Jerry passed his chum the glasses, and no sooner had the merchant’s son gotten a good view than he exclaimed:
“You’re right! It’s Brown and Black sure enough.”
“You don’t mean to say you can make out faces at that distance,” exclaimed Bob incredulously. “Let me have a peep.”
“I can’t see their faces,” declared Ned, “but I’m sure it’s them, for it’s their machine, and they’re so touchy that they wouldn’t let any one else run it. It’s them sure.”
“I believe you,” commented Jerry. “Those are the two mysterious men we met at the hotel.”
“I wonder where they’re going?” mused Bob, as he took another look. “They’re flying high for amateurs.”
“They’ll reach Harmolet if they keep on in that direction long enough,” declared Ned. “It may be that they’re going to the meet at Colton.”
“It’s too soon for that,” was Jerry’s opinion. “But it certainly is odd that we should see those fellows again. Let me have another look, Bob.”
It was difficult now, even with the powerful glasses, to discern the aeroplane, for it was almost hidden in the haze of the upper regions. In a few seconds more it had entirely disappeared, and Jerry putting up the field glasses, started the auto.
The boys discussed the curious sight, speculating on the destination of Brown and Black, and then branched off on matters connected with their own motorship. By this time they had reached Cresville, and stopped at a garage, the owner of which promised to send out a powerful car, with ropes and pulleys, to haul Noddy from the ditch.
“Well, that’s over,” remarked Jerry, as they turned toward the home of the tall lad, where the auto was kept. “We’ve had plenty of excitement.”
“But it isn’t over yet,” said Bob quickly.
“There comes Andy Rush, and he acts as though he had something to tell us,” went on the stout lad.
Standing on the sidewalk, just ahead of them, and waving his arms about like those of a miniature windmill, was a small lad, bearing every evidence of great nervousness. He was jumping up and down, now running forward a few steps, and then coming to a halt.
As soon as the motor boys were within hailing distance he called to them:
“I say--stop--wait a minute--great excitement--maybe somebody killed--mine blown up perhaps--all the gold gone--maybe someone wants to buy your motorship--special message--don’t know what’s in it--fortune for you--maybe--here is it--saw you coming--ran out to stop you--I have it--open it quick--whoop! up in the air--down again--start over--here you are!” and with that Andy Rush, for it was indeed he, passed over to Jerry a yellow envelope--a telegram.