第17章

A Trial Flight

For a few moments after their exclamations of surprise Tom and Mr.Damon did not know what else to say.They stared about in amazement, hardly able to believe that the shed could be empty.They had expected to see some form of aeroplane in it, and Tom was almost sure his eyes would meet a reproduction of his Humming Bird, made from the stolen plans.

"Can it be possible there's nothing here?" went on Tom, after a long pause.He could not seem to believe it"Evidently not," answered Mr.Damon, as he advanced toward the center of the big building and flashed the light on all sides."You can see for yourself.""Or, rather, you can't see," spoke the youth."It isn't here, that's sure.You can't stick an aeroplane, even as small a one as my Humming Bird, in a corner.No; it isn't here,""Well, we'll have to look further," went on Mr.Damon."I think--"But a sudden noise near the big main doors of the shed interrupted him.

"Come on!" exclaimed Tom in a whisper."Some one's coining! They may see us! Let's get out!"Mr.Damon released the pressure on the spring switch, and the light went out.After waiting a moment to let their eyes become accustomed to the darkness, he and Tom stole to the door by which they had entered.As they swung it cautiously open they again heard the noise near the main portals by which Andy had formerly taken in and out the Anthony, as he had named the aeroplane in which he and his father went to Alaska, where, like Tom's craft, it was wrecked.

"Some one is coming in!" whispered Tom.

Hardly had he spoken when a light shone in the direction of the sound.The illumination came from a big lantern of the ordinary kind, carried by some one who had just entered the shed.

"Can you see who it is?" whispered Mr.Damon, peering eagerlyforward; too eagerly, for his foot struck against the wooden side wall with a loud hang.

"Who's there?" suddenly demanded the person carrying the lantern.

He raised it high above his head, in order to cast the gleams into all the distant corners.As he did so a ray of light fell upon his face."Andy Foger!" gasped Tom in a hoarse whisper.

Andy must have heard, for he ran forward just as Tom and Mr.Damon slipped out.

"Hold on! Who are you?" came in the unmistakable tones of the red- haired bully.

"I don't think we're going to tell," chuckled Tom softly, as he and his friend sped off into the darkness.They were not followed, and as they looked back they could see a light bobbing about in the shed.