Part 20 (1/2)
”What do you mean?”
”I mean I believe that we have been deceived by a false clew The soods across at this point to-night They saw to it thatthat ould follow it, and leave the vicinity of Logansville”
”So they could operate there?” asked Toent ”They drew us off the scent There's no help for it We et back as soon as we can My! This is a bad storm!” he added, as a blast careened the airshi+p
CHAPTER XV
THE RESCUE ON THE LAKE
For a tih the storive up With but a single shaded light in the pilot house, so that he could see to read the gauges and dials, telling of the condition of the machinery in the motor room, he pushed his stanch craft ahead At tiry waters of Lake Ontario, over which she was sailing, but the speed of her propellers and the buoyancy of the gas bag, would soon lift her again
”Howto stay?” called Ned in his chum's ear--called loudly, not to be heard above the noise of the airshi+p, but above the racket of the gale
”Oh, I guess we may as well start back,” spoke Tom, after a look at the clock on the wall ”We can just about ht, and they won't see us”
”It won't be light very early,” observed Mr Whitford, looking in the pilot house fro around here any ht”
”Blessdesperate”
”I believe they are,” went on the custon We'll keep right after 'eet 'em this week, ill next Better put back”
”I will,” decided the young inventor
”It certainly is a gale,” declared Ned, as he hts had been set aglow, for fear of the s the craft outlined in the air Noever, when it was al scent, To the interior of the Falcon iant came into the pilot house to help Toansville The as noeeping from the north across Lake Ontario, and it was all the powerful craft could do to ainst it
There came a terrific blast, which, in spite of all that Toerously close to the dashi+ng billows
”Hard over, Koku!” called Toan to respond to the power of her propellers, and the up-tilted rudder, Tom heard, from somewhere below him, a series of shrill blasts on a whistle
”What's that?” he cried
”Sounds like a boat below us,” answered Mr Whitford
”I guess it is,” agreed the young inventor ”There she goes again”
Once led with it could be heard voices shouting in fear, but it was only a confused murmur of sound No words could be made out
”That's a compressed air whistle!” decided Tom ”It must be some sort of a motor boat in distress Quick, Mr Whitford! Tell Ned to switch on the searchlight, and play it right down on the lake If there's a boat in this stor Even an ocean liner would have trouble Get the light on quick, and we'll see e can do!”
It was the work of but an instant to convey the e to Ned The latter called Mr Damon to relieve him in the motor room, and, a few seconds later, Ned had switched on the electricity By le joints, the bank clerk lifted the lantern over until the powerful bea waters of the lake
”Do you see anything?” asked Mr Damon from the motor room, at one side of which Ned stood to operate the lantern