“No,” replied the stranger. “You carried me up before I could get off again. I—hey! Give me that——”
“What is this book?” queried Frank, hauling it out of the man’s pocket and glancing at the pages.
The man strove to snatch it away, but Frank was too quick for him and prevented it.
One glance at the contents was enough for him—the book was filled with drawings of the mechanism of the airship.
“He’s a thief!” cried Frank, flushing with indignation. “He has simply come aboard to steal my patents. Here is the proof!”
He held up the book to the view of his companions.
The man slunk back with a scowl of alarm on his face, for he realized that his real motive was betrayed, and that all the contradictions he could make would be of no avail in the face of such damaging evidence.
For a moment a deep silence ensued.
“Holy snake!” ejaculated the detective. “That’s a daisy game!”
“Frow de dirty white trash overboard!” indignantly roared Pomp.