“I’m going into Bray Park tonight,” he said.  “This is the only way to get in.”

“And I’m going with you,” announced Dick.

Chapter XVIII

Vindication

At first Harry refused absolutely to consent to Dick’s accompanying him, but after a long argument he was forced to yield.

“Why should you take all the risks when it isn’t your own country, especially?” asked Dick, almost sobbing.  “I’ve got a right to go!  And, besides, you may need me.”

That was true enough, as Harry realized.  Moreover, he had been investigating the Bleriot, and he discovered that it was one of the new safety type, with a gyroscope device to insure stability.  That day was almost without wind, and therefore it seemed that if such an excursion could ever be safe, this was the time.  He consented in the end, and later he was to be thankful that he had.

Once the decision was taken, they waited impatiently for the return of Jack Young.  Harry foresaw protests from Jack when he found out what they meant to do, but for him there as an easy answer — there was room in the aeroplane for only two people, and there was no way of carrying an extra passenger.

It was early dusk when Jack returned, and he had the forethought to bring a basket of food with him — cold chicken, bread and butter, and milk, as well as some fruit.

“I didn’t find out very much,” he said, “except this.  Someone from London has been asking about you both.  And this much more — at least a dozen people have come down to Bray Park today from London.”

“Did you see any sign of soldiers from London?”

“No,” said Jack.

He was disappointed when he found out what they meant to do, but he took his disappointment pluckily when he saw that there was no help for it.  Harry explained very quietly to both Jack and Dick what he meant to do and they listened, open mouthed, with wonder.

“You’ll have your part to play, Jack,” said Harry.  “Somehow I can’t believe that the letter I wrote to Colonel Throckmorton last night won’t have some effect.  You have got to scout around in case anyone comes and tell them all I’ve told you.  You understand thoroughly, do you?”

“Yes,” said Jack, quietly.  “When are you going to start?”

“There’s no use going up much before eleven o’clock,” said Harry.  “Before that we’d be seen, and, besides, if a Zepplin is coming, it wouldn’t be until after that.  My plan is to scout to the east and try to pick her up and watch her descend.  I think I know just about where she’ll land — the only place where there’s room enough for her.  And then -”

He stopped, and the others nodded, grimly.

“I imagine she’ll have about a hundred and twenty miles to travel in a straight line — perhaps a little less,” said Harry.  “She can make that in about two hours, or less.  Big as they are, those airships are painted so that they’re almost invisible from below.  So if she comes by night, getting here won’t be as hard a job as it seems at first thought.”