Bud Hyslop had flown Skybird around the tip of the island to the quiet waters of the little harbor. The engine was sputtering and protesting but Bud was able to bring the plane down safely on the shore. As he turned to Joe, he saluted and exclaimed, “That was some trick you played! How did you do it. Chief?”
Joe Arnold laughed heartily as he answered: “They thought they were following Allan Graham’s plane. I’m almost sure that the girls were starting out to go to Peru to see old Peter Langley. When I was up there Allan and Syd were away. Probably when they got back they learned that I was heading south and decided to catch up with the girls and go with them as a protection against me.”
“What happened to the boys?” asked Bud.
“That’s the joke. Allan’s and Terry’s planes both got into a storm. I didn’t see Allan’s plane when it was over, so I hope he went to the bottom of the Caribbean. Terry didn’t see it either. But she saw mine and followed me, thinking it was Allan.”
“That was a neat dodge. How did you ever happen to think about it?” Bud not only thought his boss was smart, but took pains to tell him so.
Joe Arnold might have told Bud that he had not planned the ruse and that it had been entirely an accident. But instead of that he looked wise and said. “I think fast! That’s how I always win!”
Meanwhile his two captives had taken shelter from the sun under a spreading tree.
“How I’d like to down that man!” exclaimed Terry with blazing eyes as she watched Joe Arnold’s figure disappear. “This is certainly the worst jam we’ve ever been in.”
“And Terry, this time there’s no way out that I can see,” said Prim, her body trembling with fear and nervousness.
But Terry was in a fighting mood. “There is a way out, I’m sure of it, and what’s more I’m sure we can find it! I had to bite my tongue to keep from telling Joe what I thought of him. He looked so smug and self-satisfied because he put something over on us.”