"In case he has not left town we will, of course, try to get hold of him here, won't we?" inquired Harry.
"I think it would be best to nab him as soon as possible."
"Maybe he has already gotten to a place where he can hide the plans until he finds a market for them," suggested Jimmie.
"He's a shrewd chap, all right," assented Ned, "and we can't tell what he may do. I think we can find the launch that put him ashore and possibly induce the owner to tell us where our friend has gone."
"Unless the French are different from any other nation on earth," Jack laughed, "they are afflicted with an itching palm and if we can give the launch owner a chance to increase his revenue he will be as willing to tell us where he put the thief ashore as he was to do the job in the first place. Let's try out the Grey Eagle and hurry back."
Accordingly the boys took their places and Ned in the pilot's position started the engine. After the first few explosions to warm the cylinders he closed the muffler, eliminating the sound of the exhaust.
A touch of the throttle, a tilt of the planes and the machine began to move forward. Accelerating the speed of the motor and with a greater inclination of the planes the Grey Eagle swept majestically off the earth, soaring into the air above the heads of the crowd gathered about. Cheers reached the boys as they arose.
"Let's circle the city and go over the harbor," suggested Harry. "We can get a pretty good view of the city that way."
"I can get a good view of a monoplane over to the north," Jimmie stated. "It is coming this way, too!" he added.