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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b406417 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #67185 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/67185) diff --git a/old/67185-0.txt b/old/67185-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 5ddc326..0000000 --- a/old/67185-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6055 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Bird Boys’ Aeroplane Wonder, by -John Luther Langworthy - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: The Bird Boys’ Aeroplane Wonder - Young Aviators on a Cattle Ranch - -Author: John Luther Langworthy - -Release Date: January 16, 2022 [eBook #67185] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at - https://www.pgdp.net - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BIRD BOYS’ AEROPLANE WONDER *** - - - -THE BIRD BOYS’ AEROPLANE WONDER - - -[Illustration: Judge of Their Astonishment and Wild Delight When They Saw -the Aeroplane Leave the Earth.] - --------------------------------------------------------------------- - -THE BIRD BOYS’ AEROPLANE WONDER - -Or - -Young Aviators On a Cattle Ranch - -By - -JOHN LUTHER LANGWORHTY - -Chicago - -M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY - --------------------------------------------------------------------- - -Copyright 1914 - -M. A. Donohue & Company - -Chicago - --------------------------------------------------------------------- - -CONTENTS - - I Under the Spreading Beech - II “Glorious News!” - III Looking For Trouble - IV The Panic That Came to Pass - V What They Found at Witherspoon - VI At the Double X Ranch - VII A Pretty Close Call - VIII Broncho Buster Meets His Match - IX Figuring It All Out - X Learning the Ropes on the Ranch - XI Out for Bear - XII The Defense of the Log Bridge - XIII Never-to-be-Forgotten Days - XIV Off For the Round-Up - XV The One Who Came Back - XVI An Alarming Discovery - XVII The Carrying Off of Little Becky - XVIII The Aeroplane Pursuit - XIX Over Plain and Desert - XX What Andy Saw From Aloft - XXI The Terror of the Air - XXII The Bird Boys’ Triumph - XXIII Home Again—Conclusion - --------------------------------------------------------------------- - -The Bird Boys’ Aeroplane Wonder - -Or, Young Aviators On a Cattle Ranch - - -CHAPTER I—UNDER THE SPREADING BEECH - -“Was there ever such great luck, fellows?” - -“Whew! for one, I feel like giving a vote of thanks to the striking -masons, who loafed pretty much all summer, and held the repair work -on the Bloomsbury High building up till now.” - -“Them’s my sentiments, Elephant!” - -“And they say now the work can’t be finished and school taken up -till December! What d’ye think of that, Frank, and you, Larry?” - -“Glory to goodness! two extra months’ vacation, and right through -October too, when the chestnuts are ripe, and walnuts are dropping! -What bully days we’ve got ahead of us, boys!” - -“And November, too, mind you,” went on the little “runt” who had -been called “Elephant” in a joke by his chums and could not shake -off the name, “the month when the frisky cottontail is also ripe. -Say, Frank, won’t you have a ge-lorious time trying out that new -Marlin pump-gun you got for your last birthday?” - -The third member of the group sitting under the beech tree had as -yet not spoken, since his two companions started to give expression -to their extravagant delight over the wonderful news brought by -Fenimore Cooper Small, the aforesaid “Elephant,” whose father -happened to be the head Selectman of the town, and could fetch the -decision of the Board of School Trustees home before the rest of the -worthy citizens had been put wise to the facts. - -“Well,” said Frank Bird, with one of his rare smiles that always -made him friends wherever he went, “I had a pretty good idea it -would end that way, when I heard how the trustees failed to find any -building in town that would answer to house the high school pupils. -Yes, I’m glad for some things, and sorry for others. But it’ll give -the Bird boys a chance to do a little more flying before winter sets -in and stops all that fun.” - -Frank and his cousin Andy had become quite famous throughout the -region around Bloomsbury, a town in Central New York, on account of -the wonderful success they had made of aviation. - -Indeed, some of the doings of the Bird Boys, as they were called, -had even found their way into the columns of the big metropolitan -papers, and among professional birdmen they were looked upon as most -promising “comers.” - -Back of Frank’s house—where he lived with his father, Professor -Bird, once a noted balloonist and scientist, together with an old -gentleman who had served as guardian to Frank when his father was -believed to have perished on one of his long flights while exploring -parts of the Panama Isthmus—in a field some distance in the rear of -his house there had been built a fine workshop, where the two boys -spent most of their time when not in the air. - -Already they had invented quite a few ingenious contrivances which -gave promise that some day their names would figure along with those -that have made aviation in heavier-than-air machines what it is -today—those of the Wright brothers. - -Close to this workshop was the great “hangar” in which they kept -their aeroplane when it was not in use; and since enemies had -frequently tried to injure their property these buildings were not -only securely locked but as a rule watched of nights. - -To tell even a small portion of the doings of these bold cousins -when navigating the air would consume too much space and time; and -the reader who has been unfortunate enough not to have enjoyed their -perusal is referred back to the previous volumes in this Series, -where they will be found recorded at length, and the story told in -an entertaining manner. - -The third member of the little group taking it easy under the wide -spreading beech tree, with its thick branches, was one Larry -Geohegan, a firm friend of the Bird boys; whose only fault was the -envy he often felt because he could never accompany either of his -flying chums aloft, being afflicted with a weakness that made him -dizzy whenever he looked down from any height. - -Elephant had met the other two quite by accident on the road, and -stopped to communicate the grand news, which he had heard his father -tell at the breakfast table. - -Apparently the other two lads were going fishing, for they had poles -and bait cans lying on the ground. There was a beautiful lake named -Sunrise, upon which the town lay; and a mile away a stream ran into -this which could always be depended upon to furnish a splendid -string of bass, chubs, sunfish and horned pouts or catfish, when the -wind was favorable, as happened on this lovely morning. “What were -you waiting here for under this tree; did you expect Andy to show -up?” asked Elephant after he had declared his intention of joining -the fishing party, and cutting a pole when he got on the grounds. - -“Just what we did,” replied Frank. “He spent last night out at -Spencer’s, because as you all know, the old gentleman is especially -fond of Andy, and every once in so often begs him to come out and -cheer him up.” - -“Yes, and they do say he means to leave all he’s got to Andy, in -trust of his father, Doctor Bird,” declared Larry, that little -streak of envy again making itself evident in his voice; for it did -seem to him that things were always coming to his chums and passing -him by. - -“Oh! that’s silly talk,” laughed Frank, “I wouldn’t pay any -attention to it, if I were you, Larry. I’m sure Andy never gives -such a thing a thought. He’s only too glad to oblige the poor old -man who’s so crippled with rheumatism that he can hardly hobble -around. And you know that years and years ago he used to be a noted -traveler, and a lecturer as well. Why, fellows, there hasn’t hardly -been a country on the face of the earth that Mr. Spencer hasn’t -visited, and explored. I could sit for hours and just hear him tell -about what he’s seen and gone through with. I try to go out with -Andy every chance I get; but last night I was too busy with a knotty -problem I had to solve.” - -“I just bet you it was about some new contraption you’re making up -to surprise the flying people. Already you’ve done a heap along that -line, Frank; and they do say that the time is sure to come when -you’ll give the Wrights, and all that bunch, a rude jolt, by -inventing something that they’ve all been trying hard to discover, -but nixey, nothing doing up to date; because the time ain’t ripe, -and the Bird boys haven’t had a fair chance to show what they can -do.” - -Frank only laughed when Elephant applied this thick coat of -flattery. He was accustomed to hearing this sort of talk from that -quarter; because the Small boy had always been one of his greatest -admirers from the time when he and Andy were struggling with their -first rude pattern of an aeroplane, in which they had installed some -sort of cranky engine, and actually taken short flights, without -getting their necks or legs broken. - -“But you must have agreed to meet Andy here then, didn’t you?” -Elephant went on to remark, stretching his neck to glance along the -road as he spoke. - -“That was the agreement when he went off on his wheel yesterday -afternoon,” replied Frank Bird. “If the morning looked fishy, Larry -and myself were to wait here under the old beech at eight o’clock -until he came along. You see, I’ve got a pole for him; and we dug -lots of worms. Larry even went out last night with a lantern, and -picked up a can of big fat night-walkers that look like young -snakes. I dropped in at Andy’s house on the way here, and told them -he wouldn’t be back till evening, if the fish took good, and the -bathing turned out fine. We’ve also got plenty of grub along; yes, -enough for you, too, Elephant.” - -“Hoop-la! you make me feel happy when you say that, Frank; because I -was born with an appetite, you must know; and when I can’t get my -grub at least three times per diem I’m apt to complain,” and the -Small boy grinned good-naturedly as he made this remark. - -“I say, Frank, have you and Andy invested that reward money the bank -insisted on you accepting when you captured the two hobo yeggmen who -broke into their safe; and also stole Percy Carberry’s biplane to -make their get-away in?” asked Larry, who, it might as well be -confessed right here, had a pretty average streak of curiosity in -his make-up, and was forever wanting to know this, that, and the -other thing. - -“Oh!” answered the other carelessly, “we’ve still got that in bank, -and may put it into another machine later on; or else invest in some -parts we want to work with, Andy having a new idea this time that -looks worth while experimenting with.” - -“You sure are the luckiest pair I ever ran up against, and that’s a -fact!” declared Larry. - -“We think so ourselves,” Frank admitted. “There’s one thing certain, -and that is we don’t deserve all the great times we’ve been having -this year and more.” - -“Don’t you believe it!” exclaimed Elephant. “It ain’t luck so much -as being everlastingly at it, and minding how you do things. You -deserve all you’ve got, Frank; and lots of people say so besides -me.” - -“Here comes Andy,” remarked Larry, anxious to turn the conversation -just then, for he was really somewhat ashamed of his weakness, “I -saw him flash past that open place up the road, and spinning along -like fun.” - -“Yes, you’re right there, Larry,” added Frank, “and here he is.” A -boy mounted on a fine bicycle came whirling along the road, and -speedily drew up at the beech with the dense foliage, which later on -would yield a harvest of the small but sweet nuts boys love so well -when it is a “fat” season. - -Andy Bird was not quite as tall as his cousin, though well built and -rather stocky at that. There was more or less resemblance between -them, although their temperaments differed in many ways, Andy being -more inclined to impulsiveness than the cooler and far-seeing Frank. -But they were exceedingly fond of each other, and had been -inseparable for years. - -Andy threw himself from his saddle, and lowering his wheel to the -ground after the usual boyish way, dropped down beside the others. - -“Whew! I hit it up at a lively clip all the way down!” he remarked. -“You see, it’s awful hard to break away from Mr. Spencer, and he -kept me up to the last minute. I knew you said eight o’clock, Frank, -and I didn’t want to keep you waiting. Glad you turned up, Elephant; -we tried to get you on the phone yesterday afternoon; but they said -you’d gone off, and nobody knew where. Going with us, ain’t you?” - -“Make your mind easy on that, Andy,” replied the diminutive -Elephant, glibly. “I never could hold out when there was any fishing -going on. I just revel in pulling out the gamey bass, the festive -catfish, and the acrobatic eel; while as for perch and pickerel and -sunfish, why, I delight to see them wriggling on the hook, ready to -take their places in the pan. See you’ve got a fryingpan along, -Larry; and that means we’ll have fish for dinner today—after we grab -’em out of the water.” - -“But Andy, think of the bully good news Elephant’s gone and brought -with him,” Larry went on to say, jubilantly, “the trustees have -finally decided that, as the big repairs on the high school building -have been started, and can’t possibly be done till early winter, -why, because there’s no place in town that could be used just now, -vacation has got to be lengthened until about the first of -December.” - -Andy Bird looked delighted, as what boy would not. Immediately his -eyes traveled in the direction of his cousin, and there was -exchanged between them a significant series of nods and winks, that -possibly meant their thoughts were along the same lines; and that -now they would have the time to go with certain work that had been -taking their attention of late. “By the way,” said Frank, “I stopped -at your house on the way out, Andy, to tell your father that you -would go fishing with us, and not to expect you till night. And he -gave me a letter for you that he said had come in the early morning -mail. From the postmark I see it’s from your uncle Jethro, away down -on that Arizona ranch you were telling me about. Here it is, and a -fine fat one too.” - -Andy hastily opened the letter, and was heard to give vent to a low -cry that seemed to spell both astonishment and delight. - -“What’s this mean?” exclaimed Frank, stooping to pick up a paper -that had fallen to the ground, “why, as sure as you live, it’s a -check made out to you, Andy, and signed by the old bachelor uncle, -your mother’s brother. Hold your breath, fellows, while I whisper -what the amount is he takes pleasure in sending to his beloved -nephew—four figures in it, as sure as you live—a clean thousand -dollars!” - -Larry gave a groan and threw up his hands while his eyes rolled. - -“Of all the lucky fellows, you Bird boys do certain sure take the -cake!” he cried. - - -CHAPTER II—GLORIOUS NEWS - -“Ain’t you going to read it out, Andy?” asked Elephant, anxiously. - -“Wait till he gets through, can’t you?” asked Larry, although he was -fairly trembling with eagerness to hear what the sending of that -glorious check could mean; when he looked at the small bit of paper -Frank was holding he almost held his breath with awe, for to tell -the truth Larry had never seen a check a quarter as large as that in -all his life. - -Andy could not say a word when he finished reading. He seemed to be -fairly overpowered with emotion, and holding the letter out to -Frank, motioned that he should accommodate the other two. - -And so Frank started in. The letter was written in a cramped hand, -as if uncle Jethro Witherspoon had rather lost the knack of using a -pen; but then Frank could wade through it, even if he did hesitate -here and there. - -It started in after this fashion: - - “My Dear Nephew, Andrew Bird:—I’ve been hearing a whole lot about - the way you and your cousin Frank are coming along with that - airship business, and your mother has got me worked up to pretty - nigh fever pitch about your precious doing. Now here I am, an old - and cranky bachelor, with a big and successful cattle ranch on my - hands, and no chick or child to cheer me up. I want you two boys - to pay me a long visit, and bring that wonder of an aeroplane - along with you. I sounded your mother some time back, without her - letting you know, and she was agreeable, if only it could be - arranged without interfering with your school duties. And here - today your good dad, the doctor, has wired me that he believes - there is going to be an extension of the vacation period for - another two months. - - “Seems like things might be working to please a lonely old man out - this way. Now here’s a little check to cover expenses. If you need - any more draw on me to any amount. What’s money for anyway but to - give pleasure to somebody? Pack up that flying machine of yours, - and either tuck it under your arm or else ship it by the fastest - express you can get to receive it, regardless of cost. - - “I’m not going to take no for an answer. I want you and that smart - cousin Frank down here to show some of my cow-punchers what’s - doing in the line of this flying business. But most of all I want - to see you. I’ve got your pictures before me as I write, and I’m - counting the days until you arrive, bag and baggage. Wire me on - receipt of this all about your plans and when you can start. If - you say you can’t come, I’m going up after you. I’m used to having - my own way, the boys down here will tell you. With lots of love, - believe me, - - “Your affectionate uncle, - “Jethro Witherspoon.” - -When Frank finished reading this remarkable letter, Larry gasped for -breath; while little Elephant stood on his hands and cracked his -heels together. - -“That sure takes the cake, Andy, Frank!” he declared, when he had -once more resumed his customary position, with his head higher than -his heels. “And my stars! what a ge-lorious time you two will have -of it, away down in that desert corner of Arizona! Cowboys—bucking -bronchos—whirling ropes—branding cattle—the merry round-up—the -camp-outs on the plains, and all them stunts. Oh! what wouldn’t I -give to be going along with you, fellers?” - -“It’s always better to be born lucky than rich; I’ve said that -before, and I’m ready to stick by it!” stoutly asserted Larry. -“Frank, can we go, do you think?” asked Andy, almost in a whisper, -as though he had hardly as yet recovered his breath, taken away at -the wonderful news contained in that letter which his cousin had -brought him. - -“We’ll think it over and see,” replied the other, always avoiding -the rush tactics that Andy frequently displayed, and which made him -a valued member of the Bloomsbury High football eleven. “But I -rather guess it could be arranged, if my father is willing.” - -“Huh! no danger of him saying no,” grunted Larry. “He ought to know -that you two boys can take care of yourselves anywhere on the face -of the earth. After you went down to Colombia in South America, and -figured out where he must have drifted to, when he lost control of -his balloon; afterwards rescuing him from that queer old valley -surrounded by the high cliffs, that made him a prisoner, the -Professor’d say yes if you wanted to try a trip to the moon. And -some of us’d believe you, if you said you’d been that far in your -airship, and shook hands with the Old Man up there.” - -“But he wants us to take our aeroplane along, Frank; could we pack -that up and send it by express, do you think? Will they take -anything as big and cumbersome as that, in boxes or crates, by -express?” Andy went on, eagerly, as though in his mind the fact of -their going was already assured. - -“I guess they’ll take anything short of a house!” declared Elephant. -“Even if it needs a special car to carry it along. If you sent the -thing by freight, chances are it’d be a whole month getting there.” - -“And time counts with Uncle Jethro more than money does with most -men,” remarked Larry. “You see he wants to get you there with your -flier regardless of expense. Why, I’d wire him tonight, Andy, and -pack up in a couple of days. Elephant ’nd me’ll help out all we -can.” - -“Well, I should say we’d thank you for the chance,” spoke up the -Small boy. - -“It’s hard to believe we’ve got such a great chance to see something -of that country down there among the mountains and deserts and -plains of Arizona,” Andy went on to say, as though he wanted some -one to stick him with a pin, so as to find out whether he were -really awake, or only dreaming. - -“And I never dreamed we’d have such a great opening to visit that -country,” the other Bird boy went on to say, while his face beamed -with delight which refused to be repressed. “That uncle of yours -must be a fine old chap, Andy. His letter is a peach, and I’m as -sure as anything we’ll like him from the word go. Think of his -throwing you a check for a thousand just like it might be thirty -cents; and telling you to draw on him to any amount. He must think -we’ll be wanting to charter a special train to take us and the -aeroplane along.” - -“Chances are he’d stand for it,” ventured Larry. “Say, why didn’t -some rich old uncle of mine think of me, and send a little piece of -paper this way? I’ve got half a dozen wealthy ones, but they don’t -know I’m on the face of the earth.” - -“Well,” said Elephant, “get busy then, and make the name of Geohegan -famous, and then they’ll all break their necks trying to get you to -let ’em adopt you. The trouble is, Larry, you hide your light under -a bushel too much. Fly high, like the Bird boys do, and everybody -’ll see what you are.” - -The other gave a dismal groan. - -“That’s just what ails me,” he complained, “I can’t fly at all. Why, -I get dizzy in a swing; and even when I go out on the lake, if she’s -the least bit rough, you’ll find me hangin’ over the side right -away, tryin’ to see how deep it is, and wonderin’ if drowning’d stop -my troubles easy like. I reckon I’ll just have to make up my mind -that if ever I set this old world afire, it’s got to be by doin’ -some stupendous intellectual stunt. That seems to be my long hold, -just as eatin’s yours, Elephant.” - -“Rats,” jeered the other, contemptuously, “as if you couldn’t stow -away twice as much as me any day you felt like it. I talk a heap -about the grub racket; but you can work them jaws of yours to beat -the band, Larry Geohegan.” - -“Well, do we start off now, or fuss around and chatter like a lot of -monkeys?” demanded the party thus referred to by Elephant. - -“What about your wheel, Andy; you don’t want to lug that along -through the timber by that snaky trail?” asked Frank. - -“I had fixed all that in my mind as I pedalled,” was the reply. “You -know we have to pass the Fletcher place just above here, before we -strike off the road, and I can leave the bike there till we come out -this afternoon.” - -“Sure thing!” commented Elephant, nodding his head sagely; just as -though when he approved of a suggestion it had the hall mark of -wisdom stamped on it. - -“I’ve done that more’n once when I had my wheel along,” declared -Larry, bent on showing his chums that he could have an original idea -once in a while, even though fame had not picked him out for a -favorite. - -“Did you bring a pole along for me, Frank?” asked Andy. - -“Yes, and plenty of hooks, and lines, and sinkers, and what-not,” -replied the one addressed. “Elephant, here, says he’ll cut a pole -after we get on the ground; and the chances are he’ll be the -luckiest fisherman of the lot. Nearly always turns out that way, I -notice; for the fellow who just takes things as they come along gets -the biggest fish and the greatest number. Now, you see, I’ve got a -rod along, a real jointed split bamboo rod that was given to me last -Christmas by my guardian, old Colonel Whympers. I’m going to be the -toney angler, and try all sorts of stunts while the rest of you are -pulling in the fish. But to me a pound bass caught on light tackle -is better than one that weighs three times as heavy, if I have to -just yank him in with a pole, and a cord tied to the end—no reel, no -fine leader, only a hook in a bunch of wiggling worms, and a float -above the sinker.” - -“Huh! you’re getting big notions, Frank,” grunted Larry. “Time was -when you seemed just as well pleased with one of these long cane -poles. I’m mighty much afraid you’re getting spoiled, my boy.” - -“Well, if somebody made you a present of a beautiful jointed rod -like that, now, Larry——” began Andy. - -“Ain’t no chance for that to happen; nobody ever thinks to remember -my birthday, ’cept you fellers; when you pound me nearly to death, -and then treat to the ice cream to make up for it,” Larry lamented, -dolefully. - -“But supposing they did,” persisted Andy, who never liked to give up -anything on which he had started; “now, wouldn’t you want to get -acquainted with it; and if you caught a good fish that way, and felt -how he pulled, and saw the slender rod bend nearly double, wouldn’t -you want to try it again and again, honest Injun, Larry tell me?” - -“Oh! I guess so, Andy,” answered the other, making a grimace, “but -there ain’t no such luck for me. I must a been born under an evil -star, my mom says, because I’m always bustin’ things at home. She -says it’s because I’m so clumsy; but I know better. Why, seems like -some things just fall over and smash, when I happen to look at ’em.” - -“Then for goodness sake quit looking at me like that, Larry!” -exclaimed Elephant. “I ain’t got no hoops around me right now, and I -tell you I don’t want to bust any—not till after we’ve had that -bully old camp dinner today, anyhow. Just turn your eyes the other -way, thank you.” - -Andy had meanwhile carefully placed the wonderful check inside the -envelope once more, and with a pin fastened the latter in his coat -pocket. It was Frank’s suggestion that he do this; for the latter -knew from experience that Andy could be a bit careless at times. And -the thought of losing that windfall, when so delightful a future -beckoned to them through its means, would be enough to give any boy -the heart-ache. - -“All ready, boys?” asked Frank, presently, as he stooped and -carefully picked up the little covered case in which his fine rod -lay, each joint reposing in the groove that was made to hold it. - -“Yep. Let me carry the poles, Larry. You’re always getting things -caught in the bushes and trees as we go along. Why, only the last -time we came fishin’ didn’t you hook me in the ear, and make me howl -like anything? You take care of that fryingpan, and the bundle of -grub. And walk ahead, so’s we c’n kinder keep an eye on you, please, -Larry.” - -“Huh! think you’re smart to say that, don’t you, Elephant?” grunted -the other, but in spite of the fact that these two were usually in -some sort of a “spat,” they were really great friends, and ready to -do almost anything, one for the other. - -So the four boys left the shelter of the fine old beech that stood -alongside the road, while its mates grew over on the other fence; -for strangely enough, Frank had noticed that beech trees like -company, and are rarely if ever, found alone. - -They walked briskly along the road, with their backs turned in the -direction of the not far distant town. A little ways off they would -climb the fence, pass through a field, enter the woods, and by a -short-cut reach the fishing grounds much more easily than if they -had skirted the lake, and coming to the little river, followed up -its sinuous course. - -Just as they came to the bend a short ways above, Larry, who was -ahead, happening to turn around in order to say something was seen -to stare, and then exclaim: - -“Well, now, if that don’t beat anything going!” - -Of course his strange words, together with the look on his face, -aroused the curiosity of the other three boys. They, too, turned -their heads, thinking in this fashion to discover what had given -Larry so great a shock; but so far as they could see, there was -nothing at all in sight. - -“What was it?” demanded Andy. - -“Did you see somebody?” demanded Elephant, getting his poles in -every sort of trouble, in his eagerness to learn what it was all -about back there. - -“Yes, and what do you think, fellows, he just dropped down out of -the branches of that big birch tree, and hurried into the bushes -like fun. Take my word for it, he must a-been up there all the time -we was sittin’ talking; and if that’s so, he learned about Andy here -getting that letter and check from Uncle Jethro, ’way down in the -cow-puncher country.” - -“But who in the mischief was it, Larry, did you know him?” persisted -Elephant. - -“I should say yes; and who but that sneak of a Sandy Hollingshead, -the shadow that hangs around after Percy Carberry, and does most of -his mean work for him. And chances are, he’s makin’ for town right -now, to tell all he’s learned. Say, won’t your old rival, Percy, be -mad, though, when he hears of the luck that has come to the Bird -boys?” - - -CHAPTER III—LOOKING FOR TROUBLE - -Andy looked somewhat serious when Larry said this; but Frank on his -part only laughed. - -“Well, what does it matter?” he remarked. “The thing will be town -talk in a little while, and those fellows would hear it that way. -Let Sandy run with his great news and give his chum a pain. You -don’t think for a minute that because we’ve got a chance to go off -there to the cattle country, that Percy Carberry would make up his -mind to hike that way, with some sort of machine he’s got coming, to -take the place of that new biplane the bank thieves wrecked for him -in Lake Ontario?” - -“But you know how bitter he’s always been against us, Frank?” -expostulated Andy. - -“Many’s the time he’s tried to do us a bad turn; and even up in the -air he used to take the greatest delight in swooping past us, just -as close as he dared, and give us a scare; though he quit that when -you threatened to lick him.” - -“But didn’t you do Perc a great favor that time he had his machine -knocked to flinders on the table rock up yonder?” demanded Elephant, -turning to point his rods upwards to where quite a mountain reared -its head toward the clouds, and which was locally known as Old -Thunder-Top, though in the atlas it had another name. - -Nobody had ever been able to climb to the summit of that precipitous -height, and when the Bird boys landed there once from their -aeroplane and planted a flag above the nest of the white-headed -eagles they achieved a great triumph. The incident to which Elephant -alluded had been brought about during a sudden thunder storm that -had caught the rival aeroplanes while making a flight to the top of -the mountain; and at that time the Bird boys were indeed placed in a -position to save the lives of Percy Carberry and his comrade Sandy; -but since gratitude was a foreign element in the make-up of the -jealous rival, he had never shown that he meant to change his -tactics toward Frank and Andy. - -“Oh! never mind about what we did,” remarked Frank. “Forget it, just -as Percy has done. Tomorrow, we’ll get as busy as beavers, packing -the machine in the cases; and how lucky we didn’t break them up as -you wanted to do, Andy, just to get rid of the stuff, you said. I -guess we ought to be able to ship on the next day, and then learn -just how long it’ll be on the way, so we can time our own going.” - -“Huh! seems to me you ain’t botherin’ much about whether your dad’ll -give his consent, eh, Frank?” remarked Larry, grinning. - -“Oh! I’m taking that for granted; because you all seemed so sure he -wouldn’t refuse me that favor,” chuckled Frank. “But come along, -boys; what do we care if Sandy did get the news first hand, by -climbing that tree when he saw us coming along the road, and keeping -those big ears of his wide open. So far as I’m concerned I’d just as -soon tell them myself all about our plans; because if we’re away -down in Arizona, and they stay here in old Bloomsbury, I don’t think -Percy’s got a long enough arm to reach that far, and do us any -harm.” - -“He sure would if he could, and don’t you forget it,” muttered -Elephant; and at that Andy looked more or less troubled. - -As our story concerns the doings of the Bird boys in other fields -than that of their old stamping grounds around the home town, we -need not accompany them further on their visit to the fishing hole. -Enough to state that the finny tribes bit eagerly at times, and that -besides having a fish dinner at noon, they all carried home -respectable strings to exhibit as evidence of their prowess with -hook and line. - -Frank doubtless felt satisfied with his sport, even though he did -not take the largest bass, nor the greatest number for that matter; -and the whole of them came home by sundown, tired, yet satisfied -with the day’s sport. - -During the many hours spent alongside the deep hole where the fish -loved to lie in these late summer days, there was plenty of time in -which to discuss the coming departure of Frank and Andy for the Far -West. And it can be set down as certain that the subject was -threshed as dry as a bone before the quartette separated for the -night. - -Early the next day Elephant and Larry showed up at Frank’s house, to -find him already busily at work out there at the hangar, taking off -bolts, and dismembering the wonderful aeroplane with the confidence -of one who was familiar with every minute detail of its -construction; which was only the truth, for with his cousin he had -partly built at least three “fliers” up to now, and was continually -thinking up some new arrangement that would make the task of -piloting aeroplanes through the upper air currents much easier, or -possibly add to their safety when rocked by furious gusts of wind -among the clouds. Andy soon showed up, and almost quivering with -eagerness to get busy. There did not seem to be the slightest thing -in sight to disturb the two who were planning such great things. - -And that was indeed a busy morning for the four friends. - -Elephant and Larry were only too anxious to do all that lay in their -power, in order to assist. True, their knowledge of the mechanism -connected with these amazing air travelers was rather limited; but -then both were willing to do odd jobs of carrying, and nailing up -cases; so that altogether they made themselves very useful indeed. - -Larry managed to bottle up his envy on this occasion, and even -seemed quite gay. As a rule he was a good companion, cheerful, -willing, and generous to a degree. And Elephant could hardly have -been any happier even though given the opportunity to accompany the -pair of adventurous voyagers on their long trip. - -Then came the afternoon session, and they went at it with renewed -vim. It is astonishing what an amount of solid work four husky boys -can put in during a whole day with the tools, especially when two of -them are as expert in handling monkey wrenches and the like as Frank -and Andy were. - -By four o’clock the aeroplane had been completely and securely -packed, and they were waiting for the big truck which Frank had -engaged at the livery stable, to show up, in order to carry the same -to the freight station of the railroad. - -The man presently came along, and with the help of the four boys the -various boxes and crates were loaded. Then they started off, headed -for the railroad; and as their route lay directly through town it -was not long before quite a following of youngsters trailed along, -chattering about the mysterious way in which Frank Bird was about to -ship his aeroplane, and inventing all sorts of miraculous stories -about certain races in which the two cousins were slated to take -part; until one boy more daring than his mates, managed to climb up -on the truck, and read the address which had been plainly printed on -every piece of freight. - -So it was known that the aeroplane was being shipped far away to -Arizona; and it may be set down as certain that this fact only -served to whet the curiosity of that crowd of half-grown lads more -than ever. - -Frank had learned on the preceding evening how it would have to be -sent out. The express people would handle it after a certain -fashion, shipping by what they called fast freight. The agent -calculated that in this way it would take about ten or twelve days -for the aeroplane to reach the border town where Andy’s uncle was to -meet them upon their arrival. - -Of course that meant a long delay, and much fretting; but it was the -best that could be arranged, and Andy had to abide by it. But -between them he and Elephant and Larry had decided that they would -not let the precious freight go unguarded for a minute, until it was -placed in a car on the following morning, and had left Bloomsbury on -the freight that would rush it to the nearest city, where it could -be attached to the fast train that left daily for Western points. - -Frank was inclined to make fun of his cousin for his suspicions, and -declared that according to his mind they had nothing to fear, except -the possibilities of a fire sweeping down upon the ramshackle -freight house, which was the best Bloomsbury could boast until the -new stone one was completed. - -“Do just whatever you want to, boys,” he had remarked, after they -had received the receipt for the freight, and paid the charges all -the way through, with some of the cash that wonderful check had been -exchanged for after Andy had written his full name across the back; -“but I rather think you’ll have all your trouble for your pains. As -for me, I’ve got a few important things to work at tonight, and so, -if you don’t mind, I’ll spend the time in the shop. Good luck to you -all! Let me know the first thing in the morning if everything’s -O.K.” With that Frank swung around on his heel and strode away. - -“How about that, Andy,” demanded Larry, when they saw Frank vanish -beyond the open door of the freight shed; “is he really giving us -the hook because we think it best to watch the blooming freight -tonight, for fear that tricky Perc Carberry and his man Friday, I -mean Sandy, swoop down upon it, and do something to make your fine -airship good only for the scrap-heap?” - -Andy laughed as he replied: - -“You just don’t know Frank as well as I do,” he observed. “Chances -are that if we hadn’t set up that howl about being afraid something -was going to happen here, my cousin would have quietly sneaked along -this way after dark, and stood on guard the whole blessed night.” - -“What’s that you say, Andy, and he just laughed at us too? I didn’t -think Frank had it in him to play a joke like that,” exclaimed -Elephant, looking hurt. - -“Well,” went on Andy Bird, “you see he knew we were bent on keeping -guard here, and Frank does hate to see anybody disappointed; so he -just let us have our own way about it. And then when he said he had -something important to do at our shop, he spoke the truth; because -he’s right now on the heels of a discovery that may mean a whole lot -to us.” - -“All right,” remarked Larry. “We’re only too glad to let Frank off, -and run the whole shooting match ourselves, for once. Now, how shall -we fix it so every fellow can get home to supper, and yet keep tab -on what’s going on here all the while?” - -This was very easily adjusted, however. They left Larry on guard, -because he said his folks had supper later than the rest; and both -Elephant and Andy promised to hurry back as soon as they could get -enough to eat; and let their folks know just why they did not expect -to occupy their beds that night. - -This plan worked all right. - -When the two boys turned up together, one having called for the -other, of course the first thing they asked Larry was whether -anything had happened; perhaps their sharp eyes detected the fact -that he looked somewhat excited, and they judged that this could -hardly be unless he had seen something suspicious. - -“Well,” remarked Larry, with his favorite drawl, “I kept myself hid -just as nice as you please, and I was glad I’d been so smart; -because who should walk in here talking to the agent but Perc -himself. Seemed to be asking if any freight had come along for him, -and made out to be pretty huffy over the delay of the railroad to -deliver stuff. Got the agent to hustle around, looking to see -whether it could a-been overlooked, and hidden out of sight behind -other things. But say, when he was sure the other’s back was turned, -what did Perc do but step up to your stuff, Andy, and take a quick -look at the directions you marked on each package. Then I heard him -chuckle, step back, and measure distances with his eye; just like a -feller might do that expected to come back here in the dark and -prowl around and wanted to get his bearings well in his head!” - -“Wow! now what d’ye think of that?” exclaimed Elephant, showing his -white teeth aggressively, and doubling up his diminutive fist; for, -although unusually small in stature, he was a spirited lad; just as -the little bantam rooster seems ready to fight a big Plymouth Rock, -or a Shanghai, for that matter, if the opportunity offers, and he -feels that his dignity has been affronted. - -Andy nodded his head, and looked rather pleased. - -“Let’em come,” he said, “it won’t be the first time I’ve lain in -wait, expecting a sneaking night visit from Percy Carberry and some -of his crowd. And history has a way of repeating itself; so in that -case he’s going to be in for a mighty unpleasant experience, or my -name isn’t Andy Bird.” - -The boys had thought fit to approach the agent, and tell him that -since there was no way of locking up the heavy freight that lay -around under that shed; and they had reason to fear that an attempt -would be made to injure the crated aeroplane, they meant to watch -throughout the night. Of course, he had not the slightest objection -to offer. The company would be liable to damages should any occur, -but that would prove but sorry compensation to the Bird boys for the -loss of their aeroplane; since such a catastrophe was apt to prevent -them from accepting the warm invitation of Uncle Jethro in far-away -Arizona. And after night set in the three sentries arranged matters -to suit the plans of Andy, who had figured out a little scheme which -he believed would cover the ground, and not only warn them when -intruders started to lay hostile hands on the