"What is it?" asked Jack, looking anxiously at Fred, who remained intent, with the earpieces of the radio apparatus held close to his ears with both hands. "Getting something?" Jack continued, almost unconsciously, but at the same time having to give ninety per cent of his attention to steering and manipulating the plane, which was going along without power.
"Yes," answered Fred slowly. "And it's that other plane. They're not far behind us. They're talking to an ocean liner, and asking the ship if she's sighted us."
"By golly, if we weren't carrying these Government documents—" Jack began.
"The ship is asking who we are and who they are," Fred interrupted.
"And what are those crooks answering?" demanded Andy Flures.
Fred held up his hand for silence. Of a sudden his face took on a dark scowl. "Well, the highbinders!" he suddenly exclaimed.
"What now?" asked Don.
"They're saying," Fred answered, "that we're wanted by the Federal Government; that we have stolen papers and are seeking to transfer them to a foreign cruiser that is to meet us somewhere in the Atlantic. They say they are a Government craft in pursuit."
"All right," said Jack, again throwing full power on the engines. "One more score to settle when the reckoning comes—and I'm thinking its going to come before we reach the other side."