chance to try out a new kind of gun we have to despatch these menaces to navigation."

"I'm glad we heard your first shot in time to explain matters," said Harry; "this craft belongs to Dr. Perkins, the aeronautical inventor, who wishes to use it in some experiments. As I told you, I unfortunately drifted to sea in it when some rascals cut the rope."

The officer sympathized to the full with Harry and offered to give him a spark plug for his motor boat from a supply carried for a similar craft on board the _Seneca_.

"But," he continued, "I've got a better plan than that. I'm bound down the coast. I know Dr. Perkins slightly and should be glad to do him a service. Why not accept a tow from me? I'll get you to Brig Island by nightfall anyway, and that's much quicker than you could tow this hulk with the motor boat, even if you _could_ get her off the sand."

Harry gladly agreed to this arrangement. A line was made fast to the _Betsy Jane_ and affixed to the towing bitts of the derelict destroyer.

The tide by this time had turned, and after a short struggle the _Betsy Jane_ once more floated in deep water.

"I don't know if this is exactly regular," remarked the young officer in command, when the hulk lay bobbing astern of the trim and trig government craft, "but I guess it's all in the line of duty. So come on board."

Harry and Ben were in the skiff alongside the _Betsy Jane_ when this offer was made.

Without hesitation Harry stepped upon the companionway. He turned to Ben, and was about to bid that veteran adventurer good-by, with a promise to visit Barren Island in the near future, when, to his astonishment, Ben calmly hitched his skiff alongside the motor boat and stepped up after him.

"I reckon I've had about enough of that island," he said; "I'm a-goin'

to ship with you on this cruise if it's agreeable."

"Agreeable?" laughed Harry. "Why, Ben, you are as welcome as the flowers in May. But haven't you left a lot of stuff behind on the island?"

"Nothing that 'ull hurt. The only other suit I own you've got on, and funny enough you look in it, too," and Ben chuckled; "as for the hut and what grub's left, and so forth, any one's welcome to 'em that takes a fancy to 'em. I've got a bit left in the bank yet, and I guess I can afford a new outfit anyway, so heave ahead, Mister Skipper, as soon as you're ready."

The officer, who had watched this scene in some astonishment, broke into a laugh.

"I see you are an individual of impulse," he said, "but if you want to go along it will spare my sending a man on board the schooner to help our young friend."

"Waal, then, it's an arrangement that's agreeable to all parties,"

rejoined Ben, lighting his pipe; "so that's all settled."

A short time later the _Seneca_ moved ahead, at first slowly, and then faster, while the wandering _Betsy Jane_ followed docilely after her through the now calm sea. True to Lieut. MacAllister's promise, they were off Brig Island by sunset. As deep water extended close insh.o.r.e, the derelict destroyer was enabled to tow the hulk almost up to the boys' "front door," so to speak, and from the beach a little group set up a loud cheer as the _Betsy Jane's_ spare anchor rattled down and she swung at rest.

The presence of the little party to witness the arrival is due to the fact that Lieut. MacAllister, who knew from Harry that there was a wireless on the island, had kept his operator busy sending "bulletins"

to Dr. Perkins all the way down the coast; and so, when first the _Seneca's_ smoke streaked the horizon, all was ready to give the returned wanderer a big reception.

The _Betsy Jane_, having been safely anch.o.r.ed, the _Seneca_, with three toots of her siren, departed on her way, while Harry and Ben lost no time in tumbling into the skiff and rowing ash.o.r.e. To describe what took place then would take up a lot of s.p.a.ce without giving any clearer picture of the reunion that each of you can imagine for himself.

Readers of the former volumes of this series know how highly the Boy Aviators regarded Ben Stubbs, and after a short conversation with him Dr. Perkins came to share their good opinion of the rugged old adventurer. It would be impossible to tell with accuracy how many times that night Harry's story was told, and how many times Frank and the others repeated the tale of their anxious hours while he was missing.

The first wireless flash from the _Seneca_, Frank described as "the best thing that ever happened." This opinion the others heartily echoed.

"Well," said Dr. Perkins, as at last they made ready to "turn in," "all is well that ends well, and to-morrow I have an announcement of some interest to make to you lads. From my inspection of the work done so far on the '_Sea Eagle_,' as I have decided to christen her, I think that within a few days we can take her on her trial trip."

"Anchors and aeroplanes!" shouted Pudge, in high glee, "I book pa.s.sage right now!"

"And I-and I-and I," came from the others, while Ben Stubbs inquired plaintively if there would be room for him.

CHAPTER IX.-THE FLIGHT OF THE "SEA EAGLE."

