akes three times he's tried it, Frank!"

"And I guess he can try the other three without doing us any damage,
Andy."

"You believe that, do you?" asked the one spoken to.

"Sure thing," Frank replied positively. "Why, it would be one chance in
ten thousand that he could strike any part of our aeroplane at that
distance, going as both of us are, and with only a revolver. I'd be
willing to let him blaze away all day, without being a bit afraid. But
I'm bound that the two air crafts must keep at least this distance
apart."

The man in the other airship did fire three more times, but without any
success whatever. And as though the rival navigator realized that
Frank's tactics would effectually prevent his coming into closer contact
with the pursuing craft, he no longer tried to close in, but increasing
his speed, was quickly about the old distance away.

Whereupon Frank Bird also hit up the pace cautiously.

"That's the ticket!" cried out Andy, presently. "I guess we're holding
our own again now. For a little while I began to be afraid that they
were going to just make us take their dust, and give us the merry ha-ha,
vanishing in the distance. But now I know you've got the twist of the
thing down fine, Frank, and can haul up on the biplane, or drop back,
just as you feel like."

For a long time they kept on, neither saying anything, for talking is
always more or less of an effort when speeding along in an aeroplane,
with the wind striking one in the face.

Frank had had no time to fully adjust the muffler which he usually wore
about his neck when about to soar to a dizzy height, so he would have to
do the best he could; and besides, there was little chance of the other
aeroplane venturing to bore upward to any unusual degree, all the
efforts of the bank thieves being directed toward making their escape.

He did have his goggles adjusted, however, which was a good thing, since
his eyes must have watered very much from the cold air; and this is
considered an ever present source of danger to one who manipulates the
levers of a mile-a-minute aeroplane.

"We seem to have dropped a good deal lower, Frank," remarked Andy, after
another space of time had elapsed.

"Yes," remarked the pilot, tersely.

"And I'm looking now for a good chance to make use of one of my bombs;
don't you think it's about time to try the scheme out?" Andy continued.

"Just as you feel like," replied Frank.

"Then at the very next town, or p