freight, but play -havoc with their mean plans. - -The time passed slowly, and it must have been very near midnight -when they heard the first indication that prowlers were about. The -hanging door at the end of the old freight shed squeaked somewhat -when moved; and this sound came plainly to the ears of Andy and his -two chums. - -They touched each other, as if to give warning, and to make sure -that no one of the guardians of the boxed aeroplanes could by any -possibility be asleep. Then they got themselves ready to meet the -intruders with a little surprise that was calculated to give them -more or less of a shock. - -And as the three friends crouched there behind the boxes which they -had moved in position for this very same purpose, they heard low -faint whispering sounds that seemed to be gradually drawing closer -and closer, as though those who groped their way in the dark might -be comparing notes, and thus deciding whether they were moving along -the right track. - -It looked as though the crisis might be very near; and that in -perhaps another minute they would be compelled to throw off the mask -and give the skulkers the surprise of their lives. - - -CHAPTER IV—THE PANIC THAT CAME TO PASS - -“H’st! flash that light a little!” - -These low words were plainly heard by the two concealed boys. They -came immediately after there had been some sort of head-on collision -between a couple of the prowlers, which had resulted in grunts, and -a plain unmistakable groan. - -Immediately a little shaft of bright light began moving this way and -that. Some one carried a very small edition of an electric -flash-light. It gave only an apology for a glow, and yet by moving -this to the right and to the left, it would be possible to discover -obstructions, and thus avoid any further collisions. - -Besides this, the eager searching eyes of the intruders would be apt -to discover the boxed aeroplane, for undoubtedly Percy was one of -the lot, and he must have marked the whereabouts of the freight -pretty accurately in his mind, at the time he wandered around with -the agent, pretending to search for his own stuff. - -“I see it!” some one said, in a satisfied tone. - -“Then for goodness sake show us,” grumbled another fellow, who was -possibly rubbing an injured head or arm as he spoke. - -“This way, everybody; and get ready to do what I say!” - -That must surely be Percy Carberry talking, though neither Andy nor -Elephant, nor yet Larry, could recognize the voice, which seemed -strangely muffled. But the closer they examined the three -approaching figures, slouching along in a half hearted way, as -though conscious of the danger that hung over their heads while thus -entering upon the property of the railroad, the more convinced Andy -and his chums became that they had some sort of muffler fastened -across the lower part of their faces, which interfered with their -voices. - -Perhaps this had been done in the hope and expectation that, if by -chance they were discovered while attempting to injure the -aeroplane, they might pass for a lot of hobos attempting to pilfer -something from the railroad yards that could be sold for enough -money to buy liquor. - -Andy gave each of his companions a nudge, for Elephant was ranged on -one side, while Larry crouched on the other. This was understood to -be a signal. It just as much as said, “get ready now, to let go when -you hear me start in!” And both of the others immediately drew in -the greatest breath they were capable of containing, according to -the capacity of their lungs. - -That odd little glow kept wavering around in a queer manner. If -Percy were holding the electric torch in his hand he must be trying -to show his companions just how things lay, so that they could see -how to get to work. - -In that moment of intense excitement none of the watchers thought of -trying to guess what sort of mischief the prowlers had in view. It -was quite enough for them to know that the precious aeroplane was -the object of their malicious scheming. - -“Are you all on?” demanded a hoarse whisper. - -“Yes,” came from two other quarters, for the three intruders seemed -to have ranged along side the heap of freight in as many different -quarters, as though it might be their prearranged plan to attack it -from various points. - -“Then get busy with you, fellows!” - -That was of course the last straw on the camel’s back. When Andy -heard these words, and realized that the attack on the boxed flying -machine was about to start in, he could hold back no longer. - -“Soak ’em, tigers!” The words were shouted at the top of his voice; -and both Larry and the Small boy joined in the refrain, making all -the noise they could possibly bring to bear, according to the amount -of wind they had pent up in their lungs. - -No doubt the outburst of sound must have struck terror to the hearts -of the trio of guilty skulkers, already very nervous on account of -their knowledge that they were doing a mean and criminal act. In -that minute they probably received one of the greatest shocks of -their lives. Detected in wrong-doing their consciences must have -stabbed them like sharp-pointed knives; and the possible shameful -results of being caught in the act, and held up as awful examples -before the rest of the town, gave them a wrench. - -But that was not all. - -Andy and his companions had made preparations for bombarding the -enemy with a shower of stones that were of no mean size. While the -scantiness of the illumination might make such a thing as taking aim -a difficult task, still, at such close quarters there were sure to -be frequent collisions between the rapidly flying missiles and some -parts of the bodies of the fleeing boys. Above the cries of the -assailants could be heard the shouts which the retreating skulkers -gave vent to, as they fell over unseen packages of freight, banged -headlong against walls that seemed strangely out of place, and -doubtless accumulated a fine collection of bumps and bruises that -would remind them of the adventure for a long time to come. - -Of course, as soon as the flight was fully on, Andy and his chums -ceased bombarding the panic-stricken enemy, thinking that they had -enough troubles of their own in trying to make the partly open door -of the shed. - -When he went home to supper Andy had secured a little hand torch of -his own, and one that possessed considerable more power than that -Percy had fetched along. This he now brought into play; and by -shooting the shaft of light ahead he was able to discover the three -fleeing figures nearing the exit, and sprawling every-which-way, as -they met up with obstacles of all sorts. - -“Come on, let’s capture ’em!” shouted Andy, and with his companions -he started as if in hot pursuit, though of course this was meant -only as a little additional spur, to add to the alarm of the -runners. - -When Andy and the other two boys broke out of the end of the freight -shed they could still hear the frightened fellows banging up against -things, for the yard was not kept as neatly as it might have been. -One flying figure that they gave chase to fell into an open culvert, -and though they looked for him, he had evidently crawled far -underneath, in his great alarm, for they could not find a trace of -the poor wretch, who must have remained there, wet and shivering, -for hours, before he mustered up enough courage to crawl out and -sneak home. - -Another made a headlong plunge over a pile of scrap iron; and though -he managed to scramble excitedly to his feet, when he went off it -was hopping on one leg a good deal of the way, and with a series of -grunts that told how it hurt. - -“I guess that’s enough, fellows,” wheezed Andy, for he was himself -so out of breath that he could hardly talk. - -The first thing they all did was to bend over, and laugh until their -sides really ached. It doubtless looked mighty humorous to the three -who had done all the chasing; but those other fellows would have a -different story to tell, if asked. But then the old fable is always -true, and what is “fun for the boys is death to the frogs;” no -fellow ever plays a practical joke that amuses him highly, but what -some one has to pay the bill and do the crying. - -So Andy led his army back once more to the interior of the freight -shed. - -“Let’s look to see if they managed to do the first bit of damage,” -suggested the leader, and quickly adding, “why, looky here what -they’ve gone and left behind ’em—a hatchet, an augur, a chisel, a -screw driver—enough tools to stock a carpenter shop. Now, if we knew -who owned these, we’d have it on him pretty strong.” - -But when, in the morning, Andy started an investigation, thinking -that the tools might serve to identify the three boys who had -entered the railroad freight shed bent on damaging the crated -aeroplane, he found that Percy Carberry with his customary -shrewdness had looked out for this and covered his tracks deftly. - -The tools upon being exhibited were soon claimed by Mr. Mallet, the -carpenter, who said that when he reached his shop that morning he -found a window had been forced, and quite a quantity of his property -carried away. And so it was rendered impossible to identify the -rascals by the abandoned tools. - -Of course, had Andy wished to carry the thing further he might have -drawn attention to the fact that Percy Carberry, Sandy Hollingshead, -and another boy often seen in their company were absent from their -customary haunts that morning; and if interviewed at home would be -found to have sundry patches of court plaster adorning their noses -and foreheads which would indicate that there must have been an -epidemic of falling out of bed on the preceding night. But of course -Andy did not mean to pursue the matter any further, believing that -“all was well that ended well,” and that the boys had already been -sufficiently punished. - -What he did do immediately after leaving the shed was to call up -Frank on the phone at the drug store. Frank did not often oversleep, -but being up late on the night before, seemed to cause him to lie -abed a little later on this morning. He happened to be eating his -breakfast at the time the bell rang; and as the phone was in the -diningroom of course he answered it. - -“Hello! this you, Frank?” came in a voice he recognized as belonging -to Andy. - -“Yes, what’s all this row about?” answered Frank, humorously. - -“Coming down here soon; I’m at the drugstore close to the station, -you know?” the other went on to say. - -“What’s the matter—anything happen?” demanded the boy at the other -end of the wire as if realizing from Andy’s manner that there had -something occurred that must be out of the common. - -“Sure. We had company, and the greatest old time you ever heard of, -Frank. Tell you about it when you get here. We’re going to breakfast -now, and will meet you at the freight shed later to see the stuff -packed in the car.” - -“Hold on. Was there any damage done to our machine?” demanded the -other. - -“Never a scratch; but it was a close shave. So-long, Frank; see you -later!” and having accomplished his object, which was to excite his -cousin’s curiosity to fever pitch, for it was seldom he had the -chance to do such a thing as this, Andy abruptly severed connections -and hurried home to get something to eat. - -Frank was there all right when Andy got back to the station; and -doubtless he had managed to pick up some sort of an account of what -had happened; for he seemed to be cross-questioning one of the -freight handlers, even while examining the boxed and crated -aeroplane. Of course Andy gave him the whole story; and as both -Elephant and Larry had by this time shown up, the four of them -laughed again and again, while each of the several witnesses of the -panic related their version of the affair, adding such humorous -touches as might occur to them. - -The boys agreed to let the matter drop, since Percy and his cronies -must have been sufficiently punished. Besides, being boys, they were -not inclined to be hard on other fellows; even though they felt more -or less indignation at the mean way in which Percy Carberry always -tried to even his scores. - -One thing sure, they meant to hang around that station until the -precious aeroplane was not only securely placed in a car, but the -train pulled out that was to start it on its long western journey to -the far-away Arizona cattle ranch where Uncle Jethro waited to -receive them with open arms. - -And there they did remain until the train pulled out and they had -the last glimpse of the precious air wonder, safely stowed in its -car and headed toward the Land of Promise. - -After that the boys were content to walk home, where Frank and Andy -soon got busy again in their shop; for they had many things in -process of building, on which they could always spend a spare hour; -while Larry and Elephant hung around, ready and willing to assist if -only told how to do things. - -Of course much of the conversation concerned the new and strange -sights that were likely to be the portion of the Bird boys while -spending the coming weeks upon a real Southwestern cattle ranch. -They brushed up their knowledge of things supposed to be associated -with cowboy life; but which of course had been for the most part -gleaned from books and the newspapers. - -“Ten days, and perhaps our aeroplane will be there,” Andy was saying -that evening, as he and Frank locked up, preparatory to going home; -and he had been yawning for the last hour, on account of having had -so little sleep on the preceding night. “That ought to mean we must -start from here by another week, don’t you think, Frank?” - -“Yes, a week from tomorrow morning would be about the right time,” -replied the other, as he turned the key in the lock and tried the -door. - -Andy chuckled. - -“Mighty careful about that door, I see, Frank; don’t mean to take -any chances of somebody getting in our shop, like they did once -before when we had that old lock on it. But I know just three -fellows who are not thinking of trying any caper like that tonight. -If you mentioned it to them, like as not they’d shiver all over and -look sick. Because they got the scare of their lives last night. I -just reckon they won’t feel like creeping in any old dark place for -a long time after this.” - -The two cousins walked along until they came to Frank’s house when -Andy prepared to stalk off alone. - -“Goodnight, Frank,” he said, “and here’s hoping that we get as good -a start as we gave the airship today. A week from tomorrow, you say? -Well, in the morning—” another big yawn—“we’ll have to get busy, and -send Uncle Jethro a long message, telling him when he can look for -us, and to have the agent out there keep a watch for our freight. -Wow! but I’m that sleepy I can hardly see straight. No, can’t stop -over with you, because I was away last night, you know, and mom -might be worried. So-long, Frank! See you again after breakfast, -when we’ll get busy with that new drag brake you’re working on, and -which ought to work like a charm.” - -“Call me up on the wire when you get home, Andy,” said Frank, after -him. - -“Hey! d’ye think somebody’s going to try and kidnap me on the road?” -demanded the other. - -“No; but I’m afraid you may go to sleep on the way, and keep on -walking everlastingly,” called out Frank, laughingly, and then -closed the door. - - -CHAPTER V—WHAT THEY FOUND AT WITHERSPOON - -“We’re almost there, Frank!” - -“Yes, the next station is Witherspoon, the brakesman said. Got all -your traps ready, Andy?” - -“Oh! I’ve had them gathered up this half hour and more. Whee! ain’t -it hot down here, though; and won’t I be glad to get out of this -stuffy sleeper?” - -The two cousins had made the long journey at a pretty rapid pace, -and at the time these words passed between them, were nearing the -end. They had for some time skirted deserts and mountains that -looked very strange to their Northern eyes. And when occasionally -they caught fugitive glimpses of distant herds of cattle grazing on -some miles of grass lands bordering the course of a hidden stream, -naturally their thoughts went out to what they expected to see when -they had arrived at the cattle ranch of Andy’s uncle. - -“Uncle Jethro must be a man of some importance down this way,” Andy -went on to say, “when they go so far as to even name the station -after him.” At that Frank chuckled. - -“Well,” he remarked, drily, “if it looks like some we’ve seen, that -isn’t paying your relative a very great honor; because they were the -most terrible tumbledown places I ever did set eyes on. But let’s -hope Witherspoon will turn out to be something different.” - -“Frank, I do believe the train’s beginning to slacken up right now!” -cried Andy, all of a tremble with eagerness. - -“You’re right it is and here comes our friend the brakesman to help -us off with all our truck,” observed the other Bird boy, who did not -show his excitement as much, although no doubt he too was quivering -with the anticipation of the coming introduction to Western ways. - -Presently the train came to a stop, and the boys having reached the -platform of the sleeper stepped off. - -As they did so there was a loud whoop from a dozen lusty throats. -Looking in the direction from whence these vociferous sounds -proceeded they saw a collection of rough and ready picturesque -cowboys, just like those who had appeared in the moving picture -plays which Frank and Andy had enjoyed from time to time in the -little playhouse in Bloomsbury. - -They were on foot, but their horses could be seen hitched along a -rail close by, and exhibiting more or less of spirit because of the -hissing engine, to which they were evidently not accustomed. - -Frank had just shaken hands with the accommodating brakesman, and -tipped the colored porter of the sleeper, when he discovered Andy -caught in the arms of a tall man, whose snow-white mustache and -goatee gave him a distinguished appearance. - -Of course this could be no other than Uncle Jethro. Frank knew he -would like the ranchman from the start, and that nearly everybody -must. While his word was law in that section, at the same time the -owner of the ranch was a genial gentleman, whom most of his cowboy -hands thought so much of, that they would be willing to go through -fire and flood at any time to serve him. - -Frank at first sight thought Uncle Jethro looked like a Kentucky -Colonel; and that impression never left him. - -“So, this is Frank Bird, is it?” exclaimed the cattleman, hurrying -over with extended hand which closed on that of the boy with a vim -that made him wince. “Well, it does my heart good to see you both. -We’re going to try and give you the time of your lives down here. -Yes, your freight is in the house yonder, and we’re prepared to haul -it to the ranch right away. I must say I’m pleased to find you both -such a hearty looking lot. And a spell out in this free air will do -you a world of good. But won’t you come over and shake hands with my -boys; they’re just wild to meet you. For ten days, now, all the talk -around here has been of flying machines. Most of us have never seen -such a thing; and you’d laugh yourselves sick to hear the guesses -that have been made about what they look like. Most of the boys are -of the opinion it’s only a big gas balloon. Here you are, and now -let me do the honors.” - -The train had already pulled out, so that they had the little -Arizona station to themselves. One by one the cow punchers stepped -up, and were properly introduced to each of the Bird boys in turn; -generally with some little side remarks that might apply to their -appearance or the name they went by. - -In this way the newcomers felt that they already knew considerable -about their new friends, even before they had met them five minutes. -Cowboys as a rule are not a hard lot to get acquainted with; they -are blunt and open and full of questions. - -It could be seen that the two boys from the Far East were objects of -intense curiosity to every one of the bunch. They watched them -closely, just as though some were secretly of the opinion that Frank -and Andy might at any moment suddenly develop a pair of wings that -they had up to then kept hidden about their persons, call out a -hasty goodbye, and bob up in the air as easy as the ordinary -cowpuncher would hurl himself on his pony. - -“Now, let’s see about getting your freight started, boys,” called -out Uncle Jethro, after this ceremony had been completed, and the -newcomers had been duly welcomed with hearty handshakes by the -grinning punchers. “You see, we fetched a big wagon along, with four -horses; and likely enough that will get the stuff out home by night. -If it looks hard, I’ll send back another lot of horses to help pull. -And your trunk can go along with you on the back of the carryall. -The boys wanted to fetch mounts for you both, but I reckoned that -you might not be wholly as much at home on the back of a pony as in -your flying machine, so I drove in myself.” - -Frank thought that was very kind and considerate of Uncle Jethro; -who must have known that the wild spirits among the cowboys would be -apt to make it a bit unpleasant for greenhorns who were unused to -their harum-scarum ways when in the