ABOLOPUNCH 51
the roll of film still in his possession. After breathing deeply for a few moments, he fully regained his equilibrium and climbed into his plane. He easily maneuvered the craft out of the level meadow and was soon headed for the Swift commercial field.
“I wonder how many pictures Dansitt took,” Tom mused.
As he opened the box alongside him to look, a small object fell out of it onto the floor of the cockpit. Tom looked down and whistled.
A dogs-head coin!
Tom snatched up the silver coin. Could this peso be the same one that was stolen from the Swift home? It certainly was identical, Tom concluded. He was convinced beyond all doubt now that the dog’s head etched on the coin held important significance for Sidney Dansitt.
“And,” Tom told himself, “that wild pilot’s going to have another visit from me pronto so I can find out!”
Placing the Cuban peso in a zippered pocket, he radioed for clearance. He set the plane down and taxied to a hangar. Bud Barclay was waiting for him.
“Wow! What a game of air tag!” he exclaimed. “Did you get the film or just a wallop on the jaw?” Bud eyed Tom’s swollen chin curiously.
Holding up the box of film, Tom told the story of the chase and its rewarding climax.
“Now we’ll go get some lunch.”
“I’ll believe that when the food’s in front of me,” Bud said. “How about me driving?”
52 TOM SWIFT AND HIS JETMARINE
“Go ahead,” Tom said as they climbed into the jeep. “And now for something that will jar you loose from your moorings,” he added, as Bud drove from the field onto the highway.