Henryson muttered something about having been cold, and sleeping with his clothes on, and then abruptly turned and stalked away toward the hut he was occupying.
"Bad egg, that," growled the old sea captain, as he came over again to Big Jack and the members of his crew.
But he had time for no more, for the members of the other crews had gathered around to congratulate the youths on the fact that the fire had been discovered in time, and to speculate as to who the villain was who had tried to burn them out.
True sportsmen that they were, the young men said nothing of their suspicions, and the others, if they shared such thoughts, kept them to themselves.
There was instant agreement, however, that with a skulking incendiary around, no hangar or its valuable contents was safe, and that the best insurance against a hidden foe lay in a constant night patrol by at least two men. It was arranged, therefore, that two would continue such watchfulness throughout that night, and that thereafter, until the flight began, this vigilance would be kept up by two men on duty throughout the entire time from sunset to sunrise, each couple doing duty for four hours.
In the drawing of lots which followed, Don Harlan and a man named Joe Harrity were selected to patrol the hangar section throughout the balance of that night; and this was completely satisfactory to all concerned, for they were equally popular and trusted among their fellow aviators.
Naturally, with the entire town so aroused, not even the boldest malefactor would be expected to pay another pilgrimage to the scene of his attempted work of arson that same night, and nothing further happened, although both Don and Harrity held secret hopes that the fellow would put in an appearance, so that they might at the same time learn his identity and his motive.
Early in the morning Jack, Fred and Andy had a hasty breakfast and then hurried to the hangar just as Don was returning to snatch a few hours' sleep to make up for the long vigil.
"See anything further?" Jack asked.
"No," Don answered. "The fellow, whoever he is, didn't return, but I wish he had."