OVER THE BOUNDARY LINE
It was with the queerest possible feeling that Andy saw the land
slipping away, and realized that they were at last launched upon the
water part of the voyage.
It seemed as though they had cast loose from their safe moorings, and
were adrift upon an uncharted sea. When comparing his feelings with
other aviators in later times, he learned that every one of them had
experienced exactly similar sensations the first time they passed out of
touch of land, and found the heaving sea alone beneath them. It was a
sort of air intoxication; Andy even called it sea-sickness, though
doubtless most of it came from imagination alone.
"There they go, Frank!" he called out, not ten minutes later.
The land was far behind them now, and still in the other three
directions they saw only the level surface of the great lake.
His exclamation was called out by a sudden change in the method of
advance adopted by those in the leading aeroplane. Instead of keeping
along in a direct line the biplane had uptilted and was now shooting
downward in what seemed a terribly perilous way; just as though the pair
of precious scoundrels had taken a notion to end the pursuit by seeking
a plunge into the water.
But both boys knew differently, and that this was only a volplane,
adopted by experienced and rash aviators as a means of reaching the
lower air currents more rapidly than by slow spirals; or else undertaken
when having engine trouble that threatens destruction.
Frank was ready to follow suit. It would not be the first time by long
odds that the Bird boys had accomplished this speedy method of
descending from high altitudes. There was always an exhilaration about
the clever trick that appealed irresistibly to their natures; though
Frank would never have attempted it unless reasonably sure that the
conditions were favorable for success.
"Hold fast, Andy!" he remarked, quietly.
The hum of the motor suddenly ceased, and with its cessation the
hydroplane was turned head-on toward the surface of the lake, four
thousand feet below.
Down they went, plunging toward what seemed to be instant destruction;
but a steady hand was at the wheel, and the pilot knew just what was
necessary to do at the proper instant in order to bring this rapid
descent to a stop, and right the airship on a level keel.
But there was no time just then to note what the rival aeroplane might
be doing. Whether the experienced airman in charge managed to stop that
downward plunge before reaching the surface of the lake; or failing went
to his death, was a matter that did not concern them now, since they had
their own affairs to look after.
To tell the truth, Andy's heart seemed to be in his throat as they made
the drop. As yet they had never tried out the new hydroplane in a trick
of this sort; and hence really did not know just how it might act;
though Frank must have been pretty confident, else he would never have
attempted it.
Given the choice the Bird boys would easily have decided to descend from
their lofty height by means of the much safer if slower "spirals," each
circle seeing the aeroplane lower than before. But since the reckless
man in the other air craft led the way, Frank had chosen to follow. He
believed that he could accomplish any feat that was possible to Casper
Blue, especially now that the old air navigator had a handicap in the
way of a crippled arm.
The water seemed rushing up to meet them; so it looked to Andy, whose
anxious gaze was fastened upon the lower depths, as they dipped down in
that terrific swoop. But then, he had seen the same thing when over the
land, so that in itself this did not daunt him.
"Oh!"
That exclamation seemed to be forced from Andy's lips when he felt Frank
give a quick turn to the lever that caused the deflecting rudder to
again resume a normal position. The drop of the aeroplane was brought to
a gradual stop, and when immediately afterwards the buzz of the motor
announced that the propelling power was again at work, it was no wonder
that the nervous boy expressed his relief by giving vent to that cry.
There was a world of gratitude back of that word, it can be set down as
certain; for no matter how confident Andy might have been concerning his
cousin's ability to accomplish wonders, the new hydroplane was as yet
untried in many things.
Now he even dared take his awed gaze from the heaving waters beneath the
framework of the aeroplane, and give a thought to those whom they had
chased overland and water for nearly three hours.
"Bully for Casper Blue! He made the riffle too! he's all to the good!"
was the way the impulsive Andy announced his discovery to Frank, who
just then could not spare even a second to take his attention off the
working of the motor.
After all, it was not so very strange that the boy should express
himself in this way. True, the man he was praising was now a criminal,
and they sought to effect his arrest in some manner as yet vague and
uncertain; but it was not in this light Andy viewed him just then. As a
birdsman Casper Blue had proved that he still possessed the nerve and
skill to direct a daring flight, and that all the tricks known to
celebrated fliers were at his finger's ends.
Any one who has risked his life up among the clouds must always respect
such a valiant spirit, even though aware that the object of his
admiration has in other ways forfeited the esteem of all honorable men.
There was the biplane moving along on a level keel, and not more than
two hundred feet above the water. And still the course held due north,
showing that the desperate men who were thus fleeing from arrest had
not the slightest intention of changing their plans.
"What do you think of her now, Andy?" asked the pilot, with a quiver of
pride in his voice.
"You must mean our new craft, I take it, Frank; and I want to say that
she's a real peach, if ever there was one. We never volplaned as easy as
that in our lives, and that's a fact. Why, it was like sliding downhill
on a sled, with never a single bump on the way. I could do that all day,
and never get enough."
"Dangerous business, all the same," remarked Frank; "and doubly so when
you don't happen to be well acquainted with your machine. A single
hitch, and we would have struck the water at a terrible rate."
"But all the same we didn't, Frank," the other went on, jubilantly; for
now that this peril was of the past Andy could be his old self again.
"And they did just as well," remarked Frank, always ready to give
credit, even though it might be to a rival, for his nature was generous
to a fault.
"Well, that biplane was easier to manage than our hydroplane, with the
pontoons underneath," Andy went on to say, grudgingly; for no one could
ever convince him that Frank had his superior as an air pilot; and he
would sooner go up to a record height of fifteen thousand feet in
company with his cousin, than accompany the most famous man living.