saddle. Wait until they had been -there a week, and he believed that he and Andy might be able to hold -their own fairly well; for both of them had done more or less -horseback riding, such as is practiced on Eastern roads, and which -must be pretty tame compared with the dash of these reckless riders -of the range. - -The whole lot trooped after them when they accompanied the cattleman -to the little freight house. Here their precious aeroplane was -found, and so far as they were able to tell from a quick survey of -the outside, not the slightest injury had been done during its long -journey. This was doubtless due at least to the care the boys had -shown in crating and boxing the various parts; and which experience -had taught them just how to go about. - -Amid more or less excitement and shouting the big wagon was backed -up to the door of the freight shed; and then, under the directions -of Frank, the loading began. No lack of willing hands, when every -one of those sturdy fellows seemed just wild for a chance to just -touch the wonderful flying machine, of which they had heard so many -stories, most of which they did not believe, of course; for it -seemed like a yarn from the Arabian Nights or Baron Munchausen, this -idea of mere boys going up in the air thousands of feet, in a shell -of a machine, with a little buzzing motor attached to it; or flying -hundreds of miles over the wild forests away down in South America, -where they were said to have found the long-lost father of Frank. - -All the same, they handled the crates with more or less tenderness. -Although no doubt most of them had already decided that it was -pretty much of a fake, and that they would be a sold lot by another -day, still they were as eager as a parcel of eight year old lads to -see what was coming. Talk about the excitement that strikes an -Eastern country town when the circus arrives, it could not bear any -comparison with the feverish spirit that possessed those jostling -cow punchers as they heaved and tugged and loaded up the wagon just -as Frank wanted. - -When the last crate had been placed on top, the heavier engine being -away under all the rest, Frank saw to it that stout ropes secured -the whole. And watching just how the boy directed these things, -Uncle Jethro nodded his head toward his foreman, Waldo Kline, and -winked one eye, just as if to say, “He’ll do!” - -Finally all seemed ready, and the horses were apparently anxious to -start on the return journey; for quite a number of miles lay between -the station where cattle were shipped, and the ranch buildings -proper. - -Uncle Jethro last of all cautioned the driver to take his time, no -matter how long the trip seemed. Not for worlds would he have any -upset occur, or a runaway take place. If any injury were done the -precious flying machine at this stage of its long journey he would -never forgive the one responsible for the trouble. They had waited -so long to see the wonderful contraption really sail through the air -that he would not answer for what the rest of the boys would do, -should they find themselves disappointed. - -After that it might be set down for granted that the driver would -exercise more than ordinary care in transporting the freight. If an -accident should happen the chances were he would feel like mounting -a horse immediately and putting for the railroad, to board a train, -fearful for his life. - -Having strapped the trunk on behind the carryall in which Frank and -Andy were already seated, the joyous bunch of punchers made a rush -for their horses. The two Easterners watched eagerly to see whether -the pictures did them full justice in mounting; and on the whole -they were not in the least disappointed; for every fellow seemed to -have his own odd way of flinging himself into the saddle; and the -instant the pony felt his weight there would be an upheaval and some -tall jumping about, until the rider found his seat, and thrust his -toes into the stirrups, and from that instant he seemed to become a -part of the animal itself. - -“Great, isn’t it, Frank? I’ve pictured that lots of times, but never -thought I’d see it with my own eyes. And they seem to be a bully -bunch of fellows, warm-hearted as the day is long; and I guess we’re -going to like it down here, all right!” - -Frank thought just the same as Andy seemed to, even though he had -not as yet expressed himself that way. Among the dozen cow punchers -they would doubtless find a number who would become fast friends; -others they might not happen to fancy as well, perhaps on account of -some peculiarities, or it might be a retiring disposition on the -part of the nomads. But first impressions count for a lot; and it -must be confessed that both of the Bird boys were mighty well -pleased with their hearty reception by the outfit connected with the -Double X Ranch. “All ready?” called out Mr. Witherspoon; and as no -one said anything to the contrary he waved his hand to the circling -boys. - -Immediately a series of shrill “yip-yips” broke out, as the riders -went tearing off at a furious pace, to wheel presently and come -charging headlong down toward the carryall, waving their hats, and -carrying on as though possessed. - -“Don’t mind ’em, boys,” remarked Uncle Jethro, complacently. -“They’ve just got to work off some of the surplus energy that this -free life seems to stow up in a man. You’ll be doing the same before -you’re here a week, mark my words. But I have got as fine a bunch of -boys as ever threw leg over a bucking broncho; and you’ll say as -much when you get to know the most of them. Not that they haven’t -got their faults, but we overlook small things out in this big -country, you know, where the sky seems to bend down and touch the -earth all around you. Now, step lively along there, Dexter and -Silas, you ornery mules, hit up a pace!” - - -CHAPTER VI—AT THE DOUBLE X RANCH - -The Bird Boys would not soon forget that invigorating ride. On all -sides they saw a thousand things that excited their wonder; and -which they did not hesitate to ask about. And Uncle Jethro was only -too willing to explain; he wanted these bright-faced boys who had -come to visit him, to learn all about the things with which they -would come in daily contact, and the sooner the better. - -From this time on there would be a complete change in the air around -Frank and Andy. The talk of the cowboys was along the line of ranch -life; and by degrees many of the phrases that went to describe such -things entering into the daily life of these wild plains riders, -would become familiar to the “tenderfeet.” - -They saw the cactus that grew along the border of the desert; the -tufts of what Uncle Jethro called “buffalo grass,” possibly because -the bison that formerly covered these same plains in countless tens -of thousands used to feed upon it; watched the queer antics of a -village of prairie dogs they passed on the way to the ranch; and -heard the boys speak of a muddy hole as a “buffalo wallow,” though -the chances were it had been half a century since such an animal had -lain down to rid himself of the flies, by wallowing in the mud and -water that came from a rainfall. - -Here were a few stray cattle which the rancher termed “Mavericks;” -and called to the foreman to mark down, so they could be rounded-up -and branded on the morrow; there they overtook an Indian family on -the move, with a calico horse harnessed to a couple of long -drag-poles, upon which were piled all their worldly possessions, -including the squaw herself and a dusky papoose; and once in the -distance they saw a line of white-topped wagons that gave the boys a -thrill, thinking of those old days when emigrants were in the habit -of crossing the plains in such vehicles; until Uncle Jethro kindly -explained that this was a freighter’s caravan, the prairie schooners -being loaded with supplies for the mines that were located away up -in the mountains, where it was difficult to get such material, the -smelting being done on the ground, and only the pure copper shipped -out to the market. - -It was altogether too short a ride, Andy loudly declared, when his -uncle announced that the ranch buildings were in sight ahead. He had -seen so many new and interesting sights that he thought he could -never drink in enough of this air, heated though it might be. - -All the same, both lads looked eagerly ahead, anxious to know what -the Double X Ranch would turn out to be like. - -They saw a cluster of white buildings, none of them over one story -in height; and partly surrounded by green trees, that had doubtless -influenced the owner to make his headquarters in this particular -spot, where good water was to be had in abundance. - -Already the boys had started on a gallop for the house, whooping as -usual. A genuine happy-go-lucky cow puncher is probably about the -noisiest creature on the face of the earth; he never seems to be -fully satisfied unless he is making some sort of a racket, either -chasing cattle, cavorting on his pony amidst his comrades, or -shooting up a border town when on one of his “pay-day” outings. - -Before they reached the buildings they had drawn close enough to the -passing freight caravan for the boys to even hear the vicious crack -of the teamster’s long blacksnake whips, and to hear a choice -collection of words when some little accident happened to delay the -creaking wagons a brief time. Uncle Jethro was an old bachelor. He -had a very efficient housekeeper in a Mrs. Ogden, a middle-aged -widow, whose husband had been some sort of cousin to the owner of -the ranch, and connected with him slightly in the business, at the -time he died. - -A beaming Celestial cook, who sailed under the name of Charley Woo, -looked after the kitchen, and seemed to satisfy the demands of the -vigorous punchers. When he was out with the boys in charge of the -“grub wagon,” during their round-ups, those left at home were well -taken care of by the housekeeper herself. - -Everything was so fine that both Andy and Frank knew they were going -to have the time of their lives; and would begrudge the days that -slipped past. They meant to soak in all the information possible, as -well as show these dashing riders that if they were greenhorns in -all that was connected with cattle punching, at least they occupied -a high standard when it came to bold exploits away up in the clouds. - -During the remainder of the day they went here and there, making -fresh discoveries at every turn, and fairly saturating themselves -with the multitude of things that were associated with this new -life. - -One of the cowboys in particular had attracted the attention of -Andy; and Frank also admitted having taken an immediate liking for -the same fellow. He was a lively boy, full of vim and go, and yet -with something winning about his ways. They called him “Buckskin,” -and it was quite a long time before either of the newcomers learned -that he had another name, Oliver Cromwell Jones. - -He seemed more eager to hear about the exploits of the young -aviators than any of the rest; though for that matter they were -every one of them hanging around every minute they could spare from -their duties, showing the newcomers their bunkhouse, the big -stables, the enclosure where the saddle band of horses was usually -kept when not in use, and everything else they could think of, until -both Andy and Frank felt that they were growing confused under so -much attention. - -And what pleased Frank most of all was a rude building or shed which -Uncle Jethro had had built to serve as a hangar for the biplane. -Where he got his ideas from they did not know; but it must have been -some magazine article; because the affair seemed to answer all -requirements; though of course it was a mere shed, and not intended -to be locked up. - -But such a thing as injury coming to the precious aeroplane in this -isolated place never once occurred to the boys. Surely there was no -malicious Percy Carberry, and his shadow Sandy Hollingshead, away -down here to want to render the biplane worthless for use; and every -one of the punchers acted as though he believed the greatest treat -of his whole life would arrive when he actually saw with his own -eyes those daring young aviators mount upward toward the sky, until -they seemed like a mere speck in the blue vault. - -There was one occupant of the ranch building whom the boys were -pleased indeed to meet. This was a little fairy of five, named -Becky, a blue-eyed child, daughter of a niece of Mr. Witherspoon, -who had departed this life. She was a winsome little thing, and the -cow punchers seemed to fairly worship her. - -Frank guessed that there was a little mystery attached to her, but -he did not mean to seem curious, and ask any questions. In due time -they learned from Buckskin that this niece had run away with a -dashing Mexican named Jose Sandero; and after being cruelly treated -by him, had fled once more across the border, arriving with her tiny -baby at the Double X Ranch so worn out with fatigue that she had -soon passed away. Her child had been left to Uncle Jethro; but not -wanting to risk any chances, he had taken legal means to make -himself the guardian of little Becky. And ever since she had been -the sunlight of the whole ranch. The boys would stop in the midst of -any wordy war, or wild singing, just to listen to the music of her -sweet childish voice, that seemed capable of arousing all the best -emotions in their natures. - -Nothing had ever been seen of the father, and it was taken for -granted that he must either be dead, or never wanted to attempt to -claim his child. And, Buckskin declared that if ever he did show up -round that region, he stood the finest possible chance of pulling -hemp that any man ever knew. - -That supper was one never to be forgotten. With the smiling Chinaman -waiting on the noisy crowd, and appeasing every demand, Andy thought -he had never enjoyed anything half so much in all his life. He had -often camped out, and eaten the fare that is so greatly relished by -every healthy lad with red blood in his veins, but there were so -many things connected with this meal at the long table, where some -ten ranch riders sat, and exchanged comments characteristic of their -occupation, with everything so strange to the tenderfoot, that it -made a deep impression on both the newcomers, never to be -eradicated. - -Then the punchers trooped off to their bunkhouse, to leave the -travelers alone, for they felt that they needed considerable of a -rest to make up for the fatigues of their long journey. - -The man who drove the double team connected with the wagon must have -coaxed considerable speed out of them after all without meeting with -any accident on the road, for the freight had shown up an hour -before sunset, and ere the call came for supper it had all been -safely stowed away in the rude hangar, where Frank and his cousin -could work at it on the morrow. - -It was rather early when the boys sought their comfortable little -room, where the white sheets invited them to sound slumber; and the -soft night breeze fanned their cheeks, coming through the many -windows that were always open. - -They sat at the window some time, talking in low tones about many of -the strange things they had already seen, and speculating on how -this dry air of the desert border would affect them, when they made -their first ascension. - -Far away the mysterious lowing of herds came faintly to their ears; -they could also catch the whinnying of horses in the stockade; and -now and then the sound of music in the shape of a deftly manipulated -accordion; or it might be the soft twanging of a Mexican mandolin, -while one of the boys warbled softly about some black-eyed senorita -he had left behind him in the country of the dons. - -After a while the cousins decided that they ought to be in bed, and -getting rested for the labors that awaited them in the morning. And -once they threw themselves down, they were lost to the world in a -few minutes. - -Of course they dreamed as every boy does pretty much all the time. -And it was only natural that Andy’s mind should go back while he -slept to other days, when he and Frank were engaged in the hottest -of races with their rival, Percy Carberry, who was just as deeply -interested in all matters connected with aviation as they had been. - -Many a time had they found themselves compelled to sit up and guard -their property when they had by some successful exploit aroused the -worse elements in the jealous nature of this rival. And even now, -though removed from the home town and Percy by several thousand -miles, Andy had to dream that once again a dark cloud was hovering -over their fortunes, and all caused by the hatred of this boy who -for more than two years had been the one thorn in their flesh. - -So vivid had been his dream that Andy actually suddenly awoke with a -low cry, and sat up in bed, trembling all over. - -“What’s the matter?” demanded Frank, also springing up. - -Before Andy could frame any sort of answer, owing to the confusion -of ideas that seemed to be tumbling pell mell through his brain, -both of them were thrilled to hear a voice from somewhere outside -shouting: - -“Wake up! help! help! fire! Whoop! get busy there, fellows!” - -As though governed by a couple of springs the cousins leaped from -their comfortable bed, and rushing over to one of the windows that -looked toward where the new shed covering the precious aeroplane -stood, they saw a sight that thrilled as well as alarmed them. - - -CHAPTER VII—A PRETTY CLOSE CALL - -“Oh! it’s our hangar on fire!” gasped Andy. - -“Quick, get into something then, and out we go!” cried Frank, always -the prompt one to act in an emergency. - -Andy hardly knew how he ever did manage to drag on a pair of -trousers, and his shoes. His hands were shaking so he could hardly -do what he aimed to accomplish; and all the while the shouts were -increasing in violence, as well as that terrible light growing -brighter. - -By the time he had managed to get the second shoe on, Frank was -already outside; and having seen how easily the other jumped through -the window to the ground, Andy hastened to follow his example. - -Already there was a group of the punchers at work; and the clear -commanding tones of Mr. Witherspoon’s voice could be heard telling -them just what to do. Fortunately it had always been a set principle -of the rancher to prepare for war in time of peace, and he had a -drilled fire department, with the hose and extinguisher handy. - -Every fellow knew just where he fitted in; and perhaps it was this -very system that prevented much damage being done. Instead of great -confusion, with each eager fire-fighter getting in the way of the -others, and nothing worth while being accomplished, the genius at -the head of the combination saw that every man occupied the place -that had been laid out for him. - -And when several chemical fire extinguishers started to get busy, it -was a losing fight with that conflagration; though possibly had it -been given another quarter of an hour in which to get a firm grip on -the contents of the shed, there must have been a far different story -to tell. - -All this while the boys seemed to feel their hearts choking them -with burning anxiety. What if after all their precious aeroplane -should be injured after so successfully passing through the perils -of that long journey! It was like a slap in the face, as Andy termed -it. - -And it may be readily understood that, when the water with which -that end of the long shed had thoroughly drenched the last spark of -fire, so that it was safe to enter, they hurried in alongside Uncle -Jethro, who was breathing all sorts of bitterness toward the one -whose carelessness had brought about this accident, both Frank and -his cousin were in a feverish state of suspense. - -Eagerly they made the rounds escorted by the equally anxious -Buckskin and the other range riders. It was almost pitiful to see -how these usually loud voiced fellows now had not a whisper to -spare; but just watched the faces of the young aviators, and waited -to hear the verdict. - -And then, when finally the rounds had been made, and Frank gave it -as his opinion that no damage worth mentioning had come about, it -seemed as though the very roof of that shed would be fairly lifted -from its supports by the volume of the lusty shouts that soared -upwards from the leather-lined throats of Buckskin and his -companions. - -Those who had been slightly burned in fighting the blaze went around -showing the red marks with the pride that a warrior might in his -scars of battle; and the forlorn chaps who had come off unscathed -felt sorry because they had not seen to it that they secured their -share of the hall marks of fame when they had the chance. - -Each cowboy had to line up and shake hands with Frank and Andy, -while he offered congratulations on the lucky outcome of what at one -time had threatened to be a national misfortune. And they looked as -happy over it as though some rich uncle had suddenly stepped off, -leaving them a fortune; or a big cattle ranch, which is the cowboy -conception of great good luck. - -But Mr. Witherspoon was not so easily satisfied. That fire had