"In perfect condition, as far as I can make out!" remarked Frank, after they had completed this careful survey.
"Yes," added the other, with a glow of excusable enthusiasm on his face, "and if there was any necessity for doing it we could be off with a minute's notice."
"I took pains to make sure that there was a clear and uninterrupted stretch of water in front of our hangar," said Frank. "No vessels are allowed to anchor on this side of the harbor, though there are many transports from Great Britain across the way that have brought men and war material and stores over."
"Oughtn't Pudge be about due by now, Frank? It's pitch dark outside, and I should think a full hour must have crept by since he left us?"
"I was thinking of that myself, Billy. Still, we must remember that our chum is a bit slow on his legs, compared with the way you and I get over the ground. Besides, he may have been delayed at the store where he expects to get the new padlock."
"Yes, I hadn't thought of that," admitted Billy. "But we might use the 'phone we have installed, and find out if he's started back. It would make our minds a little more easy, you know."
"Just as you say, Billy. And suppose you call them up while I do something I want to alter here--nothing of consequence, of course, but the change would strike my eye better."
"All right, Frank." With which remark Billy turned to one end of the hangar close by, where a telephone apparatus could be seen attached to the wooden wall.
Frank went at his little task with his customary vim. It mattered nothing to him that the flight of the great seaplane would be neither hindered nor assisted by its consummation. He simply liked to see things shipshape at all times.
"What's the matter, Billy?" he called out presently, on hearing the other ring for the third time, and also muttering to himself as though annoyed.
"Why, Frank, I don't seem able to get Central," replied Billy, once more energetically working the handle of the apparatus.
Apparently Frank was enough interested to cross over so as to see for himself what was wrong. He sat down on the box Billy vacated and tried to get in touch with the operator at the central switchboard. After testing it in several ways, Frank replaced the receiver and looked up at his chum.