<h2 id="c6">CHAPTER VI <br/><span class="small">THE END OF THE CHASE</span></h2>
<p>Instantly the situation became clear to the
Sky Patrol.</p>
<p>Having heard their own engine, the pilot of
the seaplane had decided to risk a dash out of
the fog and to try to escape.</p>
<p>Their own airplane had been headed south,
down the coast.</p>
<p>When they climbed above the lower shoreward
mist the cry from Sandy drew their attention
to the seaplane, even higher than they
were, and going fast across the narrow end of
the island.</p>
<p>“Now we can catch them and ride them
down!” exulted Dick.</p>
<p>Jeff dropped a wing sharply—kicking rudder
at the same time. Onto the trail swung their
craft. Righting it Jeff gave the engine all it
would take, climbing.</p>
<p>“They’re getting ahead—getting away from
us!” cried Sandy.</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_51">51</div>
<p>Larry, more conversant with flying tactics,
decided that Jeff meant to get to a higher level
than they occupied, to outclimb the less flexible
seaplane, so that he could swoop upon it with
the advantage of elevation to help him overtake
it.</p>
<p>Into the thousands their altimeter swung its
indicator.</p>
<p>Three thousand feet! Another five hundred!
Four thousand!</p>
<p>“Now we must be higher than they are!”
Larry muttered. “Jeff—for crickety-Christmas’
sake—catch them!”</p>
<p>Jeff leveled and their engine roared. In a
quartering course, evidently making in an airline
for some point on the Connecticut side of
Long Island Sound, the seaplane held its way.</p>
<p>Gaining in a very flat descent, calculated, as
Sandy could see, to bring them either alongside
or—if fortune favored them—onto the tail of
the other craft, Jeff drew closer.</p>
<p>The seconds slipped by. The North Shore
was almost under them.</p>
<p>Swiftly the distance closed up between the
racing flyers.</p>
<p>“They’re diving!” cried Sandy.</p>
<p>“Something’s gone wrong!” Dick yelled.
“She’s out of control!”</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_52">52</div>
<p>The seaplane sheered to one side in a violent
slip as her pilot evidently tried to bank and
kick rudder and lost control.</p>
<p>The seaplane wavered, caught itself in a
steadier line. In the pursuing airplane three
youthful faces grew intent.</p>
<p>What was wrong?</p>
<p>“She’s diving!” screamed Sandy.</p>
<p>“Something has happened!” decided Larry.</p>
<p>Down, almost like a hawk falling to its prey,
the seaplane went through the still air.</p>
<p>“Somebody’s on the wing—he’s jumping
clear!” shouted Dick.</p>
<p>Trembling with excitement Larry caught up
the binoculars. They were still too far behind
for clear vision unaided by glasses.</p>
<p>“He has that life preserver in one hand—there
he goes!” cried Dick.</p>
<p>Silhouetted against the northern blue of the
sky, with a tiny white circle showing sharply
in the sunlight, the leaping person fell clear of
the diving seaplane, while Larry, shaking with
excitement, tried to focus his glasses and train
them on the falling object.</p>
<p>“He’s harnessed to a parachute—there goes
the ripcord!” Sandy would have leaped to his
feet but for his restraining safety belt.</p>
<p>“There goes the ’chute!” Dick was equally
thrilled.</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_53">53</div>
<p>The parachute opened.</p>
<p>“The life preserver snapped out of his hand!”
Larry muttered, giving up his effort to locate
the moving objects in the glass and using his
unaided eyes to view the tragedy—or whatever
it would prove to be.</p>
<p>The life preserver was jerked away by the jar
when the parachute arrested the fall sharply,
making it impossible for a handgrip to retain
the rope of the swiftly plunging white circle.</p>
<p>“Why doesn’t the other one jump clear!”
Dick’s heart seemed to be tearing to get out
through his tightening throat. Which one was
under the parachute? Which stayed in the falling
seaplane—and why?</p>
<p>An arm of mist, swinging far over the land,
intervened between their vision and the shore
line.</p>
<p>Into it, hidden from sight, the seaplane
flashed.</p>
<p>Through its concealing murk flicked the tiny
round object of mystery.</p>
<p>More deliberately, settling down, first the
hanging bulk of the unknown man, then the
spreading folds of the parachute drifted into
mist—and mystery.</p>
<p>The chase was ended.</p>
<p>But the mystery had hardly begun!</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_54">54</div>
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