et home by daylight,"
Andy went on to add.

"Events followed thick and fast after that, Andy--the coming of the
four fellows, with their faces hidden; their repulse at the hands of
yourself and the friendly Felix; then the robbery of the bank; the
breaking into our shop by men who left their cards behind in the shape
of these burglar tools; the meeting of the Chief on the road, and the
news he gave us; and last of all the coming of Percy with the startling
news that his biplane had been stolen!"

"Yes, but don't forget my seeing it sailing over just at early dawn,"
remarked the other, as Frank stooped forward for a last look around,
before starting up the powerful little Kinkaid engine. "Because that
promises to play quite a figure in the pursuit of the smart thieves;
though they may be fifty miles away from here by now, if they know how
to handle that fine biplane right."

"Hold tight; we're off!" warned Frank, as he applied the power; for the
new engine was of course a self-starter, and could be operated from his
seat with almost as much ease as might be shown in using electricity,
and pressing the button.

The hydroplane ran easily along the ground, for the bicycle wheels were
always kept in first class condition; and as the speed kept on
increasing Frank soon uptilted the plane, and like a great bird rising
from the ground, with a graceful sweep the flying machine took to the
air.

Long practice had made the Bird boys familiar with every movement
connected with the actions of an aeroplane, but at the same time they
tried to be always on their guard against being incautious. That is the
trouble with most aviators; they grow so familiar with danger that they
forget the terrible risk that always hangs over the head of every one
who soars aloft in his frail airship; and then, when finally something
happens after they have become too reckless, they never get another
chance.

Sweeping along not more than three hundred feet above the ground, the
boys were home in almost no time. They could see the car containing
Percy Carberry, and his crony, Sandy, just vanishing among the houses of
Bloomsbury; and the Chief, about half-way there, waved his hat at them
as they sped past him.

Then the aeroplane dropped lightly down close to the hangar back of the
Bird home, where Andy and his father, the professor, lived, together
with old Colonel Whympers, the veteran who used crutches or a cane on
account of his rheumatism, br