HEADED TOWARD HOME.
Once they struck better roads their progress was much faster. Indeed, it
was not long after the close of that short February day when they
managed to arrive at Dunkirk. The boys did not rest until every part of
the seaplane had once more been stored in the hangar, which they found
just as they had left it, a cordon of soldiers still guarding it.
Tired after that most exciting day, the boys prepared supper. Frank
asked M'sieu to join them, but the French aviator explained that he had
his report to make out, so that the Government might complete the
bargain on the next day.
"I shall never forget you, my brave boys," he assured them in parting.
"I have seen many experienced pilots handle their craft, but on my honor
I assure you never before have I found one so young display such rare
ability. After once seeing that you were the master of your airship
never once did I fear for my life, or feel that it would better things
if I took the wheel. I wish you every luck in the world; and it is with
deep regret that I say _au revoir_."
"Just to think," remarked Pudge, as later on they sat around and partook
of the supper that had been prepared, "all that's happened since we left
here this A. M."
"It's been a red-letter day in our experience, for a fact," admitted
Frank.
"A glorious try-out," said Billy, "and the _Sea Eagle_ sure behaved
herself in a way to make us proud of our Company. Only for that
unfortunate puncture in the gas tank, we'd have come through without a
single hitch."
"And even that turned out to be not so serious a thing, after all," said
Frank, "though I admit it gave us a little concern at the time. But it
had its compensations, after all, one of which was our meeting with that
fine chap, Captain Marsden."
"Yes," said Pudge proudly, "and I'm glad to announce that my knees are
not so badly scraped as I thought they were. I think I deserve a whole
lot of praise for making that long creep so well. It wasn't much to you
fellows, but a different proposition to one of my shape."
"We'll give you all the credit going, Pudge," said Billy magnanimously.
"But, Frank, we ought to get the plane rigged up again the first thing
in the morning, oughtn't we?"
"Not thinking of another flight over the battlefields, are you?" asked
the fat chum, looking concerned again.
"No, we're through taking all those risks," Frank told him. "But you're
right about that, Billy. They may want us to deliver the plane over to
them tomorrow, and it ought to be in apple-pie condition. I hope to
close the contract, and then we can go back home."
"Leaving the one sample machine," demanded Billy, "and allowing the
French Government to manufacture a certain number of others, paying our
company a royalty on every seaplane built along the lines of our
patents?"
"That about covers the case," Frank agreed. "Of course, once we receive
our pay, and hand the seaplane over, we have no further interest in what
happens to it, although I'd hate to learn it had met with an accident."
"You think, then, do you, Frank, that the German spies will keep on
trying to steal or destroy the _Sea Eagle_?" asked Billy.
"If they get the chance they certainly will," the other replied. "They
know now that all the wonderful things they heard about it are true, and
that a fleet of aircraft built on those same lines would make
back-numbers of their Zeppelins and Taubes. But, as I said before, let
the French Government do the worrying after the deal is closed."
"But if this machine were blown to smithereens, Frank, our Company would
stand to lose those royalties?" Pudge suggested.
"All of which is true enough, Pudge," Frank told him, "but that's
something we can't remedy, so we'll have to trust to sheer luck."
They passed a quiet night, and morning found them busily engaged in
getting the dismantled seaplane together again. The injuries which it
had suffered in making that descent, thanks to Frank's skillful
piloting, had not proven serious, and so by the time noon came they were
ready to have it looked over by the aviators who might be sent to the
hangar by the officials of the Government.
The glowing report handed in by M. Le Grande must have hurried matters
up considerably, for a little later on several gentlemen made their
appearance. They looked over the big seaplane carefully, and then had
Frank and his chums sign several papers, one of which was a contract on
royalty covering fifty machines which the Government might wish to
construct within a year's time.
Then Frank was given a certified check from the Government, and the
transaction was considered closed.
The boys took away the small bundles they had already packed, and both
hangar and seaplane became from that hour the property of the French
Government.
