“Of course not; and I guess lots of abler chaps than you and me have thought the same; but there it stands, and the two countries won’t get together to change the law even a little bit.  Every year dozens of embezzlers light out across the border for Canada, where they can spend their money, and start for Europe if they feel like it.”

“Then perhaps it’s the money they take with ’em that the Canadians like; though I wouldn’t like to believe such a thing,” ventured Andy.

“Hardly that; but both countries are jealous about bringing back political offenders, I’ve heard Judge Lawson say more than once.  But don’t let’s talk any more’n we can help, Andy.  We’ve got our hands full as it is watching those fellows, and keeping ready to match any trick they try.”

This served to give Andy a new cause for concentrating his attention on the fleeing biplane once more.  As yet the pilot of the leading airship had not diverted from his set course; but if he was as tricky as they had reason to believe, there was always a chance that he might engineer some scheme, sooner or later, looking to shaking off his pursuers here in the middle of the great lake, where possibly no mortal eye could witness the deed, so as to appear against him later on.

With the wind aft, of course the further they advanced the larger grew the waves; and Andy noticed that they were now of quite respectable size; though being directly above, he could not tell much about it, only that in many spots he saw the white caps breaking, and this served as a pointer.

Would the hydroplane be able to ride such a sea in safety, in case necessity compelled them to alight upon its swelling bosom?

Frank did not seem to doubt it, for he had the utmost confidence in the ability of those aluminum pontoons to sustain a great weight without sinking.  What they would possibly have to fear more than anything else, was the chance of a capsize; and of course this would spell disaster as much as anything else.

Once they overtook a sailing schooner that was speeding along with a fair breeze.  Possibly those aboard thought they were making most excellent time, with everything in their favor, but the aeroplanes sped past the vessel almost as though it were a toy craft.

A faint cheer was heard from those aboard who could be seen wildly waving head-gear, or red handkerchiefs; just as though what they considered a novel air race had been engineered especially for their amusement.

When Andy took occasion to look backward again in a short time he was amazed to discover how far distant the sails of the schooner seemed.  And it was this incident more than anything else that gave him to understand just what amazing speed the aeroplanes were putting in their mad race across the inland sea.

But while up to now the voyage had been without incident worthy of mention, or accident of any kind, it could hardly be expected that this immunity would continue to the very end.  The splendid good fortune that had hovered over both airships was apt to be brought to a sudden termination at any moment, as Frank well knew.