<h2 id='chap23'>CHAPTER XXIII</h2>
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<div>A NOBLE DEED</div>
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<p class='c011'>Whatever the “light” was that Hiram Dobbs
saw, he did not share the illumination with Bruce.
In fact the latter did not expect it, and asked no
questions.</p>
<p>So much had happened during the past two weeks
that had tested the sense, courage and good judgment
of the boys, that they had come to taking
things conservatively, no matter what transpired.</p>
<p>Bruce was aware that Hiram attached a great
deal of importance to the discovery of the disguised
Borden. The mention of the barograph had decidedly
stirred Hiram. Why, or wherefore, the
young pilot of the <i>Scout</i> did not just then say. Perhaps
outside of a theory he had formed, Hiram
could not clearly have told himself. At all events,
Bruce was satisfied to wait for further developments
at a time when his friend was ready to divulge
them.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum" title='173' id='Page_173'></span>The long distance flight was on for the next day.
It was the big event of the meet, with a large number
of entrants, and nothing else much was talked
of that evening or the following morning. “Biplane
and one passenger,” ran the schedule and
Hiram was glad of that.</p>
<p>“It’s a hundred and ten mile flight,” he remarked,
“and the winner will come in under two hours.”</p>
<p>“Not with that choppy northwest wind,” reminded
Dave. “There is one thing, though: the
<i>Ariel</i> is made for all kinds of weather. It really
gives the others a handicap.”</p>
<p>The contestants were fully advised as to the rules
of the race. The course was laid along the shore
of the lake and described a complete semi-circle
seventy miles in length. The turning point was at
Grand Bay. All along the course men were posted
to watch out for any deviation exceeding two miles
from the shore line of the lake. At Grand Bay it
was a straight away course back to the International
grounds.</p>
<p>The <i>Whirlwind</i> came out with Valdec in the
seat sneering and arrogant as usual. A youth about
the age of Hiram occupied the cockpit. The machines
were thus evenly matched. There were
eighteen other entrants for the event.</p>
<p>“There’re some pretty good machines in the race,
Dave,” his assistant remarked as they awaited the
starting signal.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum" title='174' id='Page_174'></span>“I see that,” replied the pilot of the <i>Ariel</i>. “We
mustn’t miss a point, or lose a yard, on turns or
drifting. Is everything all right?”</p>
<p>“As right as could be,” answered Hiram buoyantly.
“What’s the programme, a rush?”</p>
<p>“Not at the start. We won’t risk any mix up.
Let the others, particularly the <i>Whirlwind</i>, catch a
gait. Then we’ll strike the higher level and get a
clear course, if we’re lucky enough to outdistance
the others.”</p>
<p>The start was very fine. It resembled the progress
of a flock of birds trying their wings after a
rest. Mr. Brackett looked greatly pleased as the
<i>Ariel</i> did just what it had been built to do—rose
lightly, made smooth upward progress and showed
itself to be a very superior model of grace and efficiency.</p>
<p>“Oh, dear! over two hours’ blind waiting,”
sighed Bruce, as the aerial fleet spread out, and grew
less distinct, so that, even with a field glass, it was
difficult to distinguish one machine from another.</p>
<p>“There’s a breakdown!” Hiram announced, just
as they passed the first observation station on the
lake shore.</p>
<p>It was number six, a rather poor craft, and Dave
could tell from its maneuvers that some of its gearing
had gone wrong.</p>
<p>At the end of fifty miles, Hiram, watching out in
every direction, gave a quick cry of satisfaction.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum" title='175' id='Page_175'></span>“I’ve counted them,” he told his chum. “The
ragtag and bobtail fell out before we got forty
miles. There’re two men even with us below, Dave.
That one pegging away on the lower level is the
<i>Whirlwind</i>.”</p>
<p>“Yes, and doing very finely,” commented Dave.
“There’re the smokestacks of Grand Bay ahead.”</p>
<p>“Speed up, Dave,” urged Hiram, his usual excitable
nature getting the best of him.</p>
<p>The young aviator did not reply, but all his expert
senses were on the alert. So far as he could
judge, he had now but three rivals to fear. The
<i>Whirlwind</i> was in the lead, but not for any great
distance and would have to change its level when a
turn was due.</p>
<p>Dave had a point in view in first ascertaining the
number of his real rivals, and then their possible
capabilities in the return flight. The wind had
steadily grown stronger with the hours. The lake
was rough and muddy, and a cloud film had overspread
the sky.</p>
<p>To fly to the best advantage when the turn was
made at Grand Bay, Dave saw that a system of
tacking and circling would be necessary. The <i>Ariel</i>
had been built purposely to meet these exigencies.