Going to a hotel, Frank and his chums made all arrangements looking to
crossing over to London on the next day. From there they expected to go
to Liverpool, and take passage on the first steamer sailing for New
York, regardless of the danger from German submarines lurking in the
Irish Sea.
At the time they left the hangar the British soldiers were marching
away, their place being taken by French officers, who were perhaps
secret service men, or detectives. It looked as though every possible
precaution were being taken to safeguard the wonderful seaplane of which
so much was expected.
As they had planned, the three boys got away on the following day, and
reached London in safety. No sign was seen of any hostile undersea
vessel during the short trip across to English shores.
In London they found that they would have several days on their hands
before they could sail from Liverpool, so they concluded to spend the
interval watching the sights in the great British metropolis in war
times, so different from the old life known to all travelers.
It was on the second morning after arriving there that Billy, who had
gone down to get a paper, while his chums were finishing dressing, came
bursting into their room again with his face white, and a printed sheet
held in his trembling hand.
"What ails you?" demanded Pudge, in a shivery way. "I hope now Germany
hasn't declared war on the poor old United States over night?"
"Frank, they got her after all!" gasped Billy.
"Do you mean the _Sea Eagle_?" cried the other in dismay.
"Yes," continued the excited Billy, "here's an account of how in the
middle of the night a sudden shock was felt in Dunkirk. People thought
it must be those Taubes back again bombarding the town, and lots of them
hurried down into their cyclone cellars. But it was found that an
aëroplane hangar just outside the place had been blown to pieces with a
bomb that had either been placed underneath or dropped from some
airship."
"All gone?" asked Frank.
"Blown to pieces, and they tell that it is feared several French guards
lost their lives in the bargain. They don't say much about it, except
that the hangar contained a new seaplane the Government had just
purchased from an American firm owning the patents, and that as it was
utterly destroyed, the loss would be complete."
"Whew!" cried Pudge. "Say, I'm glad it was out of our hands when this
happened."
"For a good many reasons, too," added Frank. "We might have gone up with
the hangar and the _Sea Eagle_ if we'd been there."
"No, sir, I don't believe it would have happened as long as Frank
Chester was on deck," said Billy stoutly. "But, Frank, they'll have to
fight this war through now without the help of fifty _Sea Eagles_, won't
they?"
"Just what must happen," replied Frank, "because Dr. Perkins will never
consent to pursuing the matter any further. He would not dream of
supplying patterns to the Allies after this. I'm sorry, and yet at the
same time I must say I feel a bit glad."
"Well, let me tell you," said Pudge, "it's a good thing for the
Germans."
"Yes," Frank went on to say reflectively, "and it will make us feel that
after all we hadn't any business to help one side more than the other.
But it would have been mighty interesting reading for us later on to
learn what great stunts M'sieu Le Grande and forty-nine of his valiant
French comrades were accomplishing with the wonderful seaplanes that
out-classed anything the Germans could match against them."
"Well, anyhow," said Pudge, "after this war is over I can see a rushing
business for the _Sea Eagle Company, Limited_, in France, Germany and
the United Kingdom."
"Unless before that happens we've disposed of our patents to the United
States Government," remarked Frank. "This would be the most patriotic
thing to do. But even if some of our plans failed to come to a fruitful
end, we've certainly had the time of our lives over on this side of the
sea, and the sights we've seen will never be forgotten."
While Frank and his two chums linger in London, waiting for the
announcement of the sailing day of the steamer that is to take them
home, we will have to say good-by, and leave them there. Such
venturesome lads are certain to undertake still further enterprises as
time passes, and we can only hope that it may be our pleasant duty to
chronicle these happenings for the benefit of the boy readers who have
faithfully followed them through scenes of danger and stress in the
past, as recorded in previous volumes in this Series.
