the package.

"I want to take this along--rockets; to let them know we're coming.
Then they'll have flares for us to land by."

"Been planning on some night-riding, hunh?"

"Naturally; I would plan for every contingency that could possibly
arise."

"Hunh. That covers them planes that have been line-riding over this
way, too, I reckon." Johnny climbed down and prepared to pump a little
more air into one tire.

"Possibly. Don't let those airplanes worry you, old man. They have to
catch us, you know."

"No? I ain't worrying about 'em. The one that does the thinking on
this job can do the worrying. I'm paid to fly." Johnny laughed sourly
as he glanced up from where he squatted beside the wheel.

"Let it go at that. Are you about ready? It will be dark in another
half hour--dark enough to fly, at least." Cliff was moving about
restlessly in the gloom under the tree. For all his earlier
exhilaration he seemed nervous, in haste to be done.

"You said moonlight," Johnny reminded him, putting away the pump.

"I know, but it's best to get out of here and over the line in the
dark, I think. The moon will be up in less than an hour. Be ready to
leave in half an hour--and don't start the motor until the very last
minute. Mateo has not come back yet. If they are holding him--"

"I'm ready to go when you are. Let's run her out before it's plumb
dark under here. She can't be seen in this light very far--and if a
man comes close enough to see her, he'd get wise anyway. Uh course,"
he apologized quickly, "that's more thinking than I'm paid to do, but
you got to let me think a little bit now and then, or I can't fly no
two thousand dollars worth to-night."

"I meant thinking about my part in the game. All right, I've got her
right, on this side. Take up the tail and let's run her out."

In the open the children were running back and forth, playing tag and
squealing over the hazards of the game. When the Thunder Bird rolled
out with its outspread wings and its head high and haughty, they gave a
final dash at one another and rushed off to get wheelbarrow and stick
horses. They were well trained--shamefully well trained in the game of
cheating.

Johnny looked at them glumly, with an aversion born of their uncanny
obedience, their unchildlike shrewdness. Fine conspirators they would
make later on, when they grew a few years older and more cunning!

"Head her into the wind so I can take the air right a