Ned and Tom looked at each other. They did not want to tell too much of their plans, yet they must make inquiries and get information. Koku was still doing his “daily dozen” with the big rocks. “How many men were in this blue machine?” asked Tom. “Oh, four or five, I should say. Maybe half a dozen. It was the biggest aeroplane I’ve ever seen. But then they look a lot bigger on the ground than when they’re up in the air.” “It must have been a pretty good-sized plane to carry four or five men,” observed Ned. “Did you notice any of the passengers? Did one of them walk with a limp?” “Why, yes, come to think of it, one of them did seem a bit lame,” replied Mr. Kimball. “And he had a queer habit of jerking his elbow out like this,” and the farmer illustrated. “Was it his _right_ elbow?” asked Tom, emphasizing the word that indicated the dexter hand. “No—let me see now—no, it was his left. Why? Do you know him?” “Yes,” answered Ned, with a queer look at Tom. “We know him.” “I suppose they’re friends of yours, both of you being in the airship business, so to speak,” went on Mr. Kimball. Neither of the young men answered that, but Tom, after he had taken off the damaged union coupling, asked: “Did you happen to notice if one of the men had red hair?” The farmer considered for a moment, and then replied: “No, I didn’t see any one like that.” This was not surprising, considering that Barsky’s hair was so short that its redness could not be noticed until he took off his hat. And very likely he would be wearing a leather helmet in the aeroplane. But Tom and Ned had established the fact that the blue aeroplane containing the robbers had passed this way recently. Tom made a cautious inquiry about the chest, but Mr. Kimball had not noticed that. And, very likely, it was stowed away in the fuselage of the craft, out of sight. “How long did they stay?” asked Ned. “Oh, only long enough to buy some food off me and take on water, then they soared away again.” “Headed west?” asked Tom. “Headed west,” answered Mr. Kimball. The farmer remained, an interested observer, while Tom and Ned made the slight repairs needed. When they had finished and were about to go on, Mr. Kimball, with a glance toward the giant, asked: “Is he yours?” “Yes, in a way,” replied Tom. “Why?” “Um! I only want to say if you ever want to get rid of him I’d like to hire him. What a hired man he’d make! My, the chores he could do without getting tired! He’d be worth three ordinary hired men—and they’re so hard to get now. But I don’t suppose you want to let him go?” “No,” answered Tom, with a laugh and a glance at Koku, who, to amuse himself, was tossing up great rocks and catching them in his bare hands. “Well, I don’t know as I blame you,” said Mr. Kimball. Having made repairs and gotten some unexpected and valuable information, Tom and Ned called to the giant, took their places in the machine again, and, after Koku had spun the propeller, once more were off.