“It will be better to go up easy, I think,” agreed Ned.
Accordingly, the auto was parked in a secluded place, and, taking Koku with them to identify the robbers should the men prove to be those under suspicion, the chums cautiously approached the clump of trees.
As they drew near they could see that a sort of camp had been established about the aeroplane which was painted blue. It was a large machine, as Koku had said.
Several men were observed moving about a small tent that had been set up, and in the light of lanterns Tom and Ned counted five separate figures. They crept near enough to overhear some of the talk.
“Well, Blodgett, what’s the next move?” some one asked.
Tom nudged Ned.
“That’s the man Mary heard spoken of,” he whispered. “He’s the one who was going to ‘fix things.’ ”
“He seems to have done so,” murmured Ned grimly. “Listen!”
“Well, we might as well divide the stuff and separate,” came the answer to the one who had asked Blodgett the question. And at the sound of this voice Tom whispered:
“That’s Barsky. I’m sure of it!”