Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 50165-h.htm or 50165-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/50165/50165-h/50165-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/50165/50165-h.zip) Transcriber’s note: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). Small capitals have been rendered as full capitals. [Illustration: Descending from his seat, the aviator was greeted by two boys not far from his own age. _The Flying Machine Boys on Duty._ _Page 4._] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE FLYING MACHINE BOYS ON DUTY Or The Clue Above the Clouds by FRANK WALTON Author of “The Flying Machine Boys on Secret Service” “The Flying Machine Boys in the Wilds” “The Flying Machine Boys in Mexico” [Illustration] A. L. Burt Company New York. Copyright 1913 By A. L. Burt Company THE FLYING MACHINE BOYS ON DUTY ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE FLYING MACHINE BOYS ON DUTY CHAPTER I. ABOVE NEW YORK BAY. An aviator, swinging northward in a June twilight, found himself constantly annoyed by the driver of a machine whose only motive in life seemed to be to get in the way. Turn as he might to right or left, sail high or low, the obstinate and impertinent pursuer was always at hand to threaten him. To the west, lay Bedloe’s island, showing the Statue of Liberty, ruddy in the sunlight. To the east, Governor’s island presented the battlements of Fort Columbus and Castle William. To the north, or to the northeast, to be more exact, lay Battery park, a smear of green at the lower end of Manhattan island. For a time people on ferryboats traversing New York bay looked upward in momentary expectation of a battle in the air. Then the two flying machines passed north along the line of Broadway, crossed over Bronx park, and came to the vicinity of Pelham bay, in Westchester county. Here the aviator who had shown such pugnacity in his dashes and swirls at the other, and who had been repulsed only by the finest skill and tact, wheeled straight to the west and was soon lost to sight in the gathering darkness. For a moment it seemed that the aviator who had thus far acted only on the defensive was about to become the aggressor and follow in the wake of his persecutor. In fact, he was about to swing away in pursuit when the ringing of a bell at a hangar below attracted his attention. Then, with a frown showing on a boyish face, he swung to the north a short distance and volplaned to a level space in front of the hangar.