During the war, when often time was the main objective, when danger was laughed at, and even human life was valued cheaply, many an aviator came to his death through a collapse of his machine directly due to the fact that he or other aviators, perhaps over a considerable period, had clipped off and thus hidden so many broken strands in a single wire that finally it broke completely, perhaps telescoping the entire machine.
In this instance Andy had discovered at least half a dozen broken and carefully hidden strands of a single important bracing wire, and there was no doubt that it had been done deliberately by someone planning the ruin of that plane long after it was on its way from America to Europe.
For a moment the very dastardliness of the deed was so disconcerting that the three youths found themselves speechless. There was no doubt of the meaning of the discovery. The plot was a daring one to defeat this machine and crew in the race, and it had been designed and carried into effect in a way that, had it not been discovered in time, probably would have cost them their lives.
"Well," ejaculated Jack, the first to recover himself. "Somebody certainly loves us."
"Yes," said Andy, "they wish us well—well out of the way."
From the window they could see Donald approaching, refreshed by his morning's nap.
"Let's wait until he gets here," Fred suggested, "and then hold a council of war."
In a few words Donald was told of the situation. At first they thought it would be well to take Captain Allerson into their confidence, but on calmer consideration they agreed that he might inadvertently drop the tip, and then, after all, the culprit might not be caught, with the resulting danger that this or some other machine would start upon the flight mortally crippled, destined never to reach Europe.
"Better keep the thing to ourselves for a day or two, anyway," was Jack's counsel, "and then determine how we are to let the others know."
"Well, I'll tell you what I'm going to do," said Fred Bentner, his countenance set determinedly and a glint in his fine eyes. "I'm just going to fix this machine so that anyone who touches it will stay here until we arrive."