not -started of its own account. Either some one had been exceedingly -careless, criminally so, or else there was a mystery back of its -happening; and he meant to know which of the two possibilities was -the truth. - -So he started an investigation right on the spot, with the half-clad -punchers brought up before him one after the other. It was easily -proven who had been last at the shed; but this was one of the oldest -and most reliable of the force, a man by the name of Steady Matt; -and he declared that when he left the new building it was perfectly -safe, nor had he seen a single match struck by a cowboy while -there—this being one of the little fads of the rancher, who was next -door to a crank concerning the careless use of matches about the -place. - -“Now, the boys, they seem to reckon, Mr. Witherspoon, that it might -a-been the work of an outside party; leastwise, that’s what they -say,” remarked Buckskin, when the examination seemed about to end, -without any one being a bit the wiser. - -“Oh! is that so, Buckskin?” ejaculated the rancher, looking -immediately interested. “Suppose you tell me, then, what they are -talking about. We’ve had our little differences with Major Cloud and -his Circle Ranch crowd; but I wouldn’t want to think any man who -ever threw a leg over a pony’s back, or snapped a quirt as he -rounded up cattle, could be guilty of such a nasty job as trying to -burn a neighbor’s buildings.” - -“’Tain’t them, Mr. Witherspoon,” the puncher went on to say, -earnestly, as he slapped his leather chaps with the stick he held; -“p’raps Rustler Carlos’d fill the bill more like, sir.” - -“Well, I wouldn’t put such a job past that sneak one minute,” -declared the rancher, promptly, “and he certainly has plenty of -cause to hate me, after the way we took that bunch of stolen -long-horns away from him last spring, and gave him a close call -before he could cross the border into Mexico. But he hasn’t been -heard of around here since then; so it must be only a wide guess you -boys are making. But I’d a thousand times rather think that, than -have a man in my employ be careless, or ready to play a low-down -trick like that.” - -“If we thought it was done a purpose, Mr. Witherspoon, and could -find out the feller that done it, there’d be some queer fruit -a-growin’ on one of them telegraph poles along the Santa Fe -railroad; ain’t it so, boys?” and the indignant Buckskin turned -around upon the cluster of listening hustlers. - -The instantaneous shout of wild approval that greeted these words -would have convinced any listener of the evident sincerity of the -group. If there was one among them who had yielded to any sort of -temptation, it was evident that he could not be easily persuaded to -make a second attempt. But after all, it seemed silly to think such -a thing could be true; when the Bird boys did not have an enemy down -here in this new country, where every one had been an utter stranger -until now. - -“But let’s forget all about it,” said Frank, at this juncture. “Not -a speck of harm has been done, and we’re as sure that no one here -would dream of trying to injure our machine as we are that we draw -breath.” - -“Bully for you, Frank!” shouted one of the punchers; and of course -another wild cheer had to allow some of the pent-up enthusiasm to -break loose. - -Had any one been passing along the trail that led to the mines, and -which ran about a mile from the ranch buildings, and heard all this -clamor at dead of night, he must have been greatly puzzled to -account for the racket; and possibly think that the Double X outfit -were making a night of it with good cheer. - -“There’s one thing sure,” said Uncle Jethro, positively, “after this -we’re not going to let this flying machine of yours, boys, lie -unguarded. I leave it to my foreman, Waldo Kline, here, to see that -it holds safe; and he’ll be accountable to me for it.” - -“Wow! we’ll all camp around it, if so be he says the word!” cried -Buckskin, with a look toward his chums, which brought out -encouraging comments. - -“Come on back to the house, Frank and Andy,” remarked the rancher, -“and you can just as well make up your minds that after this no -piece of property was ever so jealously guarded as your machine will -be. I’m sorry for the wretch that tried to do it any injury after -this. He’ll sure believe he’s run up against the biggest hurricane -ever, the way those boys will rustle him.” And Frank believed him. - -He went back deeply thankful that no harm had befallen the aeroplane -before it made its maiden trip in those Arizona hot airs; and yet -puzzled to account for the fire. - -“Do you really think it was an accident, Frank?” asked Andy, when -they found themselves once more alone in their little room. - -“Ask me something easy, won’t you?” replied the other, as he -prepared to crawl into bed again. “I wish I did know the truth, -because I don’t like this thing of suspecting any fellow, when he -may be as innocent as you and me. But honest now, I can’t bring -myself to believe that it was an accident.” - -“Well, there may be something in that story about the Mexican they -call Rustler Carlos,” Andy went on to say. “Buckskin was telling me -some things about his doings around this region some years back. He -cut a pretty wide swathe, they say; and in his many ‘drives’ carried -off hundreds of fat cattle across the border into Mexico, where it -wasn’t safe for Americans to go, because they sort of hate Gringoes -down there, you know.” - -“Yes, I understand,” Frank added, “and just as Uncle Jethro said, he -was the first to really break up this fine and profitable rustler -business of the cattle thieves. This Carlos must hate him with all -the fury his breed can show. And if he ever did have nerve enough to -run up this way again, I guess he’d be glad to try and do the Double -X Ranch people a rough turn, if he saw the chance. But perhaps we’ll -know more about this thing some time later.” - -“Yes,” Andy went on to say, a little vindictively, for he had been -much worked up over the threatened destruction of the planes and -woodwork of the aeroplane; “and if this Rustler Carlos should happen -around again, I reckon it’ll be hardly worth mentioning what they -won’t do to him. I never saw fellows madder than these boys seem to -be right now. And Frank, I kind of think they’ve taken a great -liking to you, on so short an acquaintance.” - -“Better say yourself, Andy,” retorted the other immediately; -“because everybody nearly does, that meets you. Now roll over, and -quit thinking about the thing. It’s all right, and no damage done, -so go to sleep like a good fellow. You won’t get a single word out -of me, I warn you.” - -And Andy knowing that his cousin meant it did proceed to chase all -thoughts of the recent excitement from his mind, so that he might -settle down again into a sound sleep, for it seemed that midnight -had no more than passed, so that a long period still remained before -the coming of dawn awoke them. - -There was no further alarm. - -Doubtless that cordon of slumbering cowboys lying around the new -shed formed so close a protection, that even a wandering rattlesnake -could hardly have passed the line without being challenged. - -And when Frank opened his eyes again, the light of day was shining -in through the two windows facing the east; so that, hearing sounds -that told of breakfast being made ready, he gave Andy a kick, -telling him to bestir himself, if he hoped to start the day rightly -by appearing at early breakfast with the rest of the Double X -outfit. - - -CHAPTER VIII—THE BRONCHO BUSTER MEETS HIS MATCH - -Such a busy day as they put in. - -It was hard for the foreman to influence the cow-punchers to look -after their customary avocations, for they wanted to be hanging -around that hangar all the time, watching Frank and Andy assemble -the various queer parts of the delicate contraption that, when -completed would be called a biplane. - -The idea that any one would dare trust himself in such a little -contrivance, and soar like the white-headed eagle away up above the -clouds, staggered the belief of these fellows; all of whom wanted to -be “shown” before they would be willing to admit that such a -wonderful thing could ever come to pass. - -They looked on the Bird boys with almost reverence. Such pluck and -daring outdistanced their own reckless horseback plunging as far as -the sun outshines the yellow moon. - -Some of them tried their very best to make themselves useful, and -even pleaded with the boys to think up some way in which they could -“run and fetch,” so that the foreman would excuse them from going -out on the range after stray mavericks, or rounding up bunches of -cattle that may have strayed toward the dangerous coulies of the -mountains, where all sorts of danger would await them. - -But as they needed no assistance whatever, Frank had to shake his -head, even to the persistent Buckskin, for he knew that if he -favored one it would create bad feeling among the rest and this was -something to be avoided, so early in their acquaintance with these -warm-hearted but impulsive cattle punchers. - -When noon came the aeroplane was taking shape, and beginning to look -like something. A little help was needed when it came to installing -the motive power; but there was plenty to be had; in a pinch even -the grinning Charley Woo would have been willing to lend a hand; -although he had privately announced it as his opinion that if this -wonderful affair, that looked so much like the big box-kites flown -in his native country, could sail away above the clouds, they would -never set eyes on the two bold young navigators again; and he also -said that Mr. Witherspoon ought to keep control of the flying -machine by means of a rope, so that he could pull it down when he -thought best. - -It was really wonderful how quickly all the boys got through with -their jobs on this particular day. Where under ordinary conditions -they would not have shown up at the ranch house until evening, they -now came galloping in like mad by two o’clock, and before three had -arrived not a single puncher was out on the range. - -Mr. Witherspoon smiled and nodded his head good-naturedly when he -noticed this significant fact. - -“Already your coming has borne fruit, you see,” he remarked to -Frank; “and if it keeps up we’re going to have the greatest lot of -hustlers here at the Double X Ranch you ever heard tell of. They can -do things like lightning these days. And look at the way they hang -around, just devouring both of you boys with stares. I guess you’ve -got them locoed for a fact,” and when Frank, who wanted to know what -everything meant, stopped him right there to ask for an explanation, -the obliging rancher told how there was a certain weed known as the -loco, which, when cattle indulged in it, made them crazy for a time, -so that they were apt to rush into streams and be drowned, or pitch -pell mell over precipices in their blindness and excitement. - -About four o’clock Frank announced that everything was ready for the -first ascent and the feverish punchers could hardly contain -themselves. It needed only a word to get them to do anything that -was required; for the time being they were ready to act as slaves, -if by so doing they could hasten developments. - -There was a splendid level stretch upon which the first run could be -made; indeed, that was one beauty of aeroplaning on the plains, -where difficulties would not be met with in landing, or making an -ascent. - -Frank gave the signal, and willing hands assisted in starting the -strange affair with its box-like wings. Charley Woo hid behind a -pile of crate material as though really fearing that the spirits of -the air might be offended by this bold invasion, and start to visit -their vengeance on the whole lot who had assisted in the work. - -But the cowboys jumped for their horses, and mounting like a flash, -started to gallop after the young aviators, fully expecting that -they would have the mournful office of gathering up their remains, -and transporting them back to the ranch house. - -Judge of their astonishment and wild delight when they saw the -aeroplane leave the earth, take a turn upward when the forward plane -was elevated, and start in the direction of the few fleecy, floating -white clouds that hovered overhead. - -How they yelled and shrieked and pranced about as though they had -really and truly lost their heads. And then, gathering in a bunch -they watched the wonderful evolutions which those skilful air pilots -put their willing steed through, as thoroughly entranced as though -they had been put under the magic power of a wizard. - -Frank was not taking unnecessary chances. He wanted to know the -conditions of this new country before attempting any of the more -difficult maneuvers which he and Andy were accustomed to carrying -out in their home circles, where they understood the wind and its -peculiarities to a dot. - -But the most simple trick was greeted with hoarse shouts by that -cluster of eager watchers below. And when the young aviators began -to bore up and up in circle until they were fully six thousand feet -high, the amazed and delighted spectators almost broke their necks -staring after them, afraid lest they miss a part of the spectacle if -they so much as turned away for a single instant. - -Then again they came circling down in great loops, while the little -gathering near the ranch house stood and gaped and wondered if they -were really awake, or passing through a vivid dream of enchantment. - -The conditions being favorable, Frank gave his companion due warning -as to what he was about to do, and then started to volplane -downward. Immediately cries of horror broke out from those intrepid -range riders, who naturally believed something must have broken -aboard the aeroplane, and that the Bird Boys were now being hurled -to earth, from which they would later on be picked up lifeless. - -When they saw the flying machine suddenly recover a level position, -and with the merry hum of the motor start again to spin along, about -two hundred feet above their heads, the punchers fell into each -others’ arms, as though too weak to stand up any longer. - -Shortly afterwards Frank brought his aerial steed to a landing just -at the very point where he had taken his departure half an hour -before; and so lightly did the heavier-than-air machine settle that -it seemed as though an egg could hardly have been broken by the -impact, had it come between. - -They were immediately overwhelmed with warm congratulations because -of the marvelous work they had done while aloft. It had been only -the common, every-day experience of Frank and Andy; but in the eyes -of these untamed Western spirits was wonderful beyond compare. - -“Here’s Buckskin been boasting that if you boys could go up, he -guessed he could too. Take him for a little airing, Frank. Let him -make good, or shut up!” one of the cowboys exclaimed. - -“Would you like to try a little spin, Buckskin; Andy here will make -way for you if you say the word?” Frank asked. - -Now, the aforesaid Buckskin would have instantly declined but they -had him in a hole, where he must take water, or else put on a bold -front. And as a cowboy invariably hates to back down, once he has -made his boast, he tried to look quite indifferent as he replied: - -“Sure I’d like to take a little turn of a dozen miles or two with -you, Frank, if you’ll ask me. I ain’t had no experience in ridin’ -one of them cantankerous mounts; but they can’t find a broncho able -to throw me; and who’s afraid, anyhow? Tell me what to do, and show -me how to do it, and I’m there all to the good, and wool a yard -wide.” - -So Andy climbed down, and the cowboy, sheepskin chaps and all, took -his place. He made out to be utterly at his ease; and it was only -Frank who knew from personal contact just how Buckskin was trembling -all the while. - -“All you have to do is to sit perfectly still; and don’t offer to do -anything to help me. If I want any assistance I’ll sing out for it,” -was the way the pilot of the biplane laid down the law; and Buckskin -promised faithfully that he would adhere to the rules of the game to -the letter. - -The start was made just as perfectly as before, and then Frank began -to perform a number of simple evolutions before making a try for -altitude. - -The dazed cowboy may have had a smile on his face all the while, but -it was of the kind that won’t come off, virtually frozen there. He -clutched the seat with rigid fingers, and stared out straight to -where in the distance he could see the summit of Mount Baker, said -to be seven thousand feet high, but which he believed was far below -his lofty eyrie. - -Once, when he did catch faint yells from the crowd so far below him, -Buckskin mustered up assurance enough to take off his hat, and wave -it several times; but never once would he look straight down toward -where the others were cheering him to the echo. When finally, after -a whole lot of turning, until his senses fairly reeled, he heard -Frank say that they were nearly through, the scared cowboy regained -courage enough to send a sickly grin down at his comrades. Of course -Frank would not think of volplaning with a greenhorn aboard, as the -chances were, he would take fright and either leap out under the -impression that they were bound to have a smash-up anyhow, or else -make some frantic move that would endanger the very lives of both -occupants of the biplane. - -And so they landed as neatly as any pilot of an air craft could -possibly do. The relieved Buckskin almost dazed, managed to drop -from his perch, his hands to be warmly shaken by his chums, while -they assured him that he had done the whole outfit proud by his -recent gallant act. - -But it might have been noticed that Buckskin never again ventured to -accompany either one of the Bird boys aloft. He vowed that it was -the finest experience he had ever known, and one that he would not -have missed for a fortune; but all the same, he knew when he had had -enough; and the other fellows could try their hands at copying the -old eagle, if they wished; the land was good enough for him, all -right. After the business of the day had been completed the -aeroplane was once more successfully stowed away in its handy -hangar, which was amply large enough to accommodate it even when the -planes were extended. - -It was just at this time Mr. Witherspoon beckoned Frank and Andy to -cross over to where he was standing, having come out of the house. - -“Please give me a few minutes of your time, boys,” he said gravely, -“something has happened since you went up that seems to possibly -throw a light on what happened last night,” and a minute later, as -the three sat down in his little office or den, the genial rancher -went on to remark, “tell me, was the name of that evil genius of -yours, who tried all he could to injure you two, Percy Carberry, or -something like that?” - - -CHAPTER IX—FIGURING IT ALL OUT - -“What’s that you say, Uncle Jethro?” exclaimed Andy, his face -wreathed in an expression of sheer astonishment; for it gave him a -tremendous shock to hear that nightmare of a name, Percy, mentioned -away out here in Arizona. - -“I’m sure,” the rancher went on, “you said something to me about a -scamp who was forever trying to do you both an ill turn up around -home; and unless I’m mistaken, you also told me he was the only son -of a wealthy but foolish widow, who supplied him with all the money -he asked for. The first name was Percy, that I’d swear; and the last -one began with the letters C-a-r, now didn’t it, boys?” - -“Carberry, that’s it, uncle,” burst out Andy. - -“But what makes you ask that, sir?” demanded Frank, looking -curiously at what seemed to be a scrap of paper in the fingers of -the gentleman. - -“This is what made me mention it; it is apparently a small part of a -letter that some one at this place must have received not a great -while back, and which he thought best to destroy; but one of the -fragments lodged in a bush; and when my foreman chanced to notice -it, and idly picked it up, he was interested in the few words he -could make out, so he brought it to me. Here, take a look for -yourselves, boys, and tell me what you think.” - -On the piece of paper with the ragged edges there could only be made -out some dozen or two words; a portion of these being incomplete, -though easily guessed. - -These ran irregularly, and might be set down in something like the -following order: “Fifty dolla—good job of it—anyway you like—burn it -to cinde—hear how it—ld friend, Percy Car——” - -Andy nearly had a fit when he read this; Frank, on his part, felt -the blood boil within him, though better able to conceal the state -of his feelings, or rather control his temper, than his impulsive -cousin. - -“Why, just think of that, would you?” exclaimed Andy, “not satisfied -with doing everything in his power to injure the Bird Boys while -they were up there, this contemptible ingrate actually has the nerve -to write to some fellow who, he happened to know, was working on or -near this ranch, and sent him fifty dollars, which was to pay him -for doing something to make all our journey down here useless—he -even put it in his