Taking the old gentleman by the arm, Ned led him carefully away from the burning building. He pointed back and shook his head as if to indicate that nothing remained inside the building. In a short time the roof fell with a crash. Silently weeping, the old man sat watching the destruction of his stack of fodder and barn.
"Well, where is The Rat?" asked Jimmie, recalling the boys to the present. "If I could get hold of him, I'd warm his jacket!"
"Don't know, I'm sure!" replied Ned. "Maybe he went away in the other airship that arrived just as the fire started!"
Jimmie gave a gasp. Turning to Ned in astonishment, he said:
"Ned, you don't suppose that the officer returned and then they burned the place and left us there to die! I don't believe it!"
"Say," put in Jack, "if it wasn't so hard to believe, that would be the most reasonable solution of the whole matter!"
"Wonder what they did to the Grey Eagle before they left!" suggested Harry. "Suppose we take a stroll over there and look about."
"I can see the machine there in the field where we left it," spoke up Jimmie. "Suppose we ask the old party here for some supper!"
"Hungry again, Jimmie?" laughed Ned.
"Sure I am, and so are you, if you'd admit it!" returned the boy. "Let's get something to eat and ask the old fellow if he noticed which way the airship went as it left here. He must have seen it!"