"Well, I'm planning to spend my vacation here. I didn't expect to arrive so soon, but some friends were coming this way, so I dropped in unannounced."
"We all like this kind of a surprise," assured the captain, just as Dunk Rivers came up and said he was wanted on the telephone.
"I guess I can leave you with the boys, Hawke," said the captain, after introducing Dunk.
"You bet. I like boys--especially aeroplane boys."
"Maybe you can give them some pointers about the mystery at the Phipps ranch," Mr. Crawford called back as he hurried away.
"We'll tell you about that," volunteered Jerry, in answer to Mr. Hawke's look of inquiry, and, assisted by Fly, Dunk and Fred, he told the story of the runaway and the loss of sheep at the ranch.
"And this trouble has been going on about a month?" asked Mr. Hawke. "Looks to me as if your Indian friend is pretty near right. It must be some kind of flesh-eating animal or bird that is doing the damage. So you boys are going to trail him down?"
"We've formed a Boy Scout Patrol," continued Jerry; "ordered our uniforms an' everythin'. Fred's leader."
"Splendid," exclaimed Mr. Hawke heartily. "I used to be scout master of a bunch of fellows down at Fort Omaha, but my work got so pressing that I was obliged to give it up. I enjoyed it though."
"Gee, that's fine. Glad you're goin' to stay all summer," exclaimed Fred.
"How are you going to carry on this hunt?" asked the aviator.
"We haven't just decided yet," replied Jerry. "Got to figure that out."
"If it's a bird it seems to me you ought to have an aeroplane," suggested Mr. Hawke, his eyes twinkling as he watched for the effect this would have on the boys.
"Of course," chimed in Dunk. "We could fly right after him then."
"That would be the way to do it," said Mr. Hawke, pleased with their enthusiasm. "Can't you manage to build a machine here at the fort?" he added.
"Mebbe Mr. Phipps would help us out," cried Fly at once, taking the suggestion seriously.
"But we don't know nothin' at all about it," said Dunk.
"Well, you boys come up to my room to-night," responded Hawke. "I'll show you something you'll be interested in. Come along and bring your friends. I suppose there are some other boys around here."