A NOBLE DEED
Whatever the “light” was that Hiram Dobbs saw, he did not share the
illumination with Bruce. In fact the latter did not expect it, and
asked no questions.
So much had happened during the past two weeks that had tested the
sense, courage and good judgment of the boys, that they had come to
taking things conservatively, no matter what transpired.
Bruce was aware that Hiram attached a great deal of importance to the
discovery of the disguised Borden. The mention of the barograph had
decidedly stirred Hiram. Why, or wherefore, the young pilot of the
_Scout_ did not just then say. Perhaps outside of a theory he had
formed, Hiram could not clearly have told himself. At all events, Bruce
was satisfied to wait for further developments at a time when his
friend was ready to divulge them.
The long distance flight was on for the next day. It was the big event
of the meet, with a large number of entrants, and nothing else much was
talked of that evening or the following morning. “Biplane and one
passenger,” ran the schedule and Hiram was glad of that.
“It’s a hundred and ten mile flight,” he remarked, “and the winner will
come in under two hours.”
“Not with that choppy northwest wind,” reminded Dave. “There is one
thing, though: the _Ariel_ is made for all kinds of weather. It really
gives the others a handicap.”
The contestants were fully advised as to the rules of the race. The
course was laid along the shore of the lake and described a complete
semi-circle seventy miles in length. The turning point was at Grand
Bay. All along the course men were posted to watch out for any
deviation exceeding two miles from the shore line of the lake. At Grand
Bay it was a straight away course back to the International grounds.
The _Whirlwind_ came out with Valdec in the seat sneering and arrogant
as usual. A youth about the age of Hiram occupied the cockpit. The
machines were thus evenly matched. There were eighteen other entrants
for the event.
“There’re some pretty good machines in the race, Dave,” his assistant
remarked as they awaited the starting signal.
“I see that,” replied the pilot of the _Ariel_. “We mustn’t miss a
point, or lose a yard, on turns or drifting. Is everything all right?”
“As right as could be,” answered Hiram buoyantly. “What’s the
programme, a rush?”
“Not at the start. We won’t risk any mix up. Let the others,
particularly the _Whirlwind_, catch a gait. Then we’ll strike the
higher level and get a clear course, if we’re lucky enough to
outdistance the others.”
The start was very fine. It resembled the progress of a flock of birds
trying their wings after a rest. Mr. Brackett looked greatly pleased as
the _Ariel_ did just what it had been built to do—rose lightly, made
smooth upward progress and showed itself to be a very superior model of
grace and efficiency.
“Oh, dear! over two hours’ blind waiting,” sighed Bruce, as the aerial
fleet spread out, and grew less distinct, so that, even with a field
glass, it was difficult to distinguish one machine from another.
“There’s a breakdown!” Hiram announced, just as they passed the first
observation station on the lake shore.
It was number six, a rather poor craft, and Dave could tell from its
maneuvers that some of its gearing had gone wrong.
At the end of fifty miles, Hiram, watching out in every direction, gave
a quick cry of satisfaction.
“I’ve counted them,” he told his chum. “The ragtag and bobtail fell out
before we got forty miles. There’re two men even with us below, Dave.
That one pegging away on the lower level is the _Whirlwind_.”
“Yes, and doing very finely,” commented Dave. “There’re the smokestacks
of Grand Bay ahead.”
“Speed up, Dave,” urged Hiram, his usual excitable nature getting the
best of him.
The young aviator did not reply, but all his expert senses were on the
alert. So far as he could judge, he had now but three rivals to fear.
The _Whirlwind_ was in the lead, but not for any great distance and
would have to change its level when a turn was due.
Dave had a point in view in first ascertaining the number of his real
rivals, and then their possible capabilities in the return flight. The
wind had steadily grown stronger with the hours. The lake was rough and
muddy, and a cloud film had overspread the sky.
