The eastbound express had been bucking headwinds all afternoon and as a result was ten minutes late. Every effort was made to cut down the time required for refueling and Tim and Ford were hurried aboard the ten-passenger plane and shown their seats with little ceremony. Their baggage was placed in the special compartment in the rear of the plane.
While the co-pilot superintended the refueling and oiling of the super-charged motors, the chief pilot scanned the weather reports in the radio room. The ground crew fairly ran from one task to another and less than ten minutes after landing, the big ship was ready to take off.
The chief pilot took a final glance at the weather chart, then entered the cabin and made his way to the cockpit up ahead. The blocks were pulled from the wheels, the landing stage pulled into the clear, and with a deep drumming of the motors they rolled out of the hangar.
Tim, looking from a window, saw Carl Hunter waving at him. Then they were swinging down the runway, headed on the first lap of what was to be Tim’s greatest adventure.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The S-18
The next morning found Tim in New York, actively engaged in plans for the trip into the Caribbean. While Ford completed negotiations for the purchase of the S-18, the government submarine which the navy was forced to scrap by treaty limitations, Tim called at the office of the New York Journal.
The managing editor was enthusiastic over the chance for exclusive stories on the expedition in return for relaying the radio stories on to the News. At his request, Tim sat down and wrote a two-column story on the plans for the treasure hunt. Ford had lifted restrictions on publicity for he realized that nothing said in print would deter Jack Sladek from his attempt to find the treasure first.
Tim met Ford at their hotel at noon and the leader of the expedition was jubilant.
“I’ve completed the purchase and the S-18 is being towed from the Brooklyn navy yard right now down to a yard where it will be fitted out for the trip.”
“What about a crew?” asked Tim.