“Has anything happened to the Aegis?”
“Why, what could happen?” inquired Hiram in a puzzled way.
“It’s all right?”
“It was an hour ago, when I was up at the camp. Mr. King was oiling things up himself, and in a great stew about you, but the Aegis was the same old beauty.”
Dave heaved an immense sigh of relief. They were just then passing the shed into which he had run to escape his pursuers the evening previous. Dave was about to point it out to his companion and relate his adventures, when he noticed a big placard on the side of the shed.
“What’s that, Hiram?” he asked.
“Oh, that?” repeated Hiram. “It’s the talk of the meet. That’s Marvin’s monoplane, you know.”
“Yes,” nodded Dave.
“Well, some one sneaked into the hangar last night, when all hands were away, and wrecked the machine.”
“Why!” exclaimed Dave suddenly—and then added to himself: “I understand!”