“Don’t let him do it,” interjected Goldy. “He might lose his way and land you up at Sacramento. I’ll teach you.”
“Go ahead and rag me, you bums,” replied Bill. “One thing is sure, if I find the rat that has been tampering with my rudder control, I’ll kill him on the spot.”
“What’s the matter with your rudder?” asked Captain Smith, who had come up during the conversation.
“I have no right rudder at all. I haven’t had any since just after I left the field.”
“Get out and let me see what the trouble is,” said Smith.
Bill climbed out and Smith took his place in the cockpit. The others stood silently by while Smith tried out the controls. Finally Smith tried to see into the cockpit with the instrument lights, but found they were not powerful enough.
“Has anyone a flashlight?” he asked.
“Here’s one,” replied Sergeant Barney, the Chief Mechanic.
“That’s the most peculiar thing that I ever saw,” said Smith after throwing the beam into the cockpit and trying the rudder. “I wonder how that come to be put there?”
“What is it, Captain?” asked Bill.