“It seems to me we’re leaving all the most interesting places without seeing them,” said Frank regretfully. “I’d like mighty well to see Irish negroes.”
“You must remember we’re neither on a pleasure cruise or a joy ride,” Mr. Pauling reminded him. “And you’re fortunate even to see the islands.”
Then, turning to Rawlins, he asked, “Have you definite plans in view, Rawlins? I suppose there is no use in stopping at Montserrat as long as the Guiana reported the plane south of there.”
“No, I’m going to ask you to let the Commander just hustle the old girl right along and radio Guadeloupe for information. He ought to be able to get it now. If they sighted the plane, we’ll have to try Dominica, but there’s no radio station there and I’m still betting on Aves. You remember, about that looting of the bank at Dominica? Well, if they had a hang-out at Aves, that would have been dead easy. I think, unless we hear he passed Guadeloupe headed away from it, that we’ll hike to Aves without stopping.”
Mr. Pauling chuckled. “It seems to me that Henderson and I are scarcely more than accessories now,” he declared. “Everything seems to have fallen into your hands. But that’s quite right, Rawlins. You know the islands and we don’t, and we’re following your hunch, you know.”
A few moments later, Bancroft, the wireless operator, appeared. “We got Guadeloupe, Sir,” he informed Mr. Pauling. “They have no report of an airship.”
“By glory, then ’tis Aves!” cried Rawlins. “There isn’t another spot he could have made before dark last night.”
“Unless he came down at some out of the way part of Guadeloupe,” put in Mr. Henderson. “I’ve been talking with Disbrow and he says it’s a wild, little known coast, with few inhabitants.”
“Yes,” agreed the diver. “But I figure this way. That’s not the first time the Old Boy has used a plane--and you can’t grab a seaplane at any old time and place when the spirit moves you. No, he keeps that machine for emergencies or uses it as a regular thing between certain bases of his own and, even if he could make a landing at Guadeloupe or one of the inhabited islands without being seen, he couldn’t keep the plane there unknown to any one. That’s why I’m strong on the Aves hunch. He could have anything he wanted there, and none the wiser.”
“Your reasoning is sound,” declared Mr. Pauling, “and I agree with you. When should we reach Aves?”