As Dave spoke the words he hauled back the Cyclone’s throttle and began to lose altitude fast. He let the Vultee glide out to sea for a bit, then banked around and headed toward the far end of the beach, away from the crash. There he banked once more until he was in line with the strip of packed sand beach. Then he let his wheels down, and glided gently forward and down.
His landing was perfect. Not a single bounce. He undid his safety and 'chute harness, and legged out of the plane with Freddy. The man in tattered clothes was stumbling toward them head down.
“Take it easy!” Dave called out cheerfully. “No rush, now. We’re here to take you off.”
“But there is a rush, my two little friends, a most urgent reason for speed. But first you will both put your hands in the air!”
For a second the sandy beach seemed to fall away from beneath Dave’s feet. He heard Freddy Farmer’s tight gasp, but he didn’t bother to glance at his pal. His eyes were glued to the man in tattered clothes before him. The man had jerked up his head at the last moment, and a small but very deadly Luger had suddenly appeared in his right hand as though by magic. And the muzzle of the Luger moved back and forth from Dave’s stomach to Freddy’s.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Nazi Cunning
It seemed to Dave that he stood there for hours staring dumbfoundedly at the man holding the Luger. The man was light-complexioned and had flaxen hair. His smile was more of a leer, but when he spoke it was perfect English that came out from between his lips.
“So you did consent to help me this time!” the man said, and broadened his smile. “That was very nice of you. I had no idea the plane carried you two, but I had to put up my little trap, anyway. You were much, much too interested in that Arado. And its pilot hasn’t enough gas to keep him flying around forever. So! And of course, I am delighted with what I’ve caught in my trap. Don’t move, either of you, or it will be death now, and not later!”