looked as though they might
be of more than ordinary importance among the boys of Rock-ford. These
he particularly picked out, and asked them to assist the police officer
to keep the crowd back until they could get a good start, at the same
time explaining that a clear passage would have to be made ahead, and
that anyone getting in the way might not only be seriously injured, but
wreck the machine as well.

Proud to have been thus honored, the six boys proceeded to push back the
gaping crowd and when Frank gave the word, also assisted in starting the
hydroplane on its way.

A salvo of loud cheers rang out when they started, and this burst into a
furious chorus as the well balanced aeroplane presently left the ground
to start upward into the air.

"I'm glad that's over with," said Andy, when they were safely off the
ground, and the shouts of Rockford's enthusiastic population began to
grow fainter in the distance.

"Same here," echoed Frank, "you never know what will happen when a crowd
is pushing all around you, every fellow eager to just say he had hold of
a flying machine. There's always one or two of the lot ready to hang on
and risk their lives just to see how it feels to be carried up on an
aeroplane. They're the kind I'm most afraid of."

"Well, did you get Police Headquarters in Bloomsbury, Frank?"

"No trouble about that; and our old friend, Officer Green, was in charge
during the absence of the Chief," the other Bird boy answered.

"Anything new developed since we left?" asked Andy.

"Just one thing, and Joe thought it meant a whole lot," Frank went on to
say.

"Which was what?" inquired the other.

"A man came hurrying in and told how he had seen a flying machine
containing two parties just after daybreak, and making directly toward
the southwest, Andy. What do you think of that now for news?"

His cousin gave a whistle.

"Whew! important, if true!" he vouchsafed, tersely.

"That sounds as if you had some trouble believing it?" chuckled Frank.

"Well, considering what I saw myself, I'd have to know the name of this
party first, before I'd believe anything he said," Andy went on.

"Oh! You know him, alright; fact is, we were speaking of the same not a
great while back," Frank observed, quietly.

"Don't make me start in guessing, Frank, because we've been talking of a
dozen people; but tell me right out who it is," Andy pleaded.

"The pilot of the Mermaid, Andy!"

"Gee! Do you mean Todd Pe