CHAPTER XVI.

THE ENEMY'S MOVE.

Roy's first feeling was one of indignation at the fellow's impudence.

"What do you mean by such conduct," he blurted out angrily. "Take me to
the aviation grounds at once, or----"

"That's just where we are taking you away from, young fellow," sneered
the man behind the pistol. "Ah! Don't move. I'm very nervous and if I get
excited this pistol might go off. It's very light on the trigger."

As he spoke the auto slowed down almost to a standstill, and the man who
had evidently been waiting for it, swung himself on the running board and
joined the others on the front seat. Like the driver, he wore a motoring
mask and goggles which effectively concealed his features, and yet to Roy
there was something familiar even about the muffled up figure. Once the
third man was aboard, the auto plunged forward once more at breakneck
speed. It rocked from side to side on the rough road as it flew along.
But the man with the pistol kept his weapon levelled at Roy throughout
all its jouncings and joltings.

Like a wise boy, Roy had concluded that it would be worse than foolish to
attempt any resistance to his abductors. So he sat motionless and silent
as the car tore onward through the night. He had not the least idea where
they were, nor for what place they could be bound. Nor had he yet had
time to think over the reason for this bold kidnapping.

Now, however, it was plain that the object of the trip was to take him to
some place and hold him prisoner till the aero race was over. It struck
him with cruel force that, unless he could manage to escape, the object
of the expedition seemed very likely to prove successful.

All at once the car struck a bump in the road with a violent wrenching
thud. It leaped into the air like a live thing while a frightened shout
burst from the throats of the men on the front seat. Mechanically Roy
gripped the sides of the tonneau to avoid being thrown out like a missile.

The next instant, with a rasping grind and a sickening swaying and
jouncing the car tore full tilt down the side of the road, which, at this
point, was banked, and fetched up motionless and hub-deep in a pool of
dark water.

"Don't let the kid escape," came a shout from the man who had boarded the
car on the roadside, as the auto ceased to move.

But before the words had left his lips Roy had perceived that the water
in the pond was not much more than knee high. Quick as a cat he was out