He thought it a shame to have to stop, but North Island was there beneath him, a flock of planes were keeping out of his way and forgetting their own acrobatics while they watched him, and Johnny, with an eye on his gas gauge and his mind recurring to his parting words with Captain Riley, straightened out reluctantly and got his bearings.  There was room enough for one more nose dive, and he took it exuberantly, trying to see how many turns he could make before he must quit or smash into a building or something.

There was the field, just ahead of him.  He flattened, banked, and came down circumspectly enough, considering how his head was whirling when he finally came to a stand.  He crawled out, looking first at Schwab to see what he was doing.

What Schwab was doing has no bearing whatever on this story.  Schwab was not feeling well, wherefore he was not showing any interest whatever in his surroundings and probable future.  John Ivan Jewel laughed unfeelingly while he beckoned a guard who was coming up at a trot and needed no beckoning.

“Here’s another man for your boss to take charge of,” Johnny announced.  “And lead me to him right now.  I’ve got a date with him.”

This guard was a new guard and looked dubious.  But presently the captain’s orderly appeared and took charge of the situation, so Johnny straight-way found himself standing before Captain Riley “Well, I’m back,” he announced cheerfully.  “And I’ve got Schwab out there.”

Captain Riley dismissed the orderly before he unbent enough to reply.  But then he shook hands with John Ivan Jewel just as though he had not seen him a couple of hours before.  He was a very pleased Captain Riley, as he showed by the broad grin he wore on his freckled Irish face.

“Schwab,” he said, “will be taken care of.  He’s a deserter from the army, you know.  Held a captaincy and disgraced the uniform in various ways, the crowning infamy being the sale of some important information, a year or so ago when things were at the touchiest point with Mexico.  We nearly had him, but he deserted and got across the line, and since then he has been raising all kinds of cain in government affairs.  Of course, his capture is a little out of my line, but I don’t mind telling you that it’s a big thing for me to have both these men turned over to me.  I can’t go into details, of course—­you would not be especially interested in them if I could.  But it’s a big thing, and I want you to know—­”

The telephone interrupted him, and he turned to answer it.

“Yes, yes, this is Captain Riley speaking.  Yes, who is this, please?  Who?  Oh, yes!  Yes, indeed, no trouble at all, I assure you.  Yes, I will give the message—­yes, certainly.  I shall send him right over.  At your command, believe me.  Not at all—­I am delighted, yes; just one moment.  Would you like to talk with him yourself?  Just hold the line, please.”