Page:Bedford-Jones--Boy Scouts of the Air at Cape Peril.djvu/80

 'Lighthouse keeper at Kitty Hawk ill. Bring Smith from Knott's Island this morning without delay. You can make it if you hurry. There's a terrible—', and that's all I could pick up, though I listened till my ears ached."

Hardy paced up and down a few moments. "Terrible what, do you suppose? Battle, murder, or sudden death?"

"You can search me. All you know is that you've got to beat it and beat it good and quick. Beckon they had too much gumption to ask you to bump a hurricane."

"Confound it!" grumbled Hardy. "When I took this job, I didn't count on carrying lighthouse keepers around over all creation. Say, run up there, will you, and try your wire again while I get some stuff together. If I've got to go, I've got to—there are no two ways about it."

As the birdman rushed through the door, he nearly unset Legs in his haste.

"Hello! Down already?" he rattled, and then, as if seized by a sudden inspiration, "Look here, old fellow, how would you like to go with me in the plane as far as Knott's Island, about twenty miles from here? I'll leave you there