"It most certainly is not," said Andy. "And it's very likely to develop into one of the toughest jobs we ever tackled, for more reasons than one."
"Relate them," Fred urged.
"Well," Andy continued, "why, for instance, the machine gun? These fellows in Washington are not given to useless delays or to heroics. Their attitude was mighty serious, and although they didn't mention it, I grasped that there might be interests which, if they knew we had these documents, might go a mighty long way to come into possession of them, or at least prevent their being presented at the Peace Conference in time to accomplish their purpose."
"You're right," said Don, seeming to catch the full significance of their possible difficulties for the first time. "By golly, I never gave that a thought."
"Well, all of us may before we're over," said Andy.
But by now they were ready for their return flight to Halifax, from which it was necessary that they make their start, though for new reasons developed in the foregoing conversation, all of them wished that it might be possible to begin their flight from another and less prominent place.
Back over almost the identical route they had traveled on their journey to the capital, they flew the return trip, passing Philadelphia and New York by daylight, however, at such a tremendous height that they were practically lost to view, coming along the rugged coast of lower New England as darkness began to close in on them.
Dense clouds entirely obscured the moon, and of necessity they reduced speed to "feel their way" against the strong east wind which tended to drive them inland.
"It looks bad for a start tomorrow," Jack said, as he glanced at the barometer which showed a downward tendency.
"That'll change as we get further north, if I'm not mistaken," said Don, casting a keen glance downward. "What's the altimeter show?"