"It looks like we might be booked for Canada, Frank," he went on to say,
a minute later, after they had fallen into the new "stride" comfortably,
and were rushing forward on a level stretch, with the surface of the
lake close at hand.
"I shouldn't wonder," came the noncommital reply.
Now, Andy knew his cousin like a book. Perhaps it was something in the
words; or on the other hand there may have been an undercurrent of doubt
in the way Frank spoke, that aroused the other's suspicion.
"What is it, Frank?" he demanded, "for I reckon you see something that
is all a blank to me? Take me in, won't you?"
"Oh! I was wondering what would happen if they had an accident away out
on the lake, that's all," admitted the other.
"Well, in that event I guess it'd be up to the Bird boys to play the
rescuer act for all it was worth. But Frank, do you think this new
machine of ours could climb up off the water with four aboard? Wouldn't
that be the limit?"
"To tell you the truth, Andy, I don't know, because we've never had the
chance to try it out. With only two of us aboard you know how easy she
climbed; three passengers she could hoist, but four might faze her. We
can only wait and see, if ever the chance comes to make the test."
"But you wouldn't hesitate about trying the same, I know, Frank?"
"Of course not," the other remarked, confidently, "and especially when
it might mean life or death to a poor fellow away out here on the lake
miles from land. If we couldn't rise, we might still be able to float
like a duck, and hope that some boat would come to the rescue. In the
end that would be just the same."
"Do you know," said Andy, "I saw a tug pulling out at full speed from
the little city on the shore of the lake, close to where we left land;
and somehow I seem to have an idea they know all about us, and mean to
keep in touch with us as long as they can, to be handy in case of
accident. Perhaps, now, my message was phoned to Bloomsbury; and seeing
about where we must be heading if we kept on a northerly course, they
have wired up here to watch out for us. How about that, Frank; am I
silly to figure that way?"
"I don't see why you should be, Andy. In fact, just as soon as you
mentioned about the tug I began wondering if somehow these good people
didn't know who we were, and what we were chasing after the biplane
for."
They had to speak unusually loud in order to hear, even though their
heads were close together at the time; for the propellers were whirling
with a hiss, and the hum of the motor added to the noise. But then, it
was all a merry racket that chimed in well with the spirit of the young
aviators; and which gave them much the same pleasure that the splash
through the foaming water of a ninety-foot racing yacht must awaken in
the heart of an enthusiastic skipper, when he knows that every sail is
drawing to the limit, and all things are working well.
"Have you figured out what we ought to do if by good luck we all get
over to the other side, safe and sound?" went on Andy.
"We'll have to leave that," was the reply Frank made. "No use crossing a
bridge till you come to it, you know, Andy."
"But they'll be safe then, Frank?" "I'm afraid so, even if I don't
pretend to be up in all the international law connected with the
passing of a thief from United States territory to Canada."
"But ain't that a measly shame?" ejaculated the indignant Andy, "to
think of a robber being able to turn, and put his fingers to his nose
and wiggle 'em at us, just because he happens to cross the boundary
line. It oughtn't to be that way, Frank!"
"Of course not; and I guess lots of abler chaps than you and me have
thought the same; but there it stands, and the two countries won't get
together to change the law even a little bit. Every year dozens of
embezzlers light out across the border for Canada, where they can spend
their money, and start for Europe if they feel like it."
"Then perhaps it's the money they take with 'em that the Canadians like;
though I wouldn't like to believe such a thing," ventured Andy.
"Hardly that; but both countries are jealous about bringing back
political offenders, I've heard Judge Lawson say more than once. But
don't let's talk any more'n we can help, Andy. We've got our hands full
as it is watching those fellows, and keeping ready to match any trick
they try."
This served to give Andy a new cause for concentrating his attention on
the fleeing biplane once more. As yet the pilot of the leading airship
had not diverted from his set course; but if he was as tricky as they
had reason to believe, there was always a chance that he might engineer
some scheme, sooner or later, looking to shaking off his pursuers here
in the middle of the great lake, where possibly no mortal eye could
witness the deed, so as to appear against him later on.
With the wind aft, of course the further they advanced the larger grew
the waves; and Andy noticed that they were now of quite respectable
size; though being directly above, he could not tell much about it, only
that in many spots he saw the white caps breaking, and this served as a
pointer.
Would the hydroplane be able to ride such a sea in safety, in case
necessity compelled them to alight upon its swelling bosom?
Frank did not seem to doubt it, for he had the utmost confidence in the
ability of those aluminum pontoons to sustain a great weight without
sinking. What they would possibly have to fear more than anything else,
was the chance of a capsize; and of course this would spell disaster as
much as anything else.
Once they overtook a sailing schooner that was speeding along with a
fair breeze. Possibly those aboard thought they were making most
excellent time, with everything in their favor, but the aeroplanes sped
past the vessel almost as though it were a toy craft.
A faint cheer was heard from those aboard who could be seen wildly
waving head-gear, or red handkerchiefs; just as though what they
considered a novel air race had been engineered especially for their
amusement.
When Andy took occasion to look backward again in a short time he was
amazed to discover how far distant the sails of the schooner seemed. And
it was this incident more than anything else that gave him to understand
just what amazing speed the aeroplanes were putting in their mad race
across the inland sea.
But while up to now the voyage had been without incident worthy of
mention, or accident of any kind, it could hardly be expected that this
immunity would continue to the very end. The splendid good fortune that
had hovered over both airships was apt to be brought to a sudden
termination at any moment, as Frank well knew.