To fly to the best advantage when the turn was made at Grand Bay, Dave
saw that a system of tacking and circling would be necessary. The
_Ariel_ had been built purposely to meet these exigencies. He doubted
if any of the three other machines could go through on any great rate
of speed.
“I am sure of one thing,” he reckoned quite confidently; “the _Ariel_
can outdo the _Whirlwind_ two to one in drifting with the wind at its
stern.”
“Dave! I say, Dave!” cried Hiram Dobbs breathlessly. “Here comes the
_Whirlwind_!”
“I see,” answered Dave calmly.
“She’s turning, she’s first in rounding for the home run. Can’t you
speed up?”
Dave kept his eye on the machine he regarded as his principal rival. He
watched its maneuvering narrowly. The _Whirlwind_ had indeed turned,
but now it was evident it had to contend with new and more difficult
conditions.
“It’s one thing to face the wind, and quite another to run away from
it. Watch the control, Hiram,” directed Dave.
“I’ve got both eyes in use,” reported his assistant.
“Now then,” said Dave simply. “Careful!”
He circled the point where a group of men were gathered, one with a
white flag in his hand. This individual stood near a score board, and
tallied off the machines as they passed.
The _Ariel_ made a sort of leap, as her pilot brought the machine
broadside to the fierce breeze. In two minutes the young aviator
comprehended, and analyzed, the conditions as would an expert running a
yacht.
“A fog is coming up, and it’s misting,” announced Hiram. “We’re not
cutting due west, are we?”
“Not on this occasion,” responded Dave coolly. “Hiram, we’ll make time
and distance drifting south of the grounds. When we strike the land
breeze it will be easier to fight our way back north.”
“You know best, Dave,” said Hiram, and then for a full quarter of an
hour nothing further was said. Dave did some fine maneuvering. Hiram
followed the signals given him as to the rear control apparatus, a
mission that relieved the pilot from a sort of double duty under the
present stress.
The muggy air prevented the young airman from making out what had
become of the _Whirlwind_ or their trailers. Dave had steadied quite
successfully on a lateral course when Hiram leaned over towards him.
“Dave,” he spoke quickly—“to the left, and a little ahead.”
“I see—a craft of some kind on the lake.”
“And a flag of distress—why, look! Dave, they’ve put off a raft, and
it’s swamped.”
The young pilot lessened the speed of the _Ariel_. He eased its
progress through a sliding drift. This brought them nearer to the craft
tossing on the waters below.
“Water-logged and sinking!” exclaimed Hiram excitedly. “Dave, it’s a
real peril! See, the ship has no wireless, and their lifeboat is gone.
She can’t last long, Dave!”
Dave had turned the head of the _Ariel_ straight back landwards. In a
flash his assistant understood.
“Top speed for a rescue steamer, or the life-saving service,” announced
Dave. His voice was slightly unsteady, for he realized the sacrifice he
was about to make. “There’re women and children aboard that boat.”
“Yes, we’ve got to lose the race!” cried Hiram in disappointed tones.
“Better that than forget our humane duty,” responded the young pilot of
the _Ariel_, but he said it with a sinking heart.
The wind was now coming by fits and starts, and the sky looked anything
but encouraging to the young airmen.
“We’re in for a nasty blow, Dave,” came from Hiram, anxiously.
“Looks that way.”
“It’s bad for that schooner.”
“So it is.”
“Do you think we can get help in time?”
“We’ve got to do it, Hiram. Think of those on board—maybe women and
children as well as men!” and our hero shook his head sadly.
“It’s quite a run.”
“I know that as well as you do.”
“And to miss winning that prize——”
“Do you want to win and let those people drown?”
“No, no, never!”
“Then don’t say anything more about that prize.”
“I won’t, Dave. Yes, run for shore, and get help as soon as possible.”
“I’ll do it—and we’ll save those poor people. Hiram, there may be——”
Dave did not have time to finish what he was going to say. A sudden
gust of wind had struck the air craft, sending it whirling off its
course.
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