Then, applying rudder and other controls to check the slip, dropping the nose again to pick up flying speed quickly, he saw why the maneuver had been executed. The cabin airplane had begun to dive down from above them. Lang, having seen it, anticipated. He had not wanted to wrest away control—too dangerous. He had risked the signal, and Bob had executed his order accurately.
He was glad, all the same, when Lang shook the stick, tapped on his own helmet to sign that he wanted the controls.
Bob relinquished them thankfully enough. At night, in strange surroundings, in an airplane he had only handled a little, he was not foolish enough to wish to risk neck and limb—far less Lang’s than his own!—by trying to outfly a pilot who evidently meant to be vicious, to resort to war tactics if they did not obey his signals.
Lang, somewhat recovered, took over and Bob, delighted, watched his expert manipulation of the splendid little ship. She answered his every command. He barrel-rolled out of the way of any immediate danger, thus leaving the cabin craft well to one side. He started up a loop after a swift dive, but at its top he executed half of a barrel-roll, and since the top of the loop had the nose in the direction opposite their course, the half-roll put the craft on its level, upright course, but going directly away from the former one.
The cabin ship could not be stunted that way, or else its pilot against his will was compelled to recognize superior tactics.
At any rate, as Lang swung around in a wide circle, slowly climbing at the same time, the other craft seemed to be heading uncertainly back.
It came around, however, as soon as Langley straightened out on the former course along the airway; but they rapidly outflew it and when they landed at an airport in the distant city suburbs, the cabin ship was nowhere in sight.
It was nearly eleven o’clock at night when Bob and Langley were ushered up the hotel elevator and along a corridor and into Mr. Wright’s rooms.
The detective, who had been apprised, long distance, by his wife, that his nephew was flying to keep the appointment, was waiting.
Hardly had his surprise at Bob’s presence been expressed and a late supper for the air-hungered pair been ordered than another visitor was announced.