Part 38 (2/2)

said Bowers, presently. ”You will note that the bridge stands, but the railroad tracks have been torn up.”

”Aye, aye, sir,” Dave reported, after using his field gla.s.s.

”That's one of the things we wanted to know,” Bowers continued.

”And keep an especially sharp lookout, Ensign, for any signs of Mexican forces, hidden or in the open.”

But, though Dare looked constantly, he saw no indications of the Mexican column with which General Maas had retreated.

”Too bad about Cantor of your s.h.i.+p,” murmured Lieutenant Bowers, a little later. ”Though the forces have been searching for him for three or four days he can't be found anywhere. It must be fearful to be tried for treason to one's flag. I am hoping that Cantor will be brought in dead. Under such charges as he faces, there's more dignity in being dead.”

”Much more,” Dave a.s.sented, in a low voice.

On and on they flew. Once, when Dave sighted moving persons in the distance, Bowers drove the craft up to three thousand feet above the earth. But soon, under the gla.s.s, these suspects turned out to be a party of wretched refugees, hurrying, ragged, barefooted, starving, gaunt and cactus-torn, to safety within the American lines at Vera Cruz.

For many miles Bowers's craft flew inland, and much valuable information was picked up, besides the data from which any naval draughtsman could construct a very good map of that part of the country.

At last Lieutenant Bowers turned back.

Suddenly Dave exclaimed, ”Hullo! There are two men coming out of the adobe house ahead.”

The house in question was out about four miles beyond Trent's station.

Dave kept his gla.s.s turned on the two men on the ground, at the same the trying to conceal the gla.s.s from their view.

”They haven't rifles,” he told Lieutenant Bowers. Then, as the aircraft pa.s.sed and left the adobe house to the rear, Darrin bent over and whispered something in Bowers's ear that the signalman behind them could not hear.

CHAPTER XXIII

THE DASH FOR THE TRAITOR

A Little later the hydro-aeroplane returned to Lieutenant Trent's position.

Dave placed in the hands of the lieutenant the field note-book, which had been so carefully kept that any officer could draw a map from it at need.

Lightly the big airs.h.i.+p touched the earth just inside Trent's line. Dave, shaking hands with his temporary commanding officer, added:

”Thank you for something I've always wanted---a flight over a real enemy's country.”

”I've greatly enjoyed having you with me,” Lieutenant Bowers responded.

”Trent, you've obliged me hugely by giving me so good an a.s.sistant.

Good-bye, fellows.”

The birdman was again several hundred feet up in the air.

”What kind of a trip was it?” asked Dalzell.

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