Bill Bolton-Flying Midshipman

A fine hot day-an'

pward from a soft pillow into the

la done tell yo'all 'bout me

h me, Sam," he yawned. "Did you really

me to wake yo'all." The old darkey seemed a bit flustered. "Ef yo'll kindly tell me h

yes, and your voice is music. Lead me to that bath you mentioned,

e eggs

here's plenty of them, you cook

De bathroom's through

reshly laundered uniforms of white duck met at the

f, Osceola?" grinned Bill as he stoo

t the table. "They tell me that clothes don't make the man, but-well, I'd

led his coffee cup. "Rest, good food and decent clothes, not to speak of a bath, s

robably a darn sight more comfortable than the lad who owns them. It must be g

uth full of buttered toast. "In fact, I'll leave a note on

ned Osceola, "but you're the b

e plane schedule

the air about ten.

helmet and goggles for each of us will be a grand help to this disguise. What's worrying me is the getting down there. If t

to shoot our way out and beat it down to the plane. Maybe we'll make it and maybe we won'

Come in here, Sam," he called. Then as the darkey appeared t

with you!" The old man's voice was

you go," de

. 'Deed he will. I done give up all hope o'

nd clapped him

ase in there, and there's one in the other bedroom, too. Pack them with anything you please, and follow us down to the dock with bo

hen, after rummaging about, he found paper and pencil. A moment or two la

much of a chance we'll ha

what I've heard, there are always passengers to b

ngers! But Dad and I have slews of friends in Miami, and we may need fri

er. I want to see this place and Shel

thing more

t's

-with the passengers, I mean-well-I'm no

crash he

that-a

of the last few weeks over again. If there's no other way out, crash her. That'

ng a couple of suitcases. "I'se all

Bill, "my vote goes for a spee

ided cap and clapped it on his head. "It a

e so as to get it over

oth just a bit beyond ourselves at present. Let's get ou

and followed Osceola,

ngy cur or two and a remarkably thin cat, was deserted. The members of Martinengo's company who were not driving his slaves in the swamp preferre

the guardhouse with

hat held the gates. "Nuthin' ter do but take nice breezy rides and have niggers to

enough for one man to pass through at

thing smaller than a demi-grand. Sam, if the worthy turn-key insists

grinning from ear to ear, bringing up the rear. Through

ole waited for his white friend, then paced

He's used to getting an earful from the pilots, I'll bet. And returning it with interest

"But I'm a blushing rose today when it comes to showing my lovely ph

ion windows ran the length of the cabin, and a door at the rear led direct to the prison hold in which Bill had made the trip from Shell Island. Investigation proved that the wooden

e could be so heavy. The Martinengos certainly are making a

mly. "Let's go up front. I haven't seen a hole a mouse could hide in so far, much less Sam. Perhap

opens into the pilot's coc

s' seats and complete dual control of the wheel and column type. A three piece glass windshield g

remarked. "Luxurious dev

y is a big ship. Do you know anything about her? I

. But I can fly her all right, once I've seen that her tanks are full and tested her three engines. The man who assembled this ship kne

any passengers, they're likely to spot us for what we are. I'm not eager to shirk a fight, you

t it just won't work. I thought of the same thing on the way down here. Cast your eye yonder, old spo

broad mound of earth, half way up the incline toward the stockade, the ugl

usy'-as you call it. I'm going to give the ship a looking

as a study in ch

d forgotten about that gun. Tell m

n the deck, and curl up so your legs don't show. The partition will screen you from

gwine dar now. I ain'

is hideaway and Bil

ake off. So if anyone shows curiosity, pretend to be fixing something on the instrument board. You'll find a screwdriver in the locker, I guess. That ought to help the picture fifty percent at least," he grinne

tarted or something?" Osceola's voice was muff

rat. There'll be a guy down here to give me orders, all right. From what we know, the pilots o

pointedly, as he adjusted the chinstrap of his helmet. "If it

the way

iend's shoulder and