Part 16 (2/2)

They talked at some length, and then Tom noticing, by one of the automatic gages on the wall of the pilot house, that some of the machinery needed attention, went to attend to it.

He was rather surprised, on emerging from the motor compartment, to see Mr. Damon standing on the open after deck of the Falcon gazing earnestly toward the rear.

”Star-gazing in the day time?” asked Tom with a laugh.

”Bless my individuality!” exclaimed the odd man. ”How you startled me, Tom! No, I'm not looking at stars, but I've been noticing a black speck in the sky for some time, and I was wondering whether it was my eyesight, or whether it really is something.”

”Where is it?”

”Straight to the rear,” answered Mr. Damon, ”and it seems to be about a mile up. It's been hanging in the same place this ten minutes.”

”Oh, I see,” spoke Tom, when the speck had been pointed out to him.

”It's there all right, but I guess it's a bird, an eagle perhaps. Wait, I'll get a gla.s.s and we'll take a look.”

As he was taking the telescope down from its rack in the pilot house, Mr. Petrofsky saw him.

”What's up?” asked the Russian, and the youth told him.

”Must be a pretty big bird to be seen at such a distance as it is,”

remarked Tom.

”Maybe it isn't a bird,” suggested Ivan Petrofsky. ”I'll take a look myself,” and, showing something of alarm in his manner, he followed Tom to where Mr. Damon awaited them. Ned also came out on deck.

Quickly adjusting the gla.s.s, Tom focused it on the black speck. It seemed to have grown larger. He peered at it steadily for several seconds.

”Is it a bird?” asked Mr. Damon.

”Jove! It's another airs.h.i.+p--a big biplane!” cried Tom, ”and there seems to be three men in her.”

”An aeroplane!” gasped Ned.

”Bless my deflecting rudder!” cried Mr. Damon. ”An airs.h.i.+p in this out-of-the-way place?” for they were flying over a desolate country.

”And they're coming right after us,” added Tom, as he continued to gaze.

”I thought so,” was the quiet comment of Mr. Petrofsky. ”That is what I started to say a few days ago,” he went on, ”when I stopped, as I hardly believed it possible. I thought they might possibly send an aeroplane after us, as both the French and Russian armies have a number of fast ones. So they are pursuing us. I'm afraid my presence will bring you no end of trouble.”

”Let it come!” cried Tom. ”If they can catch up to us they've got a good machine. Come on, Ned, let's speed her up, and make them take more of our star dust.”

”Wait a minute,” advised the Russian, as he took the telescope from Tom, and viewed the ever-increasing speck behind them. ”Are you sure of the speed of this craft?” he asked a moment later.

”I never saw the one yet I couldn't pull away from, even after giving them a start,” answered the young inventor proudly. ”That is all but my little sky racer. I could let them get within speaking distance, and then pull out like the Congressional Limited pa.s.sing a slow freight.”

”Then wait a few minutes,” suggested Mr. Petrofsky. ”That is an aeroplane all right, but I can't make out from what country. I'd like a better view, and if it's safe we can come closer.”

”Oh, it's safe enough,” declared Tom. ”I'll get things in shape for a quick move,” and he hurried back to the machine room, while the others took turns looking at the oncoming aeroplane. And it was coming on rapidly, showing that it had tremendous power, for it was a very large one, carrying three men.

”How do you suppose they got on our track?” asked Ned.

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