Frank had his mind made up. He figured that both men had been long
enough in the water to have their weapons well soaked, so that they
would be in no condition to threaten their rescuers.
"The box, make him pass it up first, or we leave him here!" he called
out to Andy, as the latter was about to reach out and lay hold of the
smaller man.
Casper Blue glared almost savagely at Frank. For the moment the Bird
boys even thought the enraged man would hurl defiance back at them, and
declare that he preferred taking his chances with the wreck rather than
give up the spoils.
But just then it happened, fortunately, that the remnant of the biplane
began to settle more positively than before, warning him that it was
folly to pin any hope on its buoying him up more than a few minutes at
most.
"Here, take it!" he snarled, handing up the box; which Andy immediately
passed over to his cousin before he would stretch out his hand again to
render the defeated yeggman any assistance.
Then Casper Blue was drawn aboard, and lower still sank the buoyant
hydroplane, until both propellers were almost wholly submerged beneath
the surface of the heaving billows that came rolling on, steadily and
remorselessly.
CHAPTER XXIII
BROUGHT TO BOOK--CONCLUSION
"What time is it, Frank?" asked Andy, who w as breathing very hard after
his recent exertions in helping both men to get a footing on the
hydroplane.
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