onse.

"Well, you guessed right that time, for that is what it is called, a
hydroplane; because it can be navigated on the water as well as in the
air. And if you'll please stand back, so as not to bother with anything,
because the least handling may put the whole machine out of tune, I'll
be glad to tell you something about how we manage to use it as a boat."

Andy knew how to manage, and he exerted himself to entertain the crowd
while Frank was absent, keeping their interest aroused by little
stories of things that had happened to birdmen in recent times, and
which were of course well known to him, from the fact that both the
cousins kept in close touch with all that went on in the world of
aviation.

All the while Andy was keeping one anxious eye out for the sign of a
blue uniform and brass buttons, while new additions kept arriving
constantly to swell the eager crowd gathered on the park green.

In the end he was vastly relieved to discover a policeman hurrying up,
looking as serious as though he expected to discover a fight, or two
youngsters matching pet roosters, to the delight of the gathered host;
for since the flying machine lay on the ground it was mostly concealed
from his view; and he would never have known what it was anyway.

Of course, when he arrived on the scene and took command Andy quickly
gained his favor by a little subtle flattery; and after that felt that
he was, as he himself expressed it, "on Easy Street."

Meanwhile Frank had proceeded direct to the drugstore on the corner,
about two blocks away from the end of the green, where they had told
him he could talk over the long distance phone with Bloomsbury.

He was pleased to find that they had a regular booth in the store; for
he knew of numerous cases where the phone simply stood on a little
stand, and everybody could hear what the subject of the talk might be,
especially one side of it.

Once closeted in the booth he hastened to ask for connection with Police
Headquarters at Bloomsbury. There was some little delay, as though these
long distance calls might be of rare occurrence in the local Central;
but finally he received notice that connection had been made, and he was
at liberty to start his message.

"Hello! this Bloomsbury?" Frank asked first of all in a cautious way.

"Yes," came the reply, distinctly enough.

"And is this Police Headquarters?"

"Yes."

"This is Frank Bird speaking and we are over in Rockford; get that?"