l, you see," said Bob mischievously, "I've got to keep you out of
danger for Della's sake. Ouch! Wow! Letup. Can't you take a joke."

For, lame shoulder notwithstanding, Frank leaped and, bowling the big
fellow out of his chair, got astride of his writhing body and began to
pummel him.

CHAPTER XXII

FLYING TO THE RESCUE

"Come on. Strip."

It was Bob talking, and the command was addressed to Morales and Von
Arnheim. Tom Bodine stood guard over them with leveled revolver.

"But, why?" protested Von Arnheim.

"Ask us no questions an' we'll tell you no lies," said Tom, waving his
weapon. "Jest do what you're tole."

Sullenly the two men obeyed. When their outer clothing had been
removed, and they stood revealed in light-weight undergarments--a well
set-up powerful pair of men, about the height of Jack and Bob although
neither was so sturdy as the latter--Bob halted them.

"That's enough," he said. "Here put these around you."

And he tossed them rubber ponchos which they threw around their
shoulders.

Scooping up the discarded clothing of the two men, Bob and Jack
retired to the radio room. Stripping quickly, Jack dressed in Morales'
clothing and Bob in that of the German aviator. This arrangement was
adopted because Jack could speak Spanish with considerable fluency and
thus fitted into the role of the Mexican. Bob, on the other hand, was
better adapted to pass as the German who, they had been informed by
Roy Stone, spoke Spanish only awkwardly.

"Buenos dios, Senor," said Jack, bowing gracefully.

"Ach du lieber Augustine," answered Bob, standing at salute.

They burst into hearty laughter, in which they were joined by Frank
and Roy Stone, who were present at the transformation.

"How will we do?" asked Jack.

Stone eyed them critically.

"To fellows that know Morales and Von Arnheim only by sight," he said,
"you will pass for them easily enough. Both of them are smooth-shaven,
which is unusual, for Mexicans and Germans both favor mustaches. But
that's all the better for you boys.

"One thing you want to remember," he said to Bob, "and that is to walk
pretty stiffly like you had a bone in your leg an' swallowed a ramrod.
That's the way Von Arnheim always steps out, An' both of you keep your
hats pulled down."

"Now you boys have got the bearings I gave you. You can easy enough
find the landing field, even in the darkness. It's a big meadow as
flat as a table, with the ranch house and out