The man settled back again with a growl, and then burst out into a reckless laugh.

“Small difference it makes, I guess, boys, how the thing’s done, so long as we’ve got to go to the lock-up.  You might just as well have the credit for the job as anybody; and man to man, now I want to say that I’m full of admiration for the fine way you handled that hydroplane of yours.  If so be you’re the Bird boys I’ve been hearing so much about, you’ve got the making of crack-a-jack aviators in you.  That’s about all from me now.”

The tug came alongside, and the two men were assisted aboard, where the police officer saw that they were promptly ironed.

“We got the word from Bloomsbury, and your father hired this tug right away, Andy Bird, to follow you out on the lake, if so be you kept after the rascals,” said a tall gentleman with a white mustache, who, they afterwards learned, was the mayor of the city on the lake shore.  “Now what can we do for you?”

“Please stand by, and let’s see if we can get away,” answered Frank, “if not we’ll have to go on board, and tow the hydroplane behind, but since relieved of so much extra weight the pontoons have risen again; and I expect she’ll go.”

And she did, with the very first effort, beginning to move over the surface of the water in the lee of the tug; then, as Frank hastened to elevate the planes, the airship started to mount and when free from the lake a mighty cheer broke from the lips of those aboard the small vessel, even Casper Blue joining in giving the brave lads their just dues.

Frank carefully started back toward the American side of the lake.  He did not know whether the capture had been made on the Canadian side or not, and as the question was never raised, even in the trail of the bank robbers it was never wholly clear in his mind.

When they reached land it was early night; and save that the wind had lulled considerably, they would not have been able to get in for a long time after that.  As there was no need of their hurrying homeward, Frank and Andy consented to stay over as the guests of the mayor, who was more than pleased to have the famous Bird boys stop under his roof.

But first Frank made sure to send a message to each of their homes; as well as to Chief Waller, who would have to come on and get the two bold men who had broken into the Bloomsbury bank and about cleaned out the vault; and not content with one haul, were planning to rob the pay-car when it stopped in Bloomsbury to settle with a large number of employees centering there.

Doubtless that must have been a season of considerable excitement in the home town; and the names of Frank and Andy Bird were cheered to the echo by the crowds of town boys Larry and Elephant would lead around, burning red lights and firing off Roman candles purchased with money supplied by Dr. and Professor Bird, the happy fathers of the two young heroes.