“Let’s take a last look for the blue machine,” suggested Ned. Carefully he scanned the heavens above them and the earth below them for a sight of the robbers, but saw nothing. Then, having passed far beyond the thunderstorm, they made a descent in a lonely field where they passed the night.
It was about ten o’clock the following morning and they had been under way for about an hour when Tom, using the glasses while Ned ran the Blackbird, suddenly uttered an exclamation.
“What is it?” asked his chum eagerly.
“The blue machine, I think!” cried Tom. “I think I see her hidden down there under some trees. Circle a bit to the left, Ned.”
When this had been done, Tom meanwhile looking down, the young inventor cried:
“There she is! We’ve spotted them. The blue machine is down there! Now for a trick!”
CHAPTER XXIV
A NIGHT WATCH
Tom Swift made up his mind quickly. He generally did so in an emergency, and this was one of those times. While he still held the powerful glasses focused on that clump of trees amid the green of which he had spotted that glimpse of blue, he called to Ned:
“Put her about five points to the south!”
“The south?” cried Ned. “What’s the idea!”