CHAPTER XI

Important Assignment

frank fought back panic as the helioplane lifted off the runway. With both hands he grabbed hold of one of the elevators and hoisted his body farther onto the tail.

He could feel the pilot tugging at the control wheel, but Frank's desperate hold on the elevator kept it from moving. The pilot was forced to reduce engine power and drop back down onto the ground.

He jammed the brakes on hard, then executed a partial ground-loop to avoid going off the end of the runway. The movement flung Frank from the tail onto the grass-covered shoulder.

Getting to his feet, dazed but unhurt, he watched helplessly as the plane headed down the runway. In a moment it had left the ground and was soaring upward.

"Quick!" Frank shouted as he ran to meet 83

84 The Secret Agent on Flight 101

Jack Wayne and the others. "Let's follow them!"

"You okay?" Joe asked.

When Frank said Yes, the four pursuers leaped into the Hardy plane and quickly took off. Ahead, Joe caught a glimpse of reflected sunlight flashing from the helioplane's metal wings.

"There it is!" he yelled.

Jack rammed the throttle ahead as far as it would go. He climbed rapidly above the altitude of the fugitives, then dived to get extra airspeed. The maneuver began to close the distance between the two craft.

"We're gaining on it!" Joe observed.

Chet pointed to the right wing of their own plane. "Look!" he yelled. "The fuel cap is loose!"

"On the left wing, too!" Joe shouted. By now both caps were vibrating furiously.

"That can't be," Jack Wayne insisted. "I checked them myself after I refueled!"

"This must be Vordo's doing!" Frank surmised.

The next moment the two caps came loose and fluttered in the wind on the small chains which held them to the tanks. Instantly the slipstream began to drag fuel from the wings. As two gossamer-like columns sailed off into the distance behind them, Jack Wayne applied hard aileron and rudder and turned back to the airport.

"I'm landing!" he said. "We're losing every

Important Assignment 85

drop of gas. I just hope a spark from the engine exhaust doesn't ignite that trail of fuel, or we're goners!"

Tensely the boys watched gallon after gallon of high octane spray from the open tanks.

"How long will she keep running?" Frank asked anxiously.

"I don't know!" Jack replied. "But by the look of our fuel gauges-not long!"

Finally the airport came into view. Jack entered the traffic pattern just as their tanks ran dry. Starved of fuel, the engines sputtered, then quit completely. Fortunately, the plane was high enough to glide safely to the field.

"Whew!" Chet murmured as the wheels touched down lightly. "That's the closest I've ever come to being barbecued."

Jack grinned. "I was once told that flying involves long hours of boredom, interrupted by moments of extreme fright." He took a deep breath. "This was one of those moments."

"No use trying to go back up after the helio-plane," Frank said disconsolately.

He telephoned Kenneth Dell at Great Circle Airways and told him of Burly Wilkes' capture and their father's escape.

"I learned about it yesterday," Dell replied. "In fact, your father was in contact with me."

"What!" Frank said excitedly. "You talked to Dad?"

86 The Secret Agent on Flight 101

"Yes. I would have told you sooner, but I didn't know where to get in touch."

"But he escaped over five days ago," Frank said. "Why didn't he let us know? Is he okay?"

"He's fine," Dell assured him. "However, I don't know where he is. He wants his whereabouts kept secret. Said he'd explain everything later and asked me to inform your mother, which I did."

Dell added that he had an important assignment for the boys, and would like to meet them at their home in Bayport the next day.

"Thanks," Frank said. "See you tomorrow."

Mrs. Hardy and Aunt Gertrude were overjoyed to see Frank and Joe that evening. But they were worried that Mr. Hardy was keeping his whereabouts a mystery.

"He's probably traveling incognito and in disguise," Aunt Gertrude said.

Thoroughly exhausted by their recent adventures, the boys went to bed shortly after dinner. The next morning they enjoyed a hearty breakfast of wheatcakes and sausages, then adjourned to their father's study. Kenneth Dell arrived shortly and joined the boys in the upstairs room.

"Well, I suppose you want to hear the assignment?" he asked, smiling.

"Yes," the boys replied, and Frank added, "What's your plan for us, Mr. Dell?"

"How would you like to fly to Scotland?"

Important Assignment 87

The query caught the young detectives by surprise. "Scotland?" Joe echoed incredulously.

"That's right." Dell rose from his chair and began to pace the floor slowly.

"Two days ago I called Scotland Yard. They told me there have been several remarkably clever jewel thefts lately in Scotland. Each of them occurred on a day when the steward Timken was over there. The Yard checked and learned that he had visited Hexton's castle on those days.

"So we were right," said Frank "He is one of the gang."

"Yes, but as usual there is no usable evidence."

"If only Frank and I could get inside that castle," said Joe, "we could get the goods on both the UGLI operation and the robbery ring."

"That's exactly the idea," said Dell. "My airline is cooperating with the Scottish police and Inspector Clyde of Scotland Yard. I want you to go over as my operatives."

"We'd sure like to take a crack at it!" Frank declared.

"What about SKOOL?" Joe asked.

Dell shook his head. "No sale. They're going straight for Hexton himself and they're sure he's not at the castle just now."

"Have the authorities over there made any progress on the thefts?" Joe questioned.

"So far, they haven't turned up any evidence incriminating Hexton. One police official there

88 The Secret Agent on Flight 101

will be working with you-Inspector Clyde. He's a member of the London Metropolitan Police- that's Scotland Yard, you know."

The boys nodded.

"Clyde is on special assignment in Scotland to see what he can dig up on our magician friend."

"When do you want us to leave?" Frank asked.

"One of our planes departs day after tomorrow."

"We'll be ready!" Frank promised.

"And by the way," the security chief added, "if you'd like to bring your friend Chet-"

"A herd of elephants couldn't stop him from coming!" Joe put in.

Dell said he would meet the boys at the Great Circle base for a final briefing the day of the flight. He then wished them luck and left.

Brimming with excitement, Joe phoned the news to Chet. "A castle in Scotland!" their chum exclaimed. "Wow!"

"Maybe we can find another magic silver bowl for you," Joe said jokingly. "One that works."

"Aw, come on," Chet protested. Then he perked up. "But wait till you see some of my new tricks!"

"We'll see them when we get back," Frank advised him. "Right now we'd better think about packing."

"You fellows just don't have any appreciation of my uncanny skill," Chet said and hung up.

Important Assignment 89

Mrs. Hardy's and Aunt Gertrude's reactions to the coming trip were quite different. "Scotland!" the boys' aunt exclaimed. "First your father decides to play hide-and-seek, now you two want to go traipsing into danger on the other side of the Atlantic!"

Mrs. Hardy looked at her sons with a worried smile. "You know you have my permission. Just promise me you'll be careful."

"Of course we will," Frank and Joe assured her.

After supper they began preparations for their trip. Frank had just brought suitcases from the attic when the phone rang. He picked up the receiver.

"Are you Frank Hardy?" a man asked.

"That's right."

"I've got to see you." There was a note of urgency in the caller's voice. "It's important."

"First, suppose you tell me who you are," Frank said.

"I'm Stan Mazer, pilot of the helioplane!" was the astounding answer.