Terry took command at once. “Now Dan, you’re coming along! You have to! Go down there and get into the rear cockpit of The Comet. Don’t make any mistake! And Prim, you hop off with Skybird!”
At that moment Sally threw her arms about Terry’s waist. “Take me with you, Terry, please! Don’t leave me here. I don’t want to stay another day. Please, Terry. I’m frightened of Jim Heron. You heard him threaten me. He’ll see the ladder and think I helped you escape.”
Terry looked at the frightened face staring up at her in the darkness. She hesitated for a moment then said: “All right, go with Prim. Now be quiet. And when you hear me give a loud whistle start your engine, Prim, and get out of here in double quick time. Fly straight to Harbor Grace.”
They crept down the hillside slowly, fearing that the sound of their footsteps might waken the men. There was not a move from the sleepers. Everything was still.
Then suddenly from the woods came the report of a gun, then another. Somebody had let off both barrels of a shotgun, as a signal. The next moment Jim Heron came crashing through the brush, his white hair flying, his eyes wild, and yelling at the top of his voice.
“Wake up, Bud Hyslop. Watch out for trouble!” he shouted. “Those two girls got away and they are trouble makers, sure enough!”
Jim Heron’s warning came too late.
A loud whistle from Terry rent the air followed by a deafening roar of the two airplane motors. Bud Hyslop and Joe Arnold jumped to their feet. Arnold made a dash toward The Comet as it started to move forward. He grabbed the cowling.
“Not so fast, Terry Mapes. You may be smart, but you’ve met your match. Shut off that engine!”
Terry’s heart sank. It was hard to be so near to freedom, and then to lose out!