At last, after half an hour of tiring work, Helen drew to a halt.
"We're about opposite the place where the air-ship is moored," said she.
"That's where we want to be," answered Matt. "Make for the edge of the island, Helen, as close to the air-ship as you can get."
Once more the girl started off. The bushes thinned perceptibly as they came closer and closer to the solid ground. This rendered the going easier, and it also enabled Matt and the girl to make less noise in getting through the undergrowth. In nearing the island they redoubled their caution, and when they finally reached a spot from which they could look out and take in the situation in the vicinity of the "roost" and the air-ship, they congratulated themselves on the care they had exercised.
They were not more than a dozen feet from the place where the Hawk was secured.
Two rifles were leaning against the car, and two of the men—Grove and Needham—were sitting on the ground, occasionally looking aloft.
Brady, Whipple and Pete were no where in sight.
"We must have crippled that air-ship of Jerrold's pretty badly," Needham was saying. "If King hadn't made this delay for us, the Hawk would have been well away on her first trip."
"That kid is a slippery customer," growled Grove. "The old man is riled for fair over the way he's cuttin' up."