a sort of rough outline of the upper lake district here. Some
arrows show a straight course due northwest. I believe the Drifter
was started on its way over the Canadian border."

"And the two men with Jerry?" asked Mr. King.

"I can't figure out that they could be anybody but Jerry's father
and the man who left Columbus with them--Ridgely."

"The man the revenue officer was looking for!" exclaimed Hiram.

"The smuggler, as he was called, yes," replied Dave.

Mr. King and Hiram indulged in all kinds of conjectures as to the
possible motive of the party of three in stealing the aircraft.

"The way I figure it out," said Mr. King, "is that this Ridgely
wanted to get out of the country knowing that the revenue people
were dose on his trail."

"Perhaps," agreed Dave thoughtfully. "There's another thing,
though."

"What's that?" inquired the interested Hiram.

"His coming all the way around the lakes to find his friends, the
Dawsons, looks as though he had some future scheme in view, with an
airship a part of it."

"That's so," assented Mr. King. "Well, Dashaway, you have done