head to burn our aeroplane, and all that! Oh! he -is certainly the meanest fellow that ever came down the pike. I -almost wish we’d left him up there on the summit of Old Thunder-Top, -Frank, to get what he deserved.” - -“Oh! I wouldn’t say that, Andy,” remarked his cousin, “it’s a rough -deal, I know, but when we could save those fellows it was our duty -to do it, no matter whether they were of any use in the world or -not. You never can tell how things are going to turn out.” - -“You nearly always can when Percy Carberry has got to do with it,” -grumbled Andy. - -“Now, suppose you enlighten me as to what all this talk is about,” -demanded the rancher. “Am I to understand that you once saved the -very life of this boy, who is right now doing his level best to play -you a mean trick?” - -And so between them the boys had to relate the story, which has been -given in an earlier volume of this series, how they started in a -desperate race with Andy for the crown of the rocky height not many -miles away from Bloomsbury, away up in New York State; and a storm -of wind coming up, the aeroplane of Andy was wrecked, so that he -might have even lost his life, only that the Bird Boys managed to -hold on to him; and afterwards get the two boys, one at a time, -safely to the ground. - -“Of all the cases of base ingratitude, that beats everything,” -declared the indignant rancher; and he forthwith set out to call -every puncher and employee on the place around him; after which he -told the story and while they listened in breathless wonder he went -on to say, angrily: - -“If there chances to be any one within the sound of my voice who -received that letter, which I can hardly believe, I want to give him -fair warning right now, that if the slightest harm comes to either -of these brave boys while they are visiting at Double X Ranch, or if -any further attempt is made to injure their airship, the punchers of -this outfit have my hearty consent to carry out their own sweet -will; yes, and by thunder! under certain conditions, I’d be willing -to help pull on the rope!” - -A salvo of cheers interrupted his words. Apparently they had found -an echo in every heart. But then Frank knew very well that if the -guilty one were present, it would be only good policy on his part to -shout just as loud as the rest, for fear lest suspicion be directed -in his quarter. A short time later he saw Buckskin beckoning to him. -Several of the other boys seemed to be clustered around him, as -though they had been comparing notes. - -“You see, Frank,” began Buckskin, when the other joined the group, -“none of us boys feel quite right on ’count of the way Mr. -Witherspoon said that same. It kinder made us feel oneasy like. We -kept a-lookin’ at each other, just like we was a wonderin’ whether -it could be this one, or that other night wrangler. Why, all of us -feel meaner nor a mule skinner about the same. And we’ve got -together in a bunch to talk it over, so’s to larn who it was got a -letter from the East lately; and we struck pay dirt right away.” - -“I’m glad of that,” said Frank, “though I hope it isn’t going to -make trouble for any fellow on the pay roll of Double X Ranch.” - -Buckskin grinned. - -“That’s where he played it fine,” he said. “Member the slim chap you -met yesterday when you landed, and who went by the name of Parsons? -Well, he gave notice as he’d been called back home, and had to quit -here last night; so off he goes late in the afternoon, bag and -baggage. None of us seemed to cotton to him much, though, as a -puncher he knew his business all right, and was fair spoken enough. -But there always seemed to be something slick about him that stood -us off. Now, several of us, on comparing notes, chances to remember -that the Parson he had a letter from East somewhere only a few days -back. Looky here, Frank, did you ever know anybody up in your town -by the name of Edmondson; because that was his real name, Collins -Edmondson it was, though we always called him Parson because he was -so solemn like.” - -Frank looked at his cousin, who was also of the group. - -“That is certainty the name of his uncle; over in Rahway,” declared -Andy, “yes, and I remember hearing that name Collins before. I guess -you’ve struck pay dirt this time, Buckskin. And I’m glad, for one, -that now we know no man on this ranch would be guilty of such a mean -game as setting our machine on fire.” - -Buckskin was immensely pleased with the remarkable results of his -figuring, and detective work. He hastened over to tell Mr. -Witherspoon all about it; and soon afterward the rancher was seen to -wring his hand until he undoubtedly made the tears come in to the -stunted cow-puncher’s eyes. - -Great was the indignation among the rest of the boys when they -learned what appeared to be the probable truth. Some of them were -making hurriedly for their horses, muttering under their breath; and -Mr. Witherspoon had to do some quick hustling in order to cut the -threatening mutiny off. - -“Let the snake go, boys,” he said. “He didn’t carry out his -contemptible scheme, after all, thanks to your promptness and -bravery. I give you permission that if ever he shows his head around -these diggings again, which isn’t likely, you can treat him to a -nice warm coat, even if you have to borrow my tar kettle, and steal -one of my best down pillows. That goes, boys; so just turn back -now.” - -Which the impulsive ones did, knowing that the rancher was a man of -his word, and evidently did not want the affair carried any further. -But doubtless they would manage to get word to the Parson, if so be -he had found employment anywhere in the country, that unless he felt -cold, and wanted a splendid down coat applied, regardless of cost, -he would be wise to keep away from Double X Ranch. - -Andy begged that scrap of paper from his uncle. He declared he meant -to keep it carefully and compare the writing with some of Percy -Carberry’s later on; and if this convicted him, he would throw the -matter up to him right on the school campus in the presence of a -score of the higher scholars, and spread his proofs before them, so -that they could let the cur know what they thought of his mean -actions. - -Andy could be a good hater when he had occasion for it; he always -declared that he had a strain of good old Scotch blood in him that -rose to the surface every now and then. - -“Seems to me that lets Rustler Carlos out of it,” remarked Buckskin, -turning to some of the others with a wide grin, a little later, when -he came back feeling tenderly of his digits, that had a pinched -look, where they had lain in the tremendous grip of the rancher. - -“Well,” said another puncher, an old fellow called “Shorty,” though -he was six feet in height, “he’d be guilty of anything just as bad, -if so be he happened around; and for one I’m a-goin’ to keep my eyes -skinned for signs of him. Some say he crossed the line again below -here fifty miles, and made a swoop through the Underwood section; -but that report has been denied, and none of us know what to -believe. So it stands to reason we ought to keep on guard, and -remember that Carlos, he don’t hold our crowd in high esteem.” - -The boys felt in splendid spirits as night came on again. -Apparently, now, all clouds had rolled by, and they ought to have -clear sailing after this. There were dozens of other thrills they -were holding back in store for future exhibitions; for the Bird Boys -had already learned that secret of exhibitors to always keep the -best in reserve. - -On special invitation from the boys they went over to the bunk house -that night and spent the time with them, listening to stories of -thrilling interest connected with the wild life of the desert -trails, and the valleys among the mountains in that strip of -Arizona, most singular of all the States in the Union in its many -sharp contrasts with regard to the rock strata and mineral -formations. - -In return, Frank and Andy told in a modest way something of the many -exploits in which they had been concerned as air voyagers. Most of -all, the punchers wanted to hear about how they had gone down to -South America, and found Frank’s missing father a prisoner in a -cliff-enclosed valley, into which he had fallen at the time his -runaway balloon drifted far to the south from the Panama Peninsula, -when he was conducting a series of experiments, and explorations in -the interest of the great Northern college with which his name had -long been connected as a scientist. - -Andy was not so backward as his cousin about telling of what -wonderful things they had seen, and how close to death they had been -on numerous occasions; he even took advantage of the opportunity to -describe how often Frank’s splendid nerve had been the only thing -that had kept them from instant destruction; and although the other -tried to make light of the facts, those hardy cow-punchers realized -that in this slender stripling, who was so modest, and yet so -self-possessed, they saw as true a hero as ever had his name -recorded in the annals of history. - - -CHAPTER X—LEARNING THE ROPES ON A RANCH - -The days began to just glide away, and every one saw Frank and Andy -finding new sources of keen enjoyment. - -They seldom lost a day for a while but that they went up for a short -time, at least, in the aeroplane that was the marvel and admiration -of the whole ranch. Those who worked on other cattle ranges were no -longer startled when they saw a strange object not unlike a -monstrous bird come spinning overhead, and disappearing in the -distance. Though they never failed to stop their work, no matter -what that might be, and gape upwards, as long as the aeroplane -remained in sight, still, they no longer fired at it, as happened at -first. - -The boys had been warned by Uncle Jethro in the beginning that in -making their flights miles away from home they would be wise to keep -a pretty considerable distance aloft. There was never any telling -what cowboys would do; and they were so apt to empty their guns at -what they fancied must be some queer bird belonging to the supposed -to be extinct class. At any rate, the warning was heeded, and on -numerous occasions Frank and Andy believed that they profited from -it. Indeed, it seemed to be the usual thing, whenever they passed -over a cowboy in some strange section of the country, for him to -whip out his gun and empty it; after which he would sometimes dodge, -and try to conceal himself under a tree, or a clump of sage brush, -or it might be a sentinel cactus ten feet high, growing on the -border of the desert. - -But by degrees the news was circulating around that this was one of -the new fangled aeroplanes, and the shooting began to grow less -frequent, though the young aviators did not take more chances than -they could help. - -Frequently, now, there would be company at the ranch and bunk house. -In fact, these days Double X Ranch was fast becoming the Mecca for -the entire neighborhood. Whenever a party of punchers got a holiday, -instead of going off to town to indulge in a booze, they would start -over to see the “wonder of the air,” and hope that the young pilots -of the upper currents would perform for them. - -This got to be such a nuisance that finally Frank had to announce -that they were only going up on certain days, when the exhibition -would be free. And at such times there was sure to be quite a crowd -present, all wild to see how this queer steed that flew through the -air at the rate of from forty to eighty miles an hour, or even a -full hundred on occasion, was managed. - -Meanwhile the two boys had been singularly fortunate, in that they -did not meet with a single serious accident. Outside of the intense -heat they had little of a disagreeable nature to contend with in -this Arizona climate, where winds did not often visit the lowlands -in great force, and a dead calm usually prevailed. And as soon as -they were aloft, they found the atmosphere decidedly cool, even -cold, since they were quickly free from the earth’s radiation. - -Of course, they had scoured the immediate country, and even ventured -a short way out over the desert, dropping low enough to observe the -strange formation of the billows of sand that reminded them of the -sea, note the peculiarities that marked the tall cactus plants; and -make up their minds that there could be a great many more pleasant -things happen to them than getting lost on this burning stretch, -with little or no water to quench their raging thirst. - -After the first glimpse of that waste stretch, the boys always made -sure to carry a big bottle of water along with them when starting -out. And Uncle Jethro declared that it was a wise precaution, as -they could never tell when such a thing might prove to be a life -preserver, if not for themselves, then possibly in the case of -another who had unfortunately lost himself on the desert, and whose -plight they might discover from aloft. - -But while they scoured the level in this fashion, the boys were -cautious about trying to fly over the rugged elevations to the -north, where the mines were being operated, to which the trains of -wagons containing supplies headed so frequently. - -They found just as they expected, that the winds were apt to be -contrary in this region, and that it was more or less dangerous to -attempt to fly where at any minute a furious gust would suddenly -strike the aeroplane on the right quarter; which was hardly guarded -against, when a second rush of air would swoop down from still -another angle, threatening to overturn the sprawling flier with its -violence. - -One visit in this direction was enough for them, and on this -occasion they saw the mouth of one of the mines, with a curious -group standing as usual gazing upward in open-mouthed wonder. - -Those mountains presented a grim aspect that impressed both the boys -exceedingly, and they would never forget the sight. Andy had brought -a new kodak, which his father had purchased in order that they might -carry back something to show the folks at home. It was small in -size, but with an expensive lens; and capable of producing very fine -pictures; so that they hoped to have a display worth looking at by -the time these were all developed and prints made later on. - -Nothing that was interesting escaped Andy, and he had developed -quite a liking for his new occupation, being constantly on the -lookout for scenes that he thought would make good prints. - -But it must not be supposed that all this time the Bird Boys were so -much occupied with scouring the regions of the upper air for fifty -or a hundred miles in every direction, that they neglected to take -advantage of the opportunities presented to observe what life on a -great cattle ranch was like, for this was not so. - -As time passed they limited their flights more and more, having -discovered other sources of amusement that held their interest; -because by this time flying no longer possessed the novelty for them -that it had in the beginning; and once they had exhausted the new -sights of the region, they were not so anxious to go up as they were -to mount ponies, and see something of life with the cow punchers. - -By degrees they were learning a great many things that they had -never dreamed would ever fall to their lot. Being young, and quick -to pick up new “stunts,” both of them gave promise of soon making -average riders, at least, though they might not hope to equal some -of the punchers who were more reckless by nature, and handled their -mounts as though a cayuse were a machine, governed by their sole -whim. - -Both Frank and Andy had their own ponies, and could dash like mad -over the level, plying both voice and quirt in the endeavor to come -in ahead; for cowboys spend much of their time in this sort of -racing. - -They had adopted something of the dress of the others, and even wore -the customary “chaps” made of leather and handsomely decorated, and -to which they soon became accustomed in spite of the first awkward -feeling. - -And so, daily they were seeing more and more of life on the range. -They visited the prairie dog village and shot rattlers that were -dozing outside the holes in which they lived at peace with the queer -little animals that amused Andy so, and which he stalked on the sly, -so as to take home some pictures of them. - -They learned to throw a rope with a fair degree of skill, although -this takes long practice, if one wishes to become an expert. Neither -of them ever actually threw a cow, though they believed they would -be able to do so in time, if they kept this thing up long enough. - -They did like to watch the regular punchers do the trick and get the -rope around the snubbing post like lightning every time. Both Frank -and Andy could hobble a broncho equal to the next one; and on one -occasion had spent a night on the range “wrangling” horses, which -meant that they kept company with the guard whose duty was to watch -the precious saddle band, and prevent them from straying, which -catastrophe would be apt to leave the party without mounts for their -morrow’s work; and this is really the worst thing that could happen -to cowboys, who seldom walk if they can help it. - -Later on there was to be the regular fall round-up, and the boys -expected to be able to accompany the outfit, and see the youngsters -branded after the most approved fashion, with Andy capturing -numerous pictures that would show just how the entire operation were -carried out. One evening while the two boys were sitting with Mr. -Witherspoon on the big verandah which was kept screened to prevent -an onslaught from insect pests, the genial rancher surprised Frank -and Andy by casually remarking: - -“I rather think, now, that we’ll have a decent day for our little -expedition tomorrow; and that the heat will be somewhat less -pronounced than usual.” - -Andy looked at his cousin. Uncle Jethro had already sprung several -little surprises on them and seemed to enjoy it immensely so that -they immediately scented something new. - -“What sort of trip is that, Uncle?” asked Andy, seeing that the -rancher was waiting to be questioned. - -He pretended to be surprised, and raised his eyebrows as he -remarked: - -“Oh! is it possible that I forgot to mention to you that I’ve -arranged to take you on a little shooting trip tomorrow, just to -break the monotony of your existence here, and perhaps give you a -chance to carry home a memento of life down in Arizona, that every -time you scrape your feet upon it, will call up a few of the things -that have happened here.” - -“Please go on, and tell us more about it, Uncle; do we get a chance -to snap off a picture of a bunch of antelopes this time; that wolf -scene is going to turn out a jim-dandy, I reckon; and I’m anxious to -try another,” Andy went on to say. - -“Well, you boys have sure locoed the whole community with that -wonder of an aeroplane, and perhaps, if the ranchers hope to get any -decent work out of their punchers, we’d better give them a little -rest along that line. But we’ve been troubled of late with losing -some of our best heifers; and the boys declare they’ve found tracks -of a grizzly that comes down out of the hills and gets his supper -every once in so often. So Buckskin is going along to show us where -he thinks the old fellow lives; and perhaps you can get a snapshot -of him before we start in to puncture his tough old hide with our -lead. How about that, boys; think you’d like to see how we rid the -country of a pest that plays havoc with our herds?” - -Frank smiled and nodded as if pleased, but Andy as usual broke out -into a series of exclamations that told how delighted he would be at -the chance. - -“Then it’s a go,” remarked Mr. Witherspoon, carelessly, as though -such things as bagging a ferocious grizzly bear were, after all of -every day occurrence in the life of a cattle raiser; and to be -looked up, as Andy, for instance might consider an ordinary flight -over the level plain, “I’ll see to it that you both have guns, and -we’ll start shortly after breakfast, so as to do most of our riding -before it gets too hot. Then, if we want, after we’ve bagged our -game we might hang round in the foothills and try to keep cool until -near sunset, when we’ll start back,” and he went on talking of other -things as though this were but a small matter. - - -CHAPTER XI—OUT FOR BEAR - -“What do you think of this for a place to rout out a bear, eh, -boys?” and as Mr. Witherspoon asked this question he drew in his -sweating pony, and jumped to the ground. - -The Bird Boys glanced around them. It was a wild prospect that -greeted their gaze. They had left the level plains and entered among -the rocky foothills that stretched out from the spur of the great -Rockies reaching far down into Arizona. - -In all probability this State has a greater range of extremes in the -way of geographic features than any other in the Union. It possesses -arid deserts, fertile plains; and the whole upper part is a mass of -rugged mountain ranges, some of them as yet really never fully -explored, and in which many valuable minerals have been found that -yield fortunes to the capitalists whose money has made the mines -possible. - -These contrasts are often sharply