“Northward,” Asa replied.
“Better not say a word to anyone about our visit,” Tom warned Asa Pike, adding, “We’ll have to go now.”
The boys thanked the friendly caretaker for his help, and Tom gave him their full names and the Fearing Island telephone number. He asked to be notified the minute anyone showed up at Gray’s residence.
“I won’t fail ye,” Asa Pike promised.
The two boys headed for their plane at the fishermen’s dock. The place was deserted; even the lobsterman had gone.
THE FIRST TEST 35
“We picked a good time to drop in,” Bud remarked, as they cast off and prepared to taxi out to the open bay.
“As soon as I’ve checked the solar radiation effect on my rocket-fuel kicker,”
Tom said, “you and I are heading right back up this way, Bud.”
The plane taxied out into open water, then Tom gunned the engines. The amphibian lunged forward and roared along the surface. A moment later it was air-borne, and by three o’clock Tom and Bud were back at Fearing Island, telling their story to Sterling and Hanson.
“Anything new here?” Tom asked when he had finished.
“I’ll say,” Hank Sterling replied. “The Midwest Steel pilot, Ed Gates, called up to arrange to get his plane back. He was beaten and robbed in a Boston hotel.
There’s no question that Johnson or Gray is the guilty one. Incidentally, our two patients were moved to a mainland hospital. Drayton never admitted to being Arthur Gray.”
“I hope he’s under police guard,” Tom said.
“He is,” Hank assured him. “Another message that came in is about your family. They’re flying here in an hour.” The patternmaker smiled. “Bringing Phyl Newton along-to keep Sandy company, I suppose.”