“That’s the idea!” exclaimed Havens. “And now for a good feed.” Before the meal at the restaurant was finished an interruption which materially changed the plans of the whole party, took place. It was Sloan, the secret service man, who blundered into the party with a broken head who sidetracked the old plans. CHAPTER XXII. UNDER THE MOONLIGHT. “Now there goes the loss of a lot of endeavor!” Jimmie exclaimed, as the _Louise_ lifted into the air. “What’s the answer?” asked Kit with a grin. “Do you know who’s aboard of that machine?” Jimmie demanded in a sarcastic tone. “Two outlaws who’re carrying away our good bear meat!” replied Kit. “And do you know who’s doing the aviation stunt?” continued Jimmie. “Answer in two weeks!” replied the boy with a snicker. “Well, I’ll tell you who it is,” almost shouted Jimmie. “It’s probably that blond brute we spent so much time amusing to-day.” “How do you know that, Mr. Sherlock Holmes?” asked Kit. “Didn’t we see his machine staggering over the summit some time ago?” demanded Jimmie. “You know we did.” “But that was a long ways from here,” Kit advised. “Oh, what’s the use?” exclaimed Jimmie. “His machine fluttered down into some hole not far away from here, and he saw our fire and came forward to get something to eat.” “I half believe you’re right,” Kit admitted. “Of course, I’m right!” insisted Jimmie. “The blond brute is the only aviator in this section that I know of who would have taken the outlaws away. That’s the duck, all right.” “Then we lose?” asked Kit. “We lose if the outlaws are sharp enough to get away before morning,” Jimmie went on. “They certainly know now what we’re here for.” “Yes, and the information we’ve been trying to keep from them all this time is now in their possession,” added Jimmie in a disgusted tone. “It’s a good thing they didn’t have it before they left us asleep in the shelter tent,” Kit suggested. “Why do you say that?” asked Jimmie. “Because, if they had known, we wouldn’t be here now.” “What next?” asked Kit in a minute. “What are we going to do about it? We ought to do something right away.” “I suggest,” Jimmie answered, “that we take our searchlights and our guns and go out and find that third machine.” “And chase up the outlaws?” demanded Kit. “That’s the idea,” Jimmie answered. “Chase the _Louise_ in that slow old ice wagon that we went by this afternoon like it was anchored?” demanded the boy. “The machine is all right if properly handled,” Jimmie insisted. “But you saw how it staggered around the summit,” argued Kit. “I don’t want to trust my bones in any such old contraption.”