it. Seemed like the
whole bunch just fell over after he shot; and like as not each fellow
got his share of the Number Eights somewhere in his legs. But how about
this job the Chief asked us to engineer, Frank? Are we going to start
off on that little spin up the lake; and d'ye guess we could get a
pointer about where the two thieves have gone?"

"We might try, anyhow; no harm in that," was his cousin's reply, as he
turned once more toward the hydroplane that lay near by.

"I remember we had great luck that other time, when we discovered that
the men who broke into Leffingwell's place were hiding in that old cabin
up in the woods. Perhaps the same story might be repeated, who knows?
They call it the Bird boys' luck, Frank; but then, we work for all we
get, and ought to have a little credit when we win out. If we made a bad
job of things, the same people would be quick to say we didn't know our
business. Shall we go back to the shop first?"

"That would be the only way," replied Frank. "If we're going to take on
this dangerous job of looking up yeggmen who have broken into a bank,
and looted it, why, it seems to me we ought to make a little
preparation. Of course, about all we expect to do is to scout around,
and see if we can pick up any information with the aid of our marine
glasses. It's hardly to be expected that two boys would take the chance
of trying to nab a couple of reckless thieves, who must be armed and
desperate."

"But if the opening came, Frank, we wouldn't let it slip by, would we?"
asked Andy, always willing to go to the limit, when temptation beckoned.

"Perhaps not," answered the other, smilingly; "but there's no use
crossing a bridge till we come to it, so we won't bother any more about
that. Get aboard, Andy, and we'll head for home again."

"Just think of all that's happened since we had that little accident
yesterday afternoon, up near the Quackenboss place?" Andy went on to
say, as he complied with his cousin's request, and settled himself in
his seat, leaving the piloting of the machine to Frank.

"There has been quite a little run of excitement, that's a fact," mused
the other; "first the accident, and our great good luck in making a
landing without breaking a thing, including our precious necks."

"Then the discovery of Percy and Sandy looking at the hydroplane lying
there, and hurrying away as if they had already laid a plan to come back
and pay a night visit, if they failed to see us g