"Better get Dave out of his perilous position as soon as we can," put in Harry, remembering their new-found friend who had done such valiant service. "He'll be tired by this time, with all this rough riding and bouncing about we have been giving him."
"Yes," added Jack with interest, "you certainly started upward with the little old Eagle going on two wheels. You're some driver, Ned."
"Let's make ready to help him out," persisted Harry.
"No use," objected Ned, shaking his head disconsolately, "he isn't there. I'm sure he dropped off back there at camp."
"What!" cried Harry in amazement. "Why do you think that?"
"Well, from the sudden way in which the Eagle's progress was checked, I'm sure that Jimmie caught the loop of line all right," was Ned's answer. "Then," he went on, "from the way in which the craft shook just before she jumped skyward, I believe that the two boys were in some sort of difficulty. All at once we began to climb, and that indicated to me clearly that a considerable weight had been lost."
"Do you mean to say you think both Jimmie and Dave fell?"
"I can't see any other way out of it," declared Ned.
"Well, of all things!" was Harry's expression as the truth of the matter began to dawn upon him. "What shall we do now?"
"I move we circle back in a big spiral," stated Jack, "and see if we can see what's going on there. Maybe the boys are hurt."