Part 9 (1/2)

answered Tom. ”He's got to have a very powerful motor to make all that bulk fly.”

The people were crowding in closer around the airs.h.i.+p, for the news that Andy was to attempt a flight had spread about town.

”Now keep back--all of you!” ordered the bully, with a show of anger. ”If any one damages my airs.h.i.+p I'll have him arrested! Keep back, now, or I won't fly!”

”Reminds me of a little kid saying he won't play if he can't have his own way,” whispered Ned to Tom.

”h.e.l.lo, Andy, give us a ride!”

”Going above the clouds?”

”When are you coming back?”

”Bring down a snowstorm!”

”Be careful that you don't fall!”

These were some of the things shouted at Andy, for he had few friends among the town lads, on account of his mean ways.

”Keep quiet--all of you!” he ordered. ”Get back. You might get hurt when I start the motor. I'm going to make a flight soon,” he added proudly. ”Sam, you come over here and hold this end. Pete, you go back to the rear. Simpson, you get inside and help me with the motor. Henderson, you get ready to shove when I tell you.”

These last orders were to the two machinists whom Andy had engaged to help him, and the bully gave himself no end of airs and importance as he bustled about.

Tom could not help but admit that Andy's machine was a big affair.

There was a great stretch of wings and planes, several rudders other appliances for which the young inventor could not exactly fathom a use. He did not think the machine would fly far, if at all. But Andy was hurrying here and there, getting the triplane in place on a level stretch of ground, as if he intended to capture some great prize.

”Are you going to tackle him about stealing a copy of that map?”

asked Ned.

”I will if I get a chance,” answered Tom, in a low voice.

He got his opportunity a few minutes later. Andy, hurrying here and there, came face to face with the young inventor.

”h.e.l.lo, Andy,” spoke Tom, good-naturedly. ”So you're going to make a flight, eh?”

”Yes, I am, and I s'pose you came around to see if you could get any ideas; didn't you?” sneered Andy.

”Of course,” admitted Tom, with an easy laugh. ”My airs.h.i.+p doesn't fly, you know, Andy, and I want to see what's wrong with it.”

There was a laugh in the crowd, at this, for Tom's success was well known.

”Are you going to Alaska?” suddenly asked Tom, in a low voice, of the bully.

”To Alaska? I--I don't--I don't know what you mean?” stammered Andy, as he turned aside.

”Yes, you do know what I mean,” insisted Tom. ”And I want to tell you that the map you have won't be of much use to you. Why, do you think,” he went on, ”that Abe would carry the real map around with him that way? It's easy to make a copy look like an original, Andy, and also very easy to put false distances and directions on a map that may fall into the hands of an enemy.”

The shot told. Andy's face turned first red and then pale.