THE END.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOY AVIATORS' SERIES
BY CAPTAIN WILBUR LAWTON
Absolutely Modern Stories for Boys
Cloth Bound Price 50¢, per volume
The Boy Aviators in Nicaragua
Or, Leagued With Insurgents
The launching of this Twentieth Century series marks the inauguration of
a new era in boys' books--the "wonders of modern science" epoch. Frank
and Harry Chester, the BOY AVIATORS, are the heroes of this exciting,
red-blooded tale of adventure by air and land in the turbulent Central
American republic. The two brothers with their $10,000 prize aeroplane,
the GOLDEN EAGLE, rescue a chum from death in the clutches of the
Nicaraguans, discover a lost treasure valley of the ancient Toltec race,
and in so doing almost lose their own lives in the Abyss of the White
Serpents, and have many other exciting experiences, including being
blown far out to sea in their air-skimmer in a tropical storm. It would
be unfair to divulge the part that wireless plays in rescuing them from
their predicament. In a brand new field of fiction for boys the Chester
brothers and their aeroplane seem destined to fill a top-notch place.
These books are technically correct, wholesomely thrilling and geared up
to third speed.
Sold by Booksellers Everywhere
HURST & CO. Publishers NEW YORK
------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOY AVIATORS' SERIES
BY CAPTAIN WILBUR LAWTON
Absolutely Modern Stories for Boys
Cloth Bound Price 50¢, per volume
The Boy Aviators on Secret Service
Or, Working With Wireless
In this live-wire narrative of peril and adventure, laid in the
Everglades of Florida, the spunky Chester Boys and their interesting
chums, including Ben Stubbs, the maroon, encounter exciting experiences
on Uncle Sam's service in a novel field. One must read this vivid,
enthralling story of incident, hardship and pluck to get an idea of the
almost limitless possibilities of the two greatest inventions of modern
times--the aeroplane and wireless telegraphy. While gripping and holding
the reader's breathless attention from the opening words to the finish,
this swift-moving story is at the same time instructive and uplifting.
As those readers who have already made friends with Frank and Harry
Chester and their "bunch" know, there are few difficulties, no matter
how insurmountable they may seem at first blush, that these up-to-date
gritty youths cannot overcome with flying colors. A clean-cut, real
boys' book of high voltage.
Sold by Booksellers Everywhere
HURST & CO. Publishers NEW YORK
------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOY AVIATORS' SERIES
BY CAPTAIN WILBUR LAWTON
Absolutely Modern Stories for Boys
Cloth Bound Price 50¢, per volume
The Boy Aviators in Africa
Or, An Aerial Ivory Trail
In this absorbing book we meet, on a Continent made famous by the
American explorer Stanley, and ex-President Roosevelt, our old friends,
the Chester Boys and their stalwart chums. In Africa--the Dark
Continent--the author follows in exciting detail his young heroes, their
voyage in the first aeroplane to fly above the mysterious forests and
unexplored ranges of the mystic land. In this book, too, for the first
time, we entertain Luther Barr, the old New York millionaire, who proved
later such an implacable enemy of the boys. The story of his defeated
schemes, of the astonishing things the boys discovered in the Mountains
of the Moon, of the pathetic fate of George Desmond, the emulator of
Stanley, the adventure of the Flying Men and the discovery of the
Arabian Ivory cache,--this is not the place to speak. It would be
spoiling the zest of an exciting tale to reveal the outcome of all these
episodes here. It may be said, however, without "giving away" any of the
thrilling chapters of this narrative, that Captain Wilbur Lawton, the
author, is in it in his best vein, and from his personal experiences in
Africa has been able to supply a striking background for the adventures
of his young heroes. As one newspaper says of this book: "Here is
adventure in good measure, pressed down and running over."
