While she watched, the stranger leaned forward to stir the campfire and as the blaze leaped up they saw a smartly dressed man of slight build whose black eyes glittered in the firelight. One of those jet-black eyes had a cast, which gave him a crafty and dangerous aspect. His thin lips denoted a cruel and grasping character. Terry clutched her sister’s arm in dismay.
“It’s Arnold! Joe Arnold!” she gasped. “Dad’s worst enemy!”
CHAPTER VII
A Perilous Take-Off
The girls knew that Joe Arnold was an enemy far more dangerous than Bud Hyslop or Jim Heron, for he was their superior in brains and experience, and was quite as unscrupulous. Joe Arnold, they knew was their father’s rival and would do anything to injure Dick Mapes, to discredit him and ruin his business. And now here was Arnold before them.
The sisters tiptoed back down the hill where they could talk without being heard, taking Sally with them. The three girls clung together. These were desperate men, taking desperate chances, therefore they might do terrible things, even commit murder to get what they wanted.
There was silence for a long time then Terry spoke in low tones. “Listen, Prim. I’m certain that Skybird is all ready to take-off. So is Joe Arnold’s plane. But I must get the Comet.”
“Terry, don’t be ridiculous. We can’t get any of the planes with those men there.”
“We’ll have to take a chance. We’ve got to do it!” said Terry.
“But Dad says that there is never any excuse for taking chances,” cautioned Prim.
“That’s all right. Dad will change his mind when he knows what we know.”