Of a sudden it seemed that the whole comparative quietude of Halifax was stirred by a series of shrieks and howls, not by one person, but in a ripping, blood-stirring, inharmonious duet.
"What in the name of sense is that!" exclaimed Jack, hurrying to the door of the hut and throwing it wide open.
"Leggo! For the love of Mike, leggo!" a strident appeal came to their ears.
"Saints of the seven seas, leggo yerself, ye fool; I'm hitched an' cain't," came a heavier but no less pained and angered tone in answer.
"Ow! Oh, Ow!!" the weaker voice continued to cry.
"Crabs of the Caribbean," the gruffer one added. "What in the name of Neptune did ye do to this thing. It ain't no flying contraption; it's alive."
There was no longer the slightest doubt about it. The cries of distress came from their hangar, and unquestionably from the town constabule, Captain Allerson, and the fire-brand pilot, Henryson.