Sold by Booksellers Everywhere
HURST & CO. Publishers NEW YORK
------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOY AVIATORS' SERIES
BY CAPTAIN WILBUR LAWTON
Absolutely Modern Stories for Boys
Cloth Bound Price 50¢, per volume
The Boy Aviators' Treasure Quest
Or, The Golden Galleon
Everybody is a boy once more when it comes to the question of hidden
treasure. In this book, Captain Lawton has set forth a hunt for gold
that is concealed neither under the sea nor beneath the earth, but is
well hidden for all that. A garrulous old sailor, who holds the key to
the mystery of the Golden Galleon, plays a large part in the development
of the plot of this fascinating narrative of treasure hunting in the
region of the Gulf Stream and the Sagasso Sea. An aeroplane fitted with
efficient pontoons--enabling her to skim the water successfully--has
long been a dream of aviators. The Chester Boys seem to have solved the
problem. The Sagasso, that strange drifting ocean within an ocean,
holding ships of a dozen nations and a score of ages, in its relentless
grip, has been the subject of many books of adventure and mystery, but
in none has the secret of the ever shifting mass of treacherous currents
been penetrated as it has in the BOY AVIATORS' TREASURE QUEST. Luther
Barr, whom it seemed the boys had shaken off, is still on their trail,
in this absorbing book and with a dirigible balloon, essays to beat them
out in their search for the Golden Galleon. Every boy, every man--and
woman and girl--who has ever felt the stirring summons of adventure in
their souls, had better get hold of this book. Once obtained, it will be
read and re-read till it falls to rags.
Sold by Booksellers Everywhere
HURST & CO. Publishers NEW YORK
------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOY AVIATORS' SERIES
BY CAPTAIN WILBUR LAWTON
Absolutely Modern Stories for Boys
Cloth Bound Price 50¢, per volume
The Boy Aviators in Record Flight
Or, The Rival Aeroplane
The Chester Boys in new field of endeavor--an attempt to capture a
newspaper prize for a trans-continental flight. By the time these lines
are read, exactly such an offer will have been spread broadcast by one
of the foremost newspapers of the country. In the Golden Eagle, the
boys, accompanied by a trail-blazing party in an automobile, make the
dash. But they are not alone in their aspirations. Their rivals for the
rich prize at stake try in every way that they can to circumvent the
lads and gain the valuable trophy and monetary award. In this they stop
short at nothing, and it takes all the wits and resources of the Boy
Aviators to defeat their devices. Among the adventures encountered in
their cross-country flight, the boys fall in with a band of rollicking
cow-boys--who momentarily threaten serious trouble--are attacked by
Indians, strike the most remarkable town of the desert--the "dry" town
of "Gow Wells," encounter a sandstorm which blows them into strange
lands far to the south of their course, and meet with several amusing
mishaps beside. A thoroughly readable book. The sort to take out behind
the barn on the sunny side of the haystack, and, with a pocketful of
juicy apples and your heels kicking the air, pass happy hours with
Captain Lawton's young heroes.
Sold by Booksellers Everywhere
HURST & CO. Publishers NEW YORK
------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOY AVIATORS' SERIES
BY CAPTAIN WILBUR LAWTON
Absolutely Modern Stories for Boys
Cloth Bound Price 50¢, per volume
The Boy Aviators Polar Dash
Or, Facing Death in the Antarctic
If you were to hear that two boys, accompanying a South Polar expedition
in charge of the aeronautic department, were to penetrate the Antarctic
regions--hitherto only attained by a few daring explorers--you would
feel interested, wouldn't you? Well, in Captain Lawton's latest book,
concerning his Boy Aviators, you can not only read absorbing adventure
in the regions south of the eightieth parallel, but absorb much useful
information as well. Captain Lawton introduces--besides the original
characters of the heroes--a new creation in the person of Professor
Simeon Sandburr, a patient seeker for polar insects. The professor's
adventures in his quest are the cause of much merriment, and lead once
or twice to serious predicaments. In a volume so packed with incident
and peril from cover to cover--relieved with laughable mishaps to the
professor--it is difficult to single out any one feature; still, a
recent reader of it wrote the publishers an enthusiastic letter the
other day, saying: "The episodes above the Great Barrier are thrilling,
the attack of the condors in Patagonia made me hold my breath, the--but
what's the use? The Polar Dash, to my mind, is an even more entrancing
book than Captain Lawton's previous efforts, and that's saying a good
deal. The aviation features and their technical correctness are by no
means the least attractive features of this up-to-date creditable
volume."
Sold by Booksellers Everywhere
HURST & CO. Publishers NEW YORK
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transcriber's Notes:
1. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.
2. Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation in the original document
have been preserved.
3. Underscores indicate text originally in printed in italics.