
In the bitter chill of a March snowstorm, two teenage friends—steady‑hearted Athol and his ever‑optimistic companion Dick—push a rattling motor‑bike and side‑car through the frosted streets of Shrewsbury. Their journey, set against the backdrop of World War I, is a daring mix of youthful rebellion and wartime necessity, as they grapple with a loose wheel, a reluctant mechanic, and the watchful eyes of recruiting sergeants. The frozen market square, blanketed in white, becomes a stage where the boys’ bravado meets the stark reality of a country on alert.
Amid the cold and the clatter, the pair reveal a mysterious document that catches the sergeants’ attention, hinting at a secret project hidden beneath the ordinary bustle of the town. Their impromptu encounter suggests that these seemingly ordinary rides may be the first step toward something far more extraordinary—a concealed aircraft that could change the course of the war. The adventure begins with a blend of camaraderie, danger, and the promise of an unseen battle in the skies.
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (272K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by R. G. P. M. van Giesen
Release date
2016-04-19
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1876–1959
Packed his adventure stories with ships, submarines, aviation, and the kind of cliffhanger action that kept generations of young readers turning pages. He was astonishingly prolific, producing well over a hundred books and becoming one of the best-known British writers of boys' fiction in the first half of the twentieth century.
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