Since the radio was on, neither boy spoke a word but Tom pointed. Scattered in several small clearings along the water front were buildings and tanks of various heights. On the top of one tank were painted the words: EXCELSIOR OIL CO.
experimental station
Bud turned the plane sharply to the right in order to give the boys a better glimpse of the place. But
74 TOM SWIFT AND HIS ROCKET SHIP
the plane had already overshot the clearings and the trees blocked their view.
“What’s the matter?” Hein called suddenly on the radio. “Are you in trouble?”
The boys stared at each other. How to answer? Hein, who had already landed on the big lake, radioed his question again.
“Okay,” Tom replied, trying to imitate Johnson’s voice. “Just taking a look at something,”
Hein called back and suggested that Johnson waste no time coming in. Tom and Bud grinned. It had worked! Now for another look at the clearings, then streak off with their captive!
Tom took over, but a moment later a new movement on the lake arrested his eye. A delta-wing sea jet came from under cover and taxied across the water.
With a catlike movement Tom
STOWAWAYS
75
“We’d better get out of here fast!” Bud yelled before he realized that the radio was on. He groaned in dismay. He had ruined Tom’s plan!
Instantly Hein began giving instructions to the jet pilots to intercept the seaplane. Tom nosed the plane over into a steep dive as he saw the jet climbing almost vertically to intercept him. He opened the throttle wide, decreased the dive angle, and roared toward the far end of the huge lake.