A twist of the right hand got the machinery to going, and a jerk of the left gave the steering rudder the proper angle.
Rising swiftly, the Hawk turned her nose toward the wagon road. From their high elevation, Harris, Burton, and Carl were able to see the automobile, far in the distance and making along the La Grange road.
"Turn her to the right, Matt!" cried Harris, "and we'll bear away in the direction of La Grange. It may be a hopeless chase, but we've got to do what we can."
"Tough luck if those scoundrels get away, after all the trouble they've caused," muttered Burton.
"And it will be tough on me," said Harris, "if I can't get back that automobile!"
[CHAPTER XV.]
THE CAPTURE OF PETE AND WHIPPLE.
There was one big advantage the Hawk had over the automobile, and it was presently to make itself manifest to all in the air ship. The road which the fleeing robbers had taken was a very rough one, and a few moments after they had been sighted by those in the Hawk, Whipple and Pete turned into another road, which ran at right angles with the one along which they had first started.
"They're not headed for La Grange, that's a cinch," commented Burton.