"It would appear that she was coming from Europe. But that was probably a trick. She might have been waiting about for hours." "Curious thing, then, that all the ships in the air during the last thirty hours that were within fifteen hundred miles of the American and Canadian[Pg 41] coast never saw anything of her. The Air Police of the U.S.A. have questioned every registered boat, Transatlantic and coastal trade, and not one of them sighted her. And, as you know, Sir John, from Cape Race to Charleston in summer weather the air's as thick with craft as gnats over a pond. Ain't that so, Mr. Van Adams, sir?" [Pg 41] "Quite, Captain Pring." "I see your inference. Well, we'll leave that for a moment. I understand that there were some peculiar features about this ship. What were they?" "She's the fastest thing in the air, bar none. That I can swear to. A pilot of my experience can't well be deceived, and if that ship—she's one of the very few I've seen with four propellers—can't do two hundred and forty miles an hour, without a following wind, mind, then I'm a paretic!" I whistled. Such speeds had been dreamed of but never known. "Nearly three times hurricane velocity!" I said. "She'd race the dawn, Sir John! and that's my honest belief. There's never been such a flying boat before. And she don't carry a crew of more than twelve or fifteen men, in my opinion. The rest's all engines and petrol. She ain't more than twice the size of one of your patrol ships, all over." [Pg 42] [Pg 42] This was talking! Each moment the affair grew more tense and interesting. "That narrows our field of search no end," I remarked. "A boat like that can't be built anywhere in the world without leaving traces." "It colours the cat different, sure," said Captain Pring. "Now, here's another point. Gum! I'm going to startle you some more, Sir John, but, as God sees me, I'm speaking truth. Here's Mr. Rickaby here as'll swear to all I say...." He looked at the second officer, a good-looking, brown-faced lad. "It's all gospel, Sir John," he broke in. "Of course," I said impatiently, "I know you couldn't be mistaken, Pring, and I
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