He doubted if any of the three other machines could
go through on any great rate of speed.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum" title='176' id='Page_176'></span>“I am sure of one thing,” he reckoned quite confidently;
“the <i>Ariel</i> can outdo the <i>Whirlwind</i> two
to one in drifting with the wind at its stern.”</p>
<p>“Dave! I say, Dave!” cried Hiram Dobbs
breathlessly. “Here comes the <i>Whirlwind</i>!”</p>
<p>“I see,” answered Dave calmly.</p>
<p>“She’s turning, she’s first in rounding for the
home run. Can’t you speed up?”</p>
<p>Dave kept his eye on the machine he regarded as
his principal rival. He watched its maneuvering
narrowly. The <i>Whirlwind</i> had indeed turned, but
now it was evident it had to contend with new and
more difficult conditions.</p>
<p>“It’s one thing to face the wind, and quite another
to run away from it. Watch the control, Hiram,”
directed Dave.</p>
<p>“I’ve got both eyes in use,” reported his assistant.</p>
<p>“Now then,” said Dave simply. “Careful!”</p>
<p>He circled the point where a group of men were
gathered, one with a white flag in his hand. This
individual stood near a score board, and tallied off
the machines as they passed.</p>
<p>The <i>Ariel</i> made a sort of leap, as her pilot
brought the machine broadside to the fierce breeze.
In two minutes the young aviator comprehended,
and analyzed, the conditions as would an expert
running a yacht.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum" title='177' id='Page_177'></span>“A fog is coming up, and it’s misting,” announced
Hiram. “We’re not cutting due west, are
we?”</p>
<p>“Not on this occasion,” responded Dave coolly.
“Hiram, we’ll make time and distance drifting
south of the grounds. When we strike the land
breeze it will be easier to fight our way back north.”</p>
<p>“You know best, Dave,” said Hiram, and then
for a full quarter of an hour nothing further was
said. Dave did some fine maneuvering. Hiram followed
the signals given him as to the rear control
apparatus, a mission that relieved the pilot from a
sort of double duty under the present stress.</p>
<p>The muggy air prevented the young airman from
making out what had become of the <i>Whirlwind</i> or
their trailers. Dave had steadied quite successfully
on a lateral course when Hiram leaned over towards
him.</p>
<p>“Dave,” he spoke quickly—“to the left, and a
little ahead.”</p>
<p>“I see—a craft of some kind on the lake.”</p>
<p>“And a flag of distress—why, look! Dave,
they’ve put off a raft, and it’s swamped.”</p>
<p>The young pilot lessened the speed of the <i>Ariel</i>.
He eased its progress through a sliding drift. This
brought them nearer to the craft tossing on the
waters below.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum" title='178' id='Page_178'></span>“Water-logged and sinking!” exclaimed Hiram
excitedly. “Dave, it’s a real peril! See, the
ship has no wireless, and their lifeboat is gone.
She can’t last long, Dave!”</p>
<p>Dave had turned the head of the <i>Ariel</i> straight
back landwards. In a flash his assistant understood.</p>
<p>“Top speed for a rescue steamer, or the life-saving
service,” announced Dave. His voice was
slightly unsteady, for he realized the sacrifice he
was about to make. “There’re women and children
aboard that boat.”</p>
<p>“Yes, we’ve got to lose the race!” cried Hiram
in disappointed tones.</p>
<p>“Better that than forget our humane duty,” responded
the young pilot of the <i>Ariel</i>, but he said it
with a sinking heart.</p>
<p>The wind was now coming by fits and starts, and
the sky looked anything but encouraging to the
young airmen.</p>
<p>“We’re in for a nasty blow, Dave,” came from
Hiram, anxiously.</p>
<p>“Looks that way.”</p>
<p>“It’s bad for that schooner.”</p>
<p>“So it is.”</p>
<p>“Do you think we can get help in time?”</p>
<p>“We’ve got to do it, Hiram. Think of those
on board—maybe women and children as well as
men!” and our hero shook his head sadly.</p>
<p>“It’s quite a run.”</p>
<p>“I know that as well as you do.”</p>
<p><span class="pagenum" title='179' id='Page_179'></span>“And to miss winning that prize——”</p>
<p>“Do you want to win and let those people
drown?”</p>
<p>“No, no, never!”</p>
<p>“Then don’t say anything more about that prize.”</p>
<p>“I won’t, Dave. Yes, run for shore, and get
help as soon as possible.”</p>
<p>“I’ll do it—and we’ll save those poor people.
Hiram, there may be——”</p>
<p>Dave did not have time to finish what he was
going to say. A sudden gust of wind had struck the
air craft, sending it whirling off its course.</p>
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<div> <span class="pagenum" title='180' id='Page_180'></span></div>
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