Presently the three visitors were invited into the tent where Mr. Havens lay and the four talked together for some minutes, then the aviator beckoned to Ben and whispered in his ear.
“I think it’s all right for you to take the Ann out. These men seem to be honest fellows. They’re from Chicago, and know as little about mountain work as a cat that has lived all its life in Gamblers’ alley.”
This was exactly according to Ben’s inclinations, and the boy lost no time in getting the Ann ready for the air. The three visitors came out to assist, and when Ben took his seat Dick suggested significantly that he had never had the pleasure of riding in a flying machine.
“Jump in then,” Ben said with a smile. “I’ll show you how it seems to fly over mountains in the night.”
At that moment the Louise lifted over the valley once more.
CHAPTER VIII.
“HOME OF THE FORTY THIEVES.”
Jimmie and Carl were now in a shallow wrinkle or gully which reached from the summit of the mountain to the shelf upon which the mysterious camp-fire had been seen. From their position they could not secure a view of their own camp, which was much lower down.
They could see the fire from which the mysterious signals had been given, and also the Louise winging her way toward them, but they could not see the Ann lifting under the stars. She was still much too low for that.
The increasing clatter of the approaching motors of the stolen machine, now not far away, effectually drowned the noise made by the Ann. In fact the sparking of the oncoming machine made conversation on the part of the boys rather difficult, obliging them to almost shout into each other’s ears when conferring together.
It was decidedly uncomfortable for the boys in the gully. A chill wind blew down from the snow-capped tops. They were glad that they had brought their warmest clothing, and only wished they had more of it.