defined, the desert touching the -very border of a fertile tract, or running to the edge of the -uplifts where, among the rocks, some rippling little stream dashes -down, to mysteriously disappear under the burning sands as though -swallowed up. - -After a rather long and exhausting gallop that covered many miles -the little hunting party of four had now arrived among the rocky -spurs, and entered what was to all appearances a pass, though -Buckskin called it a coulie, which might stand for a deep ravine, or -a gulch, differing from the dry bed of a former stream which is -known as a barranca. - -“Do we leave the ponies here, Uncle?” asked Frank, who had come to -call Mr. Witherspoon thus familiarly, though of course the gentleman -was no relation, being connected on the side of Andy’s mother. - -“Yes, staking them out where they can get a bite to eat from that -grass yonder, while we’re gone. We gave them all the water they -could drink a short time back; and that’ll have to do until we start -home. Going to snap us off again while we stand here beside our -mounts, are you, Andy?” and the rancher, who by this, had found -himself taken in a dozen different attitudes, and was getting used -to it, laughed good-naturedly as he struck a natural pose, with one -hand stroking the neck of his cayuse. - -“Oh! it’s all over with,” replied Andy, coolly, “I saw my chance, -and just pressed the bulb when nobody was looking. And I bet you I -got a good one, too. That’s always the best way to do. When people -think they’re getting in a picture they make all sorts of queer -faces trying to look nice, and it spoils things. But the next one I -hope will be of Mr. Grizzly, and say, Uncle, we won’t have to tell -him to look pleasant, will we?” - -“Oh! I’ve no doubt but that when he knows what you’re after he’ll -just rear up on his hind legs, and grin like a booby,” chuckled -Frank. “I guess these grizzlies don’t often get a chance to have -their pictures taken, and he’ll be obliged to you for the opening. I -hope you get a good one, that’s all, Andy.” - -They threw themselves down to rest. - -“No hurry about getting to work,” said Mr. Witherspoon, as he -lighted his pipe, from which he seemed capable of sucking -considerable enjoyment. “We might as well take it easy for a little, -while Buckskin is skirmishing around, to see if he can locate signs -of our four-footed friend up yonder among the rocks. An hour at this -time of day won’t matter much anyhow, because chances are the old -rascal is sleeping off the effects of the big dinner he made last -night off another of my heifers, so the foreman reported.” The boys -were not unwilling, because the ride had been hot and dusty; and -just there the air seemed stirring a little, which made the shade -very agreeable, after the open glare of the bright sun. - -“But suppose the bear should happen along here after we’ve gone, and -take a notion to tackle one of your ponies, Uncle, wouldn’t that be -a pretty tough joke on us, if we had to go back double?” remarked -Andy, as he pottered with his camera, to make sure that it was in -the very best of condition for the work he expected to put it to -presently, if they were lucky enough to come across Bruin. - -“Well, you are the greatest hand to think up trouble I ever saw, my -lad,” declared the free and easy-going rancher, “that never occurred -to me at all, and I don’t believe there’s one chance in ten of it -coming to pass, because all respectable bears should be asleep in -their dens at this hot time of day. I reckon then we’ll have to risk -it, unless one of you boys choose to sit here and stand guard.” - -Of course this was said in the light of a joke, because he knew full -well neither of them could be induced to lose this glorious chance -to see a real grizzly of the Rockies at home. - -Frank wanted to do a little of the shooting, if possible; and as for -Andy, he had become so thoroughly infatuated with the business of -picture taking that if he were compelled to choose between snapping -off the bear’s likeness, or putting a chunk of lead between his -ribs, Frank believed he would take the former, and lose all -opportunity for securing the trophy of the chase for a rug. - -They were still lounging there some time later when a rattling of -small stones announced that somebody or some thing was approaching -from up the side of the coulie. Mr. Witherspoon just allowed his -hand to creep out to where his repeating Marlin lay. Not that he -suspected any danger might be hanging over their heads; but then one -wants to be on the foothills of the Rockies, where grizzlies have -their dens and sometimes cattle rustlers hide out waiting for a -chance to descend on the unprotected herds, which may be driven away -to a secret cache, where their marks can be altered, and then the -animals sold, or shipped on the railroad to a distant point. - -But it turned out to be Buckskin, and with a wide grin decorating -his bronzed face, which Frank rightly interpreted to signify that he -had found the den he was so positive must be near by. “Hit her the -first thing, boys,” he chirped cheerfully, as he threw himself down -alongside the others, to cool off a little. “And believe me, things -look good for findin’ our chap at home. He dragged that heifer all -the way up here, consarn his old hide. I could see marks of blood on -his doorsill. Reckons as how we ketched him next door to in the act, -Mr. Witherspoon; got him with the goods on, we have. And here’s -hopin’ that’ll be the last young beef he’ll steal from the Double X -Ranch.” - -After a short time the rancher got up, and threw his rifle in the -hollow of his arm. While lying there he had told the boys about all -that he could remember concerning the habits and peculiarities of -grizzlies, and also warned them not to be sparing of their lead when -once they commenced to throw it; because there is not another living -wild beast, hunters declare, that can stand up under and carry off -more bullets than one of these monsters. - -The four of them commenced to climb the rocky slope. It was no easy -task, but they took their time about it, Mr. Witherspoon pointing -out how Buckskin had undoubtedly followed the occasional traces left -by the bear in his many pilgrimages along the same route—scratches -from his terribly long claws; or it might be occasional tiny stains -of blood from the carcass of the heifer he had dragged all the way -from the grass country, and along these ragged rocks, just as though -it was the easiest proposition that had ever been put up to him. - -“Thar she is!” said Buckskin, suddenly, pointing with his rifle. - -Following the direction of his outstretched weapon, the boys saw -what seemed to be a seam in the face of the rocky wall a little -distance away. As they advanced still further they realized that it -widened near the base, and afforded quite an opening, through which -even the bulky figure of a grizzly could pass with ease. - -And upon looking, they found innumerable evidences of the fact that -some animal had long been in the habit of passing in and out of this -fissure. - -“Why, here’s a bunch of brown hairs sticking to this sharp point of -rock, rubbed off when he scraped past!” declared the keen-eyed Frank -immediately after taking a look around. - -“Good for you, my boy!” exclaimed the rancher, evidently well -pleased at this evidence of alertness on the part of his charge. -“Yes, that came from the hide of a Mountain Charlie, as they call -them out in California. You can see how coarse it is. Keep it as a -memento; but I certain sure hope you’ll get the real thing before we -gallop back for our supper late tonight.” - -“How about him rushing out and surprising us, Uncle?” asked Andy. -“Perhaps the old fellow mightn’t like to have company dropping in on -him without an invite. And then, you see, I wouldn’t have any focus -at all, which would spoil my picture.” - -“No need of worrying about that, my lad,” said the rancher. “He’s -lying in there as snug as you please, with his stomach full of that -juicy heifer; and it’ll be a hard proposition for us to coax him to -consent to an interview at all. Chances are, Buckskin’ll have to -smoke the old villain out. That sometimes happens. But we might as -well begin to make all our arrangements, looking to getting that -picture at the right focus; and also placing that little defile -between us and the bear when he does come out, mad as hops at being -treated to a smoke.” - -He had apparently already figured it all out in his own mind and -made the necessary arrangements; for he led them across a deep -little defile that happened to lie between the bear’s den and a flat -stretch of rock, just fifty paces away. - -From this spot a splendid view could be had of the yawning crevice -at the base of the cliff. And Andy was delighted to see that for the -next hour the sun would be favorable to his work of securing a good -exposure, given the subject. - -“Got your focus all right, have you?” asked the rancher, when he -heard Andy give a grunt as of satisfaction. - -“Yes,” Andy went on to say, smilingly, “everything stands out as -clear as a bell; and I think I ought to make a boss picture of this; -that is, if I don’t go and foozle, because of stage fright, when the -old rascal comes roaring out to ask what we want. You won’t shoot in -too big a hurry, I hope; give me time to snap off a couple, for fear -one might be spoiled. These sort of chances come only once in a life -time you know; and ought to be doubled up, to make sure.” - -“Well, if we’re all ready here, perhaps you’d better get busy, -Buckskin, and see if you can bring him out with a few cowboy yells. -If that fails, then there’s some wood over yonder you can use; and I -notice that you grabbed up some stink-weed as you came along, which -will fetch him dead sure, when it gets to smouldering. Sometimes I -even think it would bring a dead man to life, it’s that powerful. -We’ll leave this little log across the gully, just as we used it to -cross on; when you jump over for keeps give the same a kick; and -that’ll put a gap between, the old man can’t cross in a hurry, if so -be he fails to drop under our fire.” - -Accordingly Buckskin trailing his gun along after him, crossed on -the aforesaid log that served as a bridge over the gully, and went -about his business of trying to coax the occupant of the rocky -bear’s den to come out, with just as much indifference as though he -were obeying the call of the range to dinner, when the cook pounded -on a big frying pan with a basting spoon. - -And standing there, the boys and Mr. Witherspoon awaited -developments with varied emotions. - - -CHAPTER XII—THE DEFENSE OF THE LOG BRIDGE - -“Listen to Buckskin calling him all sorts of names, would you?” -exclaimed Andy, a few minutes later. - -“If that bear only understood half he’s been called, he just -couldn’t stand it a minute longer,” declared Mr. Witherspoon, -chuckling, “but the poor old chap’s education has been neglected, so -he doesn’t know cowboy lingo. I reckon he never even opens one eye, -but keeps dozing right along. He hasn’t lost any cowboy, and so he -doesn’t want to be bothered. No good, is it, Buckskin?” - -“Don’t look that way, sir,” replied the other, disconsolately, -“that’s the trouble with not having the gift of gab. Now, if I was -as good a hand at callin’ names, and rattling off the lingo as -Puffer Pete, chances are he’d just have to show a leg. Well, here’s -to open up a little smoke spell with the boss.” - -Accordingly, he bent over, and seemed to be fixing the small tinder -he had carried across with him. Now and then he would turn his head -and call out something or other to the boys, as though explaining to -the boys what he was doing. - -“Now she’s all ready for biz,” he finally declared, “watch my smoke, -fellers. Hi! here’s looking to you, old man; you’ve just got to wake -up, and let us take a look at your mug, you know. There she goes! -Whoop-la!” - -The watchers saw a wisp of smoke creep up lazily. There did not seem -to be any wind to carry it away; and presently it met a back -draught, for it appeared to be sucked directly into the yawning -crevice at the base of the cliff. - -Larger grew the volume of smoke, until quite a good-sized column was -oozing out of the brush Buckskin had piled up. - -“Now for the scent weed!” he called out. - -They saw him carefully place some of this on top of the pile, and -toward the back where its odor would be sure to be wafted into the -den, with the smoke from the burning wood. - -“Wow! that’s fierce!” Buckskin whooped, grabbing hold of his nose -with the fingers of his free hand, for he was holding fast to his -gun all this time, not knowing when he might have to use it. - -Now he was bending down as though listening to catch the first low -growl to indicate that Bruin had awakened, and was sniffing at the -smoke. Buckskin’s attitude told how he was holding himself in -readiness for a lively sprint, just as soon as the signs warned him -that the bear was rushing for the exit of the den in a terrible rage -at being interrupted in his nap. No sensible cowboy ever wants to -come to close grips with an enraged grizzly; he knows too much to -risk a terrible death in that way. - -It was a period of most intense suspense to both the boys. - -All at once they saw the crouching cowboy galvanized into life. He -leaped to his feet, and made a lively streak for the little log -crossing the gap. No need to ask what induced his haste, for actions -spoke louder than words in that case. - -“Ready, Andy!” Mr. Witherspoon was heard to say, hoarsely. - -This thing of attacking a full-grown grizzly in his native haunts -was no child’s play; and even so old a hunter as the owner of Double -X Ranch doubtless felt more than a little thrill as he watched to -see the head of the monster thrust out of the hole in the wall. - -Andy had his kodak on a line with that opening and was crouching -there ready to get in some good work. Let Frank have the glory of -shooting the bear if he wanted; as for him, he found more solid -satisfaction nowadays in getting snapshots of game, than in trying -to lay them low. - -“Oh!” - -It was Andy who gave utterance to this cry. A great dun-colored bulk -had rushed directly across the heap of smoking fire-stuff, -scattering it to the right, and to the left, as he gave a fearful -roar that made the echoes ring. - -And right then and there Andy pressed the bulb. He believed he had -caught the bear just in the act of throwing the fire -every-which-way, as Andy himself expressed it later on. - -Immediately he started to turn the film so as to bring around a new -and unexposed section. His fingers were quivering with eagerness and -nervousness, so that he could hardly hold the camera. - -“Steady, Andy; brace up, and take your time!” said Frank, who gave -his chum one quick glance to see how near he was to getting in a -second snapshot before he and Mr. Witherspoon started to firing. - -That seemed to bring Andy to his senses, and the next moment he -managed to get his second shot at the bear. - -By this time the animal had discovered the running Buckskin, and -immediately started in hot pursuit, as if recognizing the human -agency that had made his eyes smart so with that pungent smoke; -there was now no longer any trouble about arousing the bear’s fury; -and Frank realized just why Buckskin, wise fellow that he was, had -lost not a second about getting started, when he knew the bear was -coming. - -He cast one glance over his shoulder as he reached the end of the -little log. Discovering the grizzly shuffling along swiftly in his -wake, snorting with anger, the cowboy immediately started across the -rude bridge. Once he slipped, and for a second or two it looked as -though he would drop down twenty feet or more into the gully; but by -a desperate effort Buckskin managed to climb up again, and mostly on -hands and knees completed the passage. - -The bear was still coming on, apparently in no wise daunted by the -hot fire that was being poured into him by Frank and Mr. -Witherspoon. Every shot Frank took he fully expected to see the huge -beast go tumbling over; but in spite of all, the bear kept rushing -after Buckskin. Andy was still working his kodak and taking more -pictures. - -Just as soon as the cowboy managed to crawl upon solid rock he -started to dislodge the log. It proved a little more difficult than -had been expected. Three times did Buckskin make the effort, and -only succeeded in moving the end a few inches on every occasion. - -With the bear still coming on, as though capable of standing a -hurricane of lead, it began to look serious enough. Should he ever -succeed in crossing that log what might not happen to the hunters? -Frank felt a cold chill creep over him as he contemplated such a -possibility, and realized that the magazine in his Marlin heavy-bore -was getting low. - -Well, Andy came to the rescue just in time. Dropping his kodak, he -sprang to the side of the panting Buckskin. - -“Now, together!” he exclaimed, as he took hold of the end of the -log. - -It slipped from its anchorage just as the grizzly reached the -opposite bank. Had they been three seconds later they must have -hurled the shaggy monster down with the queer log bridge. - -Bruin stopped in his mad advance just in time. He sniffed at the -spot where the end of the log had rested, as though wondering how -the human enemy could have apparently flown across. - -This gave the marksmen a better chance to place their bullets where -they were more apt to count. Frank took deliberate aim back of the -foreleg. At the same time he was conscious of a feeling of great -respect for this brave old fellow, whom nothing could apparently -daunt. But they had put their hand to the plow, and there could be -no turning back at this late hour. Besides, this beast was bound to -be a constant menace to ranchman’s herds from this time on, now that -he had learned the secret of securing an easy breakfast from the -weaker elements of the cattle drove; and it was of the greatest -importance that he be exterminated. - -This time when Frank pulled the trigger of his Marlin he saw that he -had at last reached a vital organ. The big bear actually weakened -and fell over, though still struggling hard to keep on his feet and -show a grim front. - -“That did for him, Frank; no use to waste any more ammunition!” -declared Mr. Witherspoon. - -“Well, that was my last shot, anyway, so I couldn’t do anything more -until I’d recharged the magazine of my gun,” remarked Frank. - -“And unless I’m mistaken, my weapon is in just the same fix,” -chuckled the other, “so you can understand what a lot of lead a -grizzly can digest before knuckling under.” - -“There, the old critter has keeled over, and that’s his last kick,” -remarked Buckskin, who was still panting from his recent exertions. -“Say, Andy, d’ye want me to snap one off with you and Frank standing -by the game? Seems to me you had ought to be seen in some of these -here pictures. Reckon I know enough to aim, after you do the focus -act, and squeeze that rubber thing.” - -“But we’ve got to cross over first, and our bully old bridge is down -at the bottom of the hole,” expostulated Andy. - -“Oh! here’s another log that will answer just as well,” remarked the -ranger, “just looks like these trees once grew here to accommodate -anyone who wanted to use a log for a bridge. Everybody take hold, -and we’ll soon have it across.” - -After some trying they managed to get the log on end near the edge -of the gap. It was no trouble, then, to let it fall directly across, -and as they had calculated rightly, there was another means of -spanning the gulf. - -So, one after another, they walked across; in fact Andy and Buckskin -were so anxious to see what the grizzly looked like, that they -neglected to go back and pick up their guns, which they had -carelessly dropped at the time their help was needed in order to -move the log. Andy insisted that Uncle Jethro also line up alongside -the dead grizzly. - -“You helped knock him out, and ought to be here more than me,” he -declared, when the rancher showed signs of holding back; and so -finally the three were grouped in a manner to allow of the game -being shown, while the hunters also appeared in the picture. - -After Andy had arranged this to suit him, he gave the camera into -the charge of Buckskin, and then went over to take his place -alongside Frank and the ranchman. - -“Now, look in the finder, and see that you’ve got the bear in the -middle of the picture,” Andy sang out. “How about it, Buckskin?” - -“She’s all right, Andy; tell me when to give the punch,” came the -reply. - -“Be sure and hold the camera steady as a rock when you’re going to -squeeze the bulb. Now, let her go, Gallagher!” and Andy assumed a -pose as he spoke. - -Immediately after there was a whoop. - -“Right there with the goods, and a regular bull’s-eye at that!” -shouted Buckskin. “I’m the boss boy with the picture machine, let me -tell you. You see if that ain’t a family group to do you proud! Want -any more took, Andy? Just you warble the word and Buckskin, he’ll -try to accommerdate you all that’s a-goin’; sure he will. How about -standin’ the bar up on his hind legs and take him