old that the biplane was in the
water. If the engine had broken loose there was a pretty fair chance
that the craft with its long extended planes would float, and even bear
up the two aviators. Perhaps the quick-witted Casper Blue had looked out
for just such a contingency, and found a way to free the framework from
the dead weight of the motor.

Frank had all he could do to manipulate his own craft, for in order to
alight successfully, even as a wild duck does, he must make a turn, and
head up into the wind.

That meant the passage of a certain length of time; and meanwhile who
could say what might not be happening to the imperiled men?

On the other hand, Andy could not tear his horrified gaze away from the
wreck of the fallen biplane; and it was really upon him that the
navigator must depend for his information as to how things were going.

Fortunately Andy could talk as well as look; no matter if his tongue did
show a decided inclination to cleave to the roof of his mouth with
horror, he managed to find a way to make it wag.

"It floats, Frank, sure it floats!" he ejaculated, presently, even as
the other was in the act of making a sweeping curve, and skilfully
ducking a squally puff of wind, turn back over the course they had just
covered, to sink down upon the heaving waters when he found the chance.
"Yes, they must have kicked the engine overboard. That makes three poor
old Perc has lost, don't it? There they are, both of 'em, squattin' in
the middle of the wreck, just as cool as you please, awaitin' for us to
call in and take 'em off. Hope it don't sink before we c'n get back. If
either one can't swim they'd go down like a stone. Now you're around,
Frank; and we're heading straight for the place. Hurrah! Hold hard there
and we'll lend you a helpin' hand!"

He even waved toward the two men by now pretty well submerged in the
water, but who seemed to be still clinging to the floating aeroplane, as
though recognizing that their position might be much more desperate
should they cut loose from that buoy.

Frank was watching closely, to pick out a favorable opportunity to
alight. Well did he know the chances he and his chum were taking in thus
dropping upon the heaving surface of such a tremendous body of water as
Lake Ontario. It was true that they had successfully performed this
operation many times with their other hydroplane, but that was upon the
much calmer waters of little Sunrise Lake, where the sea neve