swell.”
“Okey.”
“That’s the right idea.”
Paul asked, “Is everybody agreed?” All the boys nodded. “Then the meeting is adjourned until tomorrow,” he concluded.
CHAPTER III
Jack and Paul mounted their bicycles and peddled along very leisurely. The other six, in formation, marched on the side walk. Suddenly a shriek pierced the air. Bobolink was the first to notice. Dropping out of line, he began to run at full speed. The others, although they were not sure what it was all about, nevertheless also joined in the run. A blue sedan was speeding down the street and bearing down on a little boy of about three who, unconcerned of traffic or any danger, was crossing the street. Half way across he paused and stared for several seconds at the cobblestones, then he continued walking to the other side, thus getting into the path of the oncoming, speeding automobile. Several women screamed. The mother, about ten yards away, fainted.
Bobolink ran until his breath was gone. It was the fastest hundred yard run a human could do. The speeding car was barely a yard away when Bobolink reached the spot. With his outstretched arms he gave the child a shove that sent him sprawling. The next moment he saw a galaxy of stars, a piercing pain made him cry out and then darkness, unconsciousness. The automobile had side-swiped him and scraped his right side.
A great number of people immediately collected and surrounded the two victims. The child, except for being shocked and very slightly bruised, was unhurt. Bobolink, however, lay stretched out, appearing more dead than alive.
Paul and Jack, on their bicycles, saw the incident. Immediately they wheeled around and peddled vigorously after the speeding car. Ordinarily, the chase would have been a futile and useless gesture. But the boys knew that about 500 yards away was a very sharp left turn, and at the speed the driver was going, he was sure either to crash or turn over. And sure enough, the driver, ignorant of the sharp turn ahead, did not slow up until it was too late. Frantically he swung the wheel, so he would not crash into the wall that loomed up in front of him. The side of the car bounced against the concrete wall and turned over into the ditch. Just as the boys came up and jumped off their wheels, the driver had extricated himself. He was a tall, husky, evil looking young man. Dazed, he stood wavering on his legs and shaking himself trying to shake off his dizziness. Without hesitation, the boys jumped on him. He offered no resistance. He lay stunned. Paul said, “Guess he’s out all right.”
They looked down at the unconscious form sprawling on the ground. The man’s face was a mass of blood and his hand was twisted as though broken at the wrist. Paul said, “I’ll stay here and watch him. You ride back and get the police and have an ambulance come.”
Jack nodded. “But suppose he comes to, do you think you could hold him?”
Paul looked down at the victim. “Even if he comes to,” he said, “he’d be too weak to run or put up any fight.”
“All right, then,” Jack said, “I’m going.”
But just as he was about to mount his bike, he saw an ambulance come speeding toward them. Evidently someone in the house a short distance away had seen the accident and immediately reported it by telephone.
The ambulance stopped. An interne jumped out and with him a policeman. The doctor examined the man, then had him put on a stretcher and into the ambulance. The policeman examined the wrecked car, took the license number, removed a valise, and then questioned Paul and Jack who told him all they knew. They asked him about Bobolink but he knew nothing of what happened to the boy.
The ambulance turned around and went back to town. With heavy hearts and wondering whether their friend was alive or dead, the two boys mounted their bikes and wheeled back to town. Jack sidled up to his chum. “What are we going to do now, Paul?” he asked.
“I guess we better try to find out how Bobolink is,” he answered.
“He was a swell guy,” muttered Jack.
“He certainly was,” echoed Paul.
“Do you think he was killed or just hurt?”
Paul shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t know,” he answered. “We better wait and see.”
They peddled along slowly and mournfully. At last they came to Bobolink’s home and found all the other boys idling dolefully on the porch.
Paul approached the twins and asked, “How is he?”
Wallace shook his head and turned away. William whispered hoarsely, “Don’t know yet.”
About ten minutes later Dr. Morrison emerged from the house. Noticing the boys congregated on the porch, with their faces drawn and appearing quite sombre, he looked puzzled, then suddenly smiled. They rushed up and surrounded him. Paul asked, “How is he, Dad?”
“He’s fine,” Dr. Morrison replied. “Nothing to worry about. He’ll be back with you and running around as though nothing had happened, in three days.”
Bluff for once didn’t stutter and cried, “Hooray! Hooray for Bobolink!”
The other boys joined and they cheered the hero. When they quieted down, Paul asked his father, “May we go in to see him?”
The doctor nodded. “Yes, of course. That is, if it’s all right with Mrs. Link.”
So Jack was delegated to go in and ask Mrs. Link for permission to see Bobolink, which was granted. So they entered in a body to cheer up the invalid and hero.
CHAPTER IV
That evening Paul and Jack approached their parents for permission to be taken up in an airplane. Paul encountered little difficulty, much to his surprise. Of course, he was cautioned several times to be careful and he reiterated all the arguments he could muster about how safe flying had become and that there was no danger involved at all. Jack, on the other hand, found his mother set against any such thing. His father was reasonable and consented, but only on condition that his mother did not object. But she did, very strenuously! Jack argued his case as well as the best lawyers until his mother would no longer answer him but merely shake her head. Finally he told her that if Paul’s mother didn’t object he didn’t see why she should. So she called up Mrs. Morrison and then reluctantly gave her consent. Jack jumped high in the air and whooped for joy.
That night both boys found it difficult to fall asleep thinking of the adventure that was in store for them. And when they finally did fall asleep they dreamed of all sorts of things. Jack dreamed that he was a pilot flying across the country. Paul dreamed that he and his chum were flying across the jungles of South America and that they crashed and became lost in the jungles. And just as a wild animal which he couldn’t recognize was about to jump at him, he woke up and tumbled out of bed.
At about noon, Jack met Paul at the latter’s home and, mounting their bicycles, they were off to the airport. They were so thrilled that they couldn’t talk. So they peddled along briskly and when they arrived at their destination they found the Carberry twins and Nuthin’ already there and waiting for them. As Paul and Jack came in sight, the three boys set up a yell. Major McCarthy came out of the office building and waved to them. “Hello, there,” he said. “Are you ready to go up?”
Paul cried, “Sure. And we can hardly wait.”
Jack said, “And our parents gave us permission, too.”
The major smiled cheerfully. “I don’t see any reason for them to object,” he said, “but then some parents object thinking that it’s dangerous when it isn’t at all.”
The boys agreed with him. Nuthin’ cried, “You fellows don’t know how lucky you are. I’d give a right arm to be in your place.”
William offered higher stakes. He said, “I’d give a right arm and a right leg to change places with either of you two.”
Major McCarthy grinned. “Maybe I’ll take you boys up on that,” he said. “I can always use a couple of right arms.”
William