Having already given a brief description of Dr. Perkins' _Sea Eagle_, it would be wearisome to dwell in detail on all that was done during the next week to put that craft in shape for the final tests, upon which so much depended. It may be said here, though, that besides a visit paid to Motthaven in an effort to secure the apprehension of the two Daniels, a search was prosecuted for the missing dinghy. Neither mission proved successful.

The Daniels, having discovered that Harry was on board the _Betsy Jane_ after they cut that craft loose, had vanished from the little community.

As for the dinghy, it was supposed that they had taken that small craft with them. At any rate, it was impossible to get any news of their whereabouts on sh.o.r.e. This may be attributed to a distinct prejudice felt by the fishing community against the dwellers on Brig Island. Your down-easter is inquisitive to a degree, and the secrecy under which operations on the island were carried on was felt as a distinct affront to the little town. So therefore, although the local authorities promised every co-operation in seeking out the Daniels and punishing them for their outrageous conduct, it may be doubted if the efforts went much further than the mere a.s.surance.

But after all, in the rush of interesting work that was now on hand, the Daniels were almost forgotten. The _Betsy Jane_ had been towed round into the nearer cove, where she could be constantly watched, and the motor boat was used in the operation, the officer of the derelict destroyer having fulfilled his promise to furnish the boys with a new spark plug for the engine in place of the one taken by the marauders.

The morning after Harry's return to the island Dr. Perkins had laid down a systematic plan of action. Frank and Harry were a.s.signed to aid him in giving the finishing touches to the _Sea Eagle_, while his son and Billy Barnes were set to work with axes to clear a sort of runway down to the beach. Both Billy and Pudge would much rather have had a hand in the mechanical part of the work, but they pluckily went ahead on their designated duty and stuck to it till a broad path had been cleared from the summit of the island to the margin of the beach.

When this "roadway" through the brush had been cleared, two lines of planking, firmly nailed to stout supports, were run down on each side of it, forming a sort of railway, similar to those from which vessels are launched.

It was down this runway that it was designed to introduce the _Sea Eagle_ to her initial plunge. At last the day arrived when all was complete, and the _Sea Eagle_ was p.r.o.nounced fit for the test. During the night before this event not one of the boys got more than half his usual allowance of sleep. In fact, it is doubtful if Dr. Perkins enjoyed much more repose.

By earliest dawn they were out, to find every promise of a glorious day.

Breakfast that morning was a hasty apology for a meal, and hardly had it been gulped down before all hands were in the _Sea Eagle's_ shed. As has been said, the boat-like underbody of the craft had been mounted on a wheeled frame before it was a.s.sembled. All that had to be done then to get everything in readiness for the final test was to make fast a block and tackle to a stoutly rooted tree, and then wheel the _Sea Eagle_ to the top of the inclined runway.

When the odd-looking craft was safely poised on the top of the rails the loose end of the tackle was made fast to the stern of the substructure, and Billy, Pudge and Harry were delegated to "belay" the rope as required. Frank and Dr. Perkins seated themselves in the "boat," and at the words "Let her go!" the _Sea Eagle_ in her wheeled frame began her descent down the runway. By means of the tackle the three boys at the summit of the incline easily controlled the novel craft's descent, stopping from time to time while Dr. Perkins and Frank made a survey to see that all was going well.

"Bunting and b.u.t.tercakes!" grumbled Pudge, as the boys alternately "let go" and "hauled in" on the tackle, "I thought a launching was more of a gala event than this."

"I guess the doctor is too anxious to test out the _Sea Eagle_ to bother with the tr.i.m.m.i.n.gs," laughed Harry; "it's _results_ that he's after."

As a matter of fact, the launching of the _Sea Eagle_ was a very mild affair compared with what might have been expected. Had the villagers ash.o.r.e known of it, doubtless a small fleet of boats would have been lying off the cove to witness it, but it was for that very reason that the deepest secrecy had been observed, and that the early hour had been chosen. As Dr. Perkins said, he "didn't want any fuss and feathers" made over what was merely, after all, an experiment.

The rolling glide down the runway was made without incident, and at last the bow of the _Sea Eagle's_ "hull" struck the water. A cheer went up then that, rang shrill and clear out over the calm sea. Even Dr. Perkins joined in the enthusiasm, as well he might, for the goal of his ambition was in sight at last.

The _Sea Eagle_ had been sent on her initial voyage without the aeroplane wings or the auxiliary lifting bags being attached. It was desired, first of all, to try out her qualities as a water skimmer. As soon as she was fairly afloat, the wheeled carriage on which the descent had been made was drawn ash.o.r.e. Having been weighted before the start was made, it of course sank under the _Sea Eagle_ when the sea and air craft floated, thus allowing it to be reclaimed with ease.

"Looks like a b.u.t.terfly with its wings clipped off," commented Billy Barnes as, with the others, he hastened to the beach as soon as their task was over.