Toby looked up admiringly. “Now, then, what reason would you say made anybody want to take this—” He put a stubby finger on the tracing, looking up with a curious intensity in his gaze that surprised and startled Chick a little.
“I—I guess I give that up.”
“I guess you’ll have to! Son—look at this thing. Hold it up to the light!”
Astonished, Chick did so.
“Notice anything odd about it?”
“Some of the ink has run——”
“That’s part of it, son. The part that has run is——”
“Wait!” cried Chick, thrilling with a discovery. “The wings and the struts, and some of the ‘empennage’—the tail assembly—is done in India waterproof ink!——”
“Not alone that.” Toby became very serious. “That’s no design of an airplane, my lad. That’s—but, here! Gosh-a-mighty! I’m forgetting that you’re sopping wet and cold, and the folks at home will be having a search party out after you. Let’s get my dory and I’ll row you down to the ‘base.’” He caught up the lantern as Chick picked up the tracing.
“Wait!” begged Chick. “If it isn’t an airplane—what is it?”