Part 30 (2/2)
”I know what they've done,” Tom said, when noon came and they had found no trace of the ponderous war machine. ”They've left the road and taken her cross country, and we can't find the spot where they did this because the rain has washed out the marks. Well, there's only one thing left to do.”
”What's that?” asked Ned.
”Get the Hawk! In that we can look down and over a big extent of country. That's what I'll do--I'll phone for the airs.h.i.+p. The rain is stopping, I think.”
The rain did cease by the time one of Tom's men brought the speedy aircraft to the place named by the young inventor in his telephone message. There were still several hours of daylight left, and Tom counted on them to allow him to rise in the air and look down on the tanks possible hiding place.
”One thing's sure,” he told Ned: ”I know the limit of her speed, and she can't be farther off than at some place within a circle of about one hundred and twenty-five miles from my house. And it's in the direction we're in. So if I circle around up above, I may spot her.”
”I hope so,” murmured Ned.
It was arranged that Mr. Damon should take the automobile back, with Tom's mechanician in it, and Tom and Ned would scout around in the aircraft, which carried only two.
”You ought to have a machine gun with you, Tom, if you plan to attack those fellows to get back the tank,” Ned said.
”Oh, I don't imagine I'll need it,” he said. ”Anyhow, a machine gun wouldn't be of much effect against the tank. And they can't fire on us, for there wasn't any ammunition for the guns in Tank A, unless they got some of their own, and I hardly believe they'd do that. I'll take a chance, anyhow.”
And so the search from the air began. It was disappointing at first.
Around and around circled Tom and Ned, their eyes peering eagerly down from the heights for a sight of the tank, possibly hidden in some little-known ravine or gully.
Back and forth, like a speck in the sky, Tom guided the Hawk, while Ned took observation after observation with the binoculars.
At last, when the low-sinking sun gave warning that night would soon be upon them, Ned's gla.s.ses picked up something on the ground far below that made him sit suddenly straighter in his seat.
”What is it?” asked Tom through the speaking apparatus, feeling the movement on the part of his chum.
”I see something down there, Tom,” was the answer. ”It doesn't look like the tank, and yet it doesn't look as a clump of trees and bushes ought to look. Have a peep yourself. It's just beyond that river, against the side of the hill--a lonesome place, too.”
Tom took the gla.s.ses while Ned a.s.sumed control of the Hawk, there being a dual system for operating and steering her.
No sooner had the young inventor got the focus on what Ned had indicated than he gave a cry.
”What is it?” asked the young bank clerk.
”Camouflaged!” cried Tom, and without stopping to explain what he meant, he handed the binoculars back to Ned and began to guide the Hawk down toward the earth at high speed.
Chapter XXV
Foiled
”Is it really Tank A, Tom?” cried Ned, through the tube, as soon as he became aware of his companion's intention. ”Are you sure?”
”That's the girl, and just where you spotted her with the gla.s.ses--in that clump of bushes. But they've daubed her with green and brown paint--camouflaged her, so to speak--until she looks like part of the landscape. What made you suspicious of that particular place?”
”The green was such a bright one in contrast to the rest of the foliage around it.',
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