On a Torn-Away World; Or, the Captives of the Great Earthquake

to increase speed and seek to escape the second airship. And Jack wondered why his chum did not immediately se

antage over his companions that Jack had forgotten. He could he

e. The sensitive disk was a form of radio receiver which could be attached to any aviator's helmet, and was being p

within a hundred yards. The voice hailing them likewise seemed to ring in his ears very plainly; and beyond the words somewhat distinguished

he name of

caught, and for that reason he hesit

taking the advice of any of his companions in the flying machi

hat do y

rose from the blac

op in the nam

and Jack heard the words

t?" demanded Jack. "'In the

instantly. "It may be the Secret Service men themselves," he said. "Ah,

nd stood ready to withstand an attack

depths came

aboard and search her. In the nam

radio telephone out of

are. We will not put ourselves in your po

charge of his duty," cried the voice from below, and now the st

ow and Sampson. She carries as passengers Washington White, Andrew Sudds and A

all be so. But I have my suspicions. I am Ford, special agent

rd to a halt. She lay floating, with all planes extended and wit

and revealed to the vaguely anxious occupants of t

. It was a great deal smaller and apparently without hal

, as he called himself, had the occupants of the Snowbird completely at his mercy. A bomb dropped upon the huge flying ma

he way, there!"

above their heads. A light rope ladder unrolled and fell upon the upper deck, or platform of the Sno

close-cropped mustache, and gray face, colorless

flying machine. "You are Amos Henderson, sir?" he pursued, nodding to the professor. "I believe I have h

And I can vouch for my companions. These boys, my adopted sons

y delay," said Mr. Ford. "We revenue agents are extremely anxious to

suspicions are based on fact, innocent flying men like yourselves may well beware of the fellows we are after. To be frank with you," pursued Mr. Ford, "a band of desperate smuggle

d the professor. "Who are

ght smuggling gems into the port of New York. He had to pay a huge fine and served a term at Atl

s that had paid no duty-by aid of a flying machine. But the uprising in Chihuahua and along the

st, there is a strange aeroplane reported from both sides of the border, and some fine gems have ap

achine, better keep away from it," and the secret service agent laughed. "Had I been in your place I wo

iding and he ascended to his waiting craft in a few moments;

refused to lie down again, although Jack and Mark continued to operate the flying machine. The

moon and the whole heavens became misty. This cloud brought both

e boys. "I have seen a thunderstorm gather like this before.

untain top a tempest

e than fifteen hundred feet from the earth. But the boys decided to let the storm gather bene

warmly dressed. The clouds soon hid the whole earth from them and the great flying machine traveled in space, wit

White from a short nap, and the darkey was not at

disher way?" he demanded of the bo

ark told him. "I don't know erbout dat," grumbled Wash. "An' if jest one o' dem crazy lightning bolts should take it into its haid ter segastuate ero

in and about the flying machine, save for a freshening of the gale the Snowbird was at fi

across the red streak in the eastern sky-the li

manded of Andy Sudds, pointing th

along a rifle and gazing over long distances in search

so high," said Mark. "It must be an e

ll asleep and the boys paid little attention to the flying object for some time

ectric flashes was like minute guns. The Snowbird was winging its way along at about seventy-five miles p

flying Snowbird. Some object was hovering over them and they cast their eyes up

panion, but a much heavier and more rapid vehicle. And until its shado

own from a higher level, its sharp bow aimed directly for the Snowbird. Jack pushed over the s

wbird. She had the advantage of the boys' craft, too. She evidently proposed to retain her overhead p

nsmitter, and at his cry, and the bustl

everal figures moving upon her. It swooped down upon them, and Jack had

If the reckless aviator tried to ram him from above, his only esc

m ill-she was bent on their destruction. And meanwhile the thunder r

ckly-and he must determine wh