"We know the air-ship came from South Chicago. I don't believe there are very many air-ships in that place, and if we inquire around a little we ought to be able to find out who owns the Hawk."
"Righdt you vas! Somevay, Matt, you always know vat to do ven eferypody else iss guessing. Shall ve ged indo der car und go pack to der pig city py vay oof Sout' Chicago?"
"That's our cue. If we can discover who owns the Hawk we'll leave these papers there for him."
Matt rolled up the envelope and the papers and stowed them safely away in his pocket.
"I know dere vas some niggers in der vood-pile, all righdt," averred Carl. "Two fellers vouldn't go off mit an air-ship dey don'd know how to run oof eferyt'ing vas like it ought to be."
"There may be a whole lot of sense in what you say, Carl," replied Matt, "and then, again, the explanation of the queer layout may be extremely simple. Don't get to imagining things, old chap, but coil up that rope and throw it into the car. We'll carry it back to South Chicago and leave it at the same place we leave this roll of blue prints."
While Carl was coiling up the rope, Matt gave his attention to the automobile. When Carl arrived and threw the rope into the tonneau, Matt was busy with the crank.
Presently they were in the car and headed back along the return course.
Hardly had they got under good headway, however, when a flurry of dust showed in the road ahead of them. As the wind blew the dust aside, a horse and buggy with two men broke into view.
In accordance with the rules of the road, Matt slowed down to make sure the horse did not take fright at the automobile. The horse was going at a run, and the men seemed to be excited.