It was a desperate chance. Wiljohn might be going to any of a hundred places. Even if they sighted a ship and tailed it into Clanton, it might prove to be any of the thousands of sky craft that filled the air these days.
Still it was the only clew they had. They could follow it blindly—that was all.
Twenty-three miles from the Rand-Elwin Field to Clanton! With its newer speed and power, the big ship could make it in say nine-tenths of their own flying time. A mere fraction of time, a few moments out of all eternity! Yet those few moments could spell death to three unwarned passengers.
On the fringes of Clanton, Raynor overhauled a few leisurely flying ships from the commercial field. On ahead, and drifting back through their hum, was another and more powerful sound of motors. That could be the trimotor. If it were not, then their whole desperate race had been in vain.
They were now pressing up towards that larger ship, whatever it was, that was leading them into Clanton. Its motors seemed to reduce ever so slightly—cutting in for the landing field, it must be.
Raynor was making it in with every ounce of speed, pushing forward, overhauling the big boat by faint degrees. He must make it now, catch her before the ground swoop, circle her to give the warning signals.
Hal, with a hurried call to the pilot, slipped the hearing tube from under his helmet, and began a swift clambering out on the plane wing. The thrill of the old circus stunt days was upon him. He felt the old surges of power and balance shoot through him as he wing-walked, went to the very tip, carrying with him his signal of the broken bicycle wheel.
He must catch Fuz’s attention. Colonel Wiljohn’s, little Jacky’s even—make one of the three see him, sense the danger message he would pantomime. If necessary, he would climb aloft to upper wing space, circus-stunt there silhouetted against the sky,—anything to catch the eye!
Fuz his friend, this gray-haired grandfather, this child—any risk to save them!
But as Hal prepared to climb struts to the plane top, he saw it was too late. Time had passed for catching any eye by acrobatics now.