that way! Wow! -holy smoke! look what’s comin’ in on us, would you? Another bar, and -bigger nor this un at that? Must be the mate o’ our game, and -lookin’ kinder mad at us. Whar’s my gun? What in creation did I do -with that six-shot pepper box? Run boys, he’s chargin’ us!” - - -CHAPTER XIII—NEVER-TO-BE-FORGOTTEN DAYS - -Things started in happening about that time. - -And conditions could hardly have been much worse; for while Frank -and Mr. Witherspoon had their rifles along, the magazines had been -exhausted in their recent shooting affair; while the only two -serviceable guns lay on the other side of the little gulf that was -spanned by the log. - -“Get to the bridge as fast as you can!” called out the ranchman, -with a ring of authority in his voice. - -It might have been noticed that Andy did not wait this time to -complain about the “focus,” and all that sort of thing; in fact, he -simply ran for the avenue of escape without once looking around him. -And both Frank and Mr. Witherspoon kept him pretty close company. - -Buckskin had been close to the bridge himself at the time of his -making that astonishing discovery; and hence he was already passing -over. As a cowboy is not so sure-footed as a good many people -accustomed to walking, there were times when it began to look as -though he might lose his grip again, and be compelled to resort to -the original method of using his hands and knees. - -“Don’t let my kodak drop, Buckskin!” shrieked Andy, really more -concerned about the safety of his little camera just then than his -own safety. - -Perhaps his outcry did have some steadying effect upon the other, -for he managed to get to the opposite side without having to descend -to any humiliating experience, but it was a close shave. - -And now the boys understood just why Buckskin had made such mad -haste. It was not because he meant to forsake them, or was so -tremendously alarmed regarding his own condition. He had suddenly -remembered that the guns that were charged had been left across on -the other side, and somebody must charge that bridge in order to lay -hands on them. - -It was doubtless very fortunate for all concerned that the second -grizzly did not see fit to charge as ferociously as had its dead -mate; for in such a case the chances were they must have been mixed -up with those long, cruel claws before the lot of them could cross -over. - -The newcomer stopped to sniff at the body of the other animal too, -and this delayed things for a few seconds; just enough for them to -get safely over, and for history to repeat itself in so far as -hurling the log into the hole was concerned. - -Already Buckskin was getting busy with his repeater; and Andy, not -to be left in the lurch, also scrambled over to where his gun lay. - -Once more the battle was resumed, with all the odds on the side of -those who, safe from the claws of the monster could at the same time -send their little leaden messengers of death across the gulf, and -into the body of the grizzly. - -It hardly seemed fair, and yet what else can be done when dealing -with such a terrible beast? Three men, yes, half a dozen, would not -be too many to meet so ferocious a fighter at close quarters; and in -order to win out, it is necessary to take advantage of every -opening. - -Rendered furious because of his wounds, and his inability to get at -the objects of his hatred, the bear finally rushed straight at them, -and of course toppled over the edge into the gap. - -Meanwhile Mr. Witherspoon and Frank were getting fresh cartridges -into the magazines of their guns as fast as their trembling hands -could accomplish the feat. No one could tell how many shots might be -found necessary before the tenacious life of the monster was snuffed -out. “He’s dropped in!” shouted Andy, who had managed to discharge -his gun twice, and seemed to feel that he had had something more or -less to do with this last queer action on the part of the charging -bear. - -“Look out for him climbing up the side!” cried the rancher, doing -his level best to get his weapon in serviceable condition. - -“No danger, boss!” whooped Buckskin, who, down on hands and knees -beside the edge of the gully, was trying to figure out what the -condition of the bear might be, “he’s gone and cashed his checks in -this time, and we done it all by ourselves, sure we did, Andy. Say, -wasn’t he a whopper, now? And let’s get ready in case there happens -to be a whole menagerie of the varmints around these diggings.” - -After their guns had been placed in serviceable condition they crept -to the edge of the little gulch and surveyed the huddled-up mass of -hair, each declaring it to be his positive belief that the bear must -be dead. - -“Let’s some of us go down to him!” cried Frank. - -“You bet we will,” echoed Andy; “I want that bearskin the worst -kind, because, unless I’m greatly off my guess, there are just three -holes in the same that my bullets made. How can we do it, Uncle -Jethro. Please put us wise.” - -The rancher knew easily enough how it could be done. He even -volunteered to be the one who should drop down and secure the pelt -of the dead bear. It was finally arranged, however, that Buckskin -should do this business while Mr. Witherspoon performed the same -kind of operation in connection with the first victim. - -“Just to think of bagging two bears on the same afternoon!” -exclaimed the proud Andy, as he danced around, trying the best he -knew how to get some sort of picture of his own prize, for the -cowboy loudly declared that it must have been a bullet from Andy’s -gun that did the business. - -“It’s so dark and gloomy down there, you see,” he complained, as -Buckskin hunted for a way to clamber down. “If only I had thought to -fetch along one of my flash-light cartridges now, I could do it; or -have him take me standing with my foot on the prize, and my trusty -gun in my hands. But that’s all off.” - -“What’s to hinder me taking you in that position with the other -bear?” ventured Frank; “we could slew it around a little, so that it -wouldn’t look the same as in the first picture; and having two skins -would prove that we got that many bears.” So Andy finally consented -to pose, and accordingly had his picture taken in the conventional -attitude of saying: “Look what a big hunter I am?” - -It required considerable time to remove the two hides; but then -cowboys know how to go about it, and Mr. Witherspoon was also handy -with the hunting knife; so that in the end it was accomplished. - -As the afternoon was still pretty warm, they decided to rest again. -At the request of Andy the puncher got several pieces of wood that -might be made to serve in lieu of torches; and with these they -explored the interior of the bear’s den. There was quite a heap of -bones inside the hole, and once more Andy deplored his want of -forethought in not providing himself with a number of those -convenient flash-light affairs, by means of which interiors may be -photographed so well. - -“You don’t find me ever going anywhere with my old kodak, without -thinking about having a light along,” he complained. “Just when you -think you won’t need such a thing, the greatest chance you ever saw -happens along and makes you feel sick. Why, I don’t know what I -wouldn’t give to have a chance to take a picture of a real bear’s -den like that.” Buckskin thereupon consoled him with the promise to -ride over another day, amply provided with all the necessaries, if -it so be Mr. Witherspoon allowed to let him off, which the generous -ranchman readily agreed to do, because he would have consented to -almost anything if it would add to the pleasure of this nephew in -whom he was taking such unusual interest. - -When the sun had dropped low enough so that its heat was not -depressing, they started back home, taking things easily by the way. - -Their mounts had been rested, and besides, knew which way they were -now heading, and could be depended on to keep doggedly at work, -without any “sojering,” or trying to “play lame,” as some smart cow -ponies have been known to do when not in the humor for work. - -The moon gave them light when night came on, and by ten o’clock they -reached the ranch buildings. Expecting them at about this time, -Charley Woo had a splendid supper all ready, to which the tired boys -did ample justice. - -But the story of the hunt was reserved for the morrow; because Mr. -Witherspoon saw that the others were ready to drop after all those -hours in the saddle, added to the nervous excitement of that -thrilling bear hunt. It was now drawing close to the time when the -regular fall round-up was scheduled to come off; for Mr. Witherspoon -was one of those careful ranchmen who did not let things get too far -ahead of him; and he wanted to know what his herds had been doing -for him during the summer season, so that all youngsters might be -given the brand that would stamp them as his property. - -Although both Frank and Andy had witnessed the operation on smaller -scales several times, so that the novelty had in a measure worn off, -still they laid out to accompany the band when they went forth in -full strength to cover the range, and be away several days and -nights at least. - -Andy, of course, wanted to secure a few more striking pictures that -would illustrate the stories they wished to tell upon reaching home -again. The only thing he deplored was the fact that his stock of -films was running very low; he had been too lavish in the beginning, -not leaving enough for the more important subjects apt to crowd up -later. - -But he had developed the roll containing the bear scenes, and was as -he admitted “tickled nearly to death” with the splendid results. -Why, it looked just as if that fierce old denizen of the cleft in -the rock was roaring out his anger and defiance as he threw the fire -sticks in every direction; and as for the other one, with Buckskin -crawling along the log bridge, and the grizzly galloping down toward -the end of the same, the cowboy declared that he could almost hear -himself saying bad words because of his dizzy head, that always -played him false in an emergency like this. - -Why, a whole month had slipped away since their arrival at the -ranch; and in a few more weeks they would have to be thinking of -getting ready to travel back to Bloomsbury and school! Every time -they talked of it the boys felt blue; not that Frank and Andy did -not want to see the dear ones at home; but they were certainly -having the time of their lives down here in Arizona, and hated to -leave until they had utterly exhausted the mine of pleasures that -awaited their attention on every hand. - -Uncle Jethro was kindness itself. He never wearied of thinking up -all sorts of things that he believed the two Bird boys would enjoy; -and when he could not accompany them in person, he sent Buckskin -instead; so that they came to have a decided fancy for the odd -little “sawed off” of a cowboy, as he himself described his lack of -stature. - -And so it came about that one night the ranchman remarked that all -preparations had been made to start on the following day on the -round-up; the various herds would be ready for their inspection; and -before they came back doubtless every part of the wide-spreading -territory contained in Double X Ranch would have been raked over as -with a fine-tooth comb, looking for mavericks and stray bunches. - - -CHAPTER XIV—OFF FOR THE ROUND-UP - -“Phew! it looks like another hot day, Frank!” - -Andy had just dressed, and gone to the window to look out. The sun -was already up, and had that queer, dark red glow that betokens an -unusual display of heat. It would be a hard day for the long ride -across the treeless level stretching out between the ranch buildings -and the grassy valleys where the cattle generally bunched at this -time of year. - -Frank had been strangely silent while dressing; and as he now joined -his cousin at the window, Andy noticed for the first time that he -was looking rather “peaked.” - -“Here, what’s the matter with you, old fellow?” he asked, with his -customary breezy impulsiveness. “You don’t seem a bit tickled over -the idea of spending a whole day in the saddle, and that’s a fact.” - -“Well,” replied the other, with a little smile, “the fact is, Andy, -I’m afraid I’m going to disappoint you.” - -“How’s that?” demanded his cousin, aggressively. “I don’t think I’d -better try going today, and that’s a fact,” Frank went on. - -“Are you sick? Is that what ails you? Seemed to me you kicked around -a whole lot last night, now I come to think of it. Why, didn’t you -call me up, Frank? What’s the matter? I just bet the heat was too -much for you yesterday. We shouldn’t have done that long ride on so -nasty a day; felt like I was drawn through a straw myself, though -I’m all right now. But do you really mean that you won’t ride out -today with the boys?” - -“The way I feel now, it would be silly for me to try it,” Frank -continued, with a little shake of his head. “I seem to be dizzy, and -to sit on the back of a lively pony for even an hour would upset me -like everything.” - -“That’s a shame now, ain’t it, Frank?” - -“Oh! I don’t mind it so very much. You’ll only be gone a couple or -three days at the most; and I’ll have Mrs. Ogden, Charley Woo, and -little Becky to keep me company. And then, if I’m feeling myself by -tomorrow, why I might take a notion to look you boys up by the air -route. Don’t worry about me, Andy.” - -“I don’t mean to, because I expect to stay with you and see that you -get the right kind of care,” said Andy, with his positive face in -evidence. - -“You’ll do nothing of the kind,” retorted Frank. “I’ll be in good -hands, and the chances are will be all right by noon. So you’re just -going along with Uncle and the rest.” - -“I’d like to see anybody make me when I put my foot down,” Andy went -on to say. “The fact of the matter is, Frank, between you and me and -the lamp-post, when I found out what sort of a scorcher we were in -for today, I began to lose some of my own enthusiasm. Sure I’d have -gone along if you were all right, and taken my medicine as well as I -could; but this alkali dust don’t please me a whit; and on a red hot -day it’s a lot of a nuisance to have to keep on riding in a saddle -on such a slow thing as a cayuse.” - -“Oh! you’re spoiled by this mile-a-minute gait of your air steed, -that’s plain,” chuckled Frank, “but your uncle will be disappointed -if you don’t go along, Andy.” - -“He’ll have to be, then,” returned the other steadily, as though his -mind was made up, and nothing could change it. “I don’t pretend to -be able to keep up with Buckskin, Shorty and all that lot of hard -riders. They can wear me to a frazzle in the long run. My place, -where I shine, is with you in a biplane. There you don’t have to -work your way, but just sit and enjoy the grandest view any fellow -ever had spread out before him, while’s he spinning along at much -more than a mile-a-minute speed. The air route for mine, every -time.” - -“Well, I see there’s no use trying to force you to go; but I’m sorry -that this has happened, Andy.” - -“Shucks! don’t you bother your head about me,” his cousin said, with -a chuckle. “Fact is, I’m rather tickled at finding an excuse for -backing down without its looking that I’m showing the white feather. -That thought of three days in the saddle, with the heat and dust -gave me a bad feeling. And Frank, perhaps we might look the boys and -their chuck wagon up tomorrow in our biplane. That’s a heap sight -more to my fancy, let me tell you, now.” - -“All right, Andy. But there’s your uncle outside, looking after -things. We’d better see him, and let him know, before he gets ponies -ready for us.” - -Both boys went outside, and when Mr. Witherspoon heard about Frank’s -sickness he expressed the greatest concern. After hearing the -symptoms he agreed with Andy that it must have been the extreme heat -of the preceding day that had knocked his cousin out. - -“Nothing serious at all,” announced the ranchman, “I’ve felt the -same way myself more than a few times, after unusual heat, and hard -riding. No use trying to keep in the saddle when you’ve got that -dizzy spell; just lie down, and Mrs. Ogden ’ll give you a dose of -the same medicine that always brings me around. Chances are you’ll -be feeling all right by noon, or before night, anyway.” - -“We feel sorry not to be able to go along with you on the round-up, -Uncle,” remarked Andy. - -“I’d put off starting until tomorrow, boys, only all preparations -have been made and it would interfere with our work more or less,” -the ranchman went on to say with a tinge of regret in his voice, as -though he were tempted to do this at any cost. - -“We wouldn’t think of letting you do such a thing, sir!” exclaimed -Frank. - -“And besides,” added his cousin, “if Frank is all right tomorrow, -you may see us sailing along to hunt you up, and with a map of the -whole ranch spread out before us.” - -“You mean you’ll take a spin in your biplane, is that it, boys?” Mr. -Witherspoon went on, “Good! Nothing would please us better. I can -imagine the antics of the cattle when they see a great bird settling -down over them.” - -“Oh! we’ll be careful, and try and not start a stampede, Uncle; if -we do come, after we’ve located where you’re working at the time, -we’ll drop down some distance away, and walk over; or you can send -mounts for us. But I don’t care to go without Frank, you see. And to -tell the honest truth, I’m a bit leery about riding through such a -scorching hot day as this promises to be.” - -“Perhaps you’re wise, my boy,” said the ranchman, reflectively, -“it’s hard enough on us old shellbacks, used to breathing this -alkali dust from one end of the year to the other, and must be rough -on tenderfeet. Make yourselves at home; the best is none too good -for you. Charley Woo thinks you are a couple of little tin gods on -wheels, and he’ll do anything in the wide world for the wizards who -can mount up to the clouds, and play tag there with the winds.” - -Frank, though looking badly, would not go in and lie down while the -outfit was getting in readiness to start. He wanted to see all that -went on, for the chance might never come to him again. - -And Andy was busy snapping off several pictures of the scene, as the -bunch of active cow punchers galloped around on their ponies, making -the animals do all sorts of wonderful feats as they curvetted and -pranced, and snorted with the excitement. - -“I’ve just got another film of a dozen exposures,” he complained to -Frank, after he had taken several views of the chuck wagon, and the -string of led ponies that had to be taken along for service when the -hard riding boys wore out their first mounts, “and with that I want -to get my pictures of the round-up; also one of the dinner hour, -when the entire crowd gathers around the chuck wagon.” - -“But how is it that Charley Woo doesn’t go along this time; I -thought he always did the cooking for the crowd when they went off -like this?” Frank remarked. - -“I asked Uncle about that, and he said that the boys had been -complaining somewhat lately about the Chinaman’s way of cooking. He -thought they were just spoiled by having things too good; and to -show them the difference he has arranged to let Shorty do the -cooking on this trip. He used to, long ago, before Charley came -along, and got the job.” - -“Oh! that’s it; and the boys are in for a lesson, I can see. When -they get a dose of the old style of slinging hash together they’ll -never have another word to say about Charley. That’s the way things -go, sometimes; you never miss the water until the well runs dry.” - -“Looks like they might be going to start right away, Frank. Here -come the boys on the jump, to say goodbye, and hope you’ll be -feeling better soon.” - -“I hope they won’t think I’m faking this headache, just to get out -of riding on the round-up with them?” remarked Frank, uneasily. - -“They know you better than that,” returned his cousin. “Any fellow -who has got the nerve to ride in an aeroplane would be equal to -anything, so Buckskin and every one else swears. Try as we can, you -know there isn’t one of them dares go up. What Buckskin told them -about his sensations has given the whole bunch cold feet so far as -wanting to try a ride among the clouds. The earth, alkali dust and -all, is good enough for them, they say. Hello! boys, hope you have a -grand good time. And if Frank’s feeling O. K., look for us along -some time tomorrow. I want to get some cracker-jack pictures of how -you round up the cattle, and brand the same, those that need the -Double X mark.” - -Every puncher insisted on gripping the hand of each of the Bird -boys, while his restless pony danced, and snorted, and acted as -though just wild to start off like a comet. - -Then came Uncle Jethro and the foreman, Waldo Kline, to also shake -hands, and say how sorry they felt at not having the visitors at the -ranch along; but the boys again repeated their intention of looking -in on the workers later on. - -With a tremendous racket and waving of hats, the string started off, -and Andy could not resist aiming his kodak after them, for the scene -was an inspiring one, which he and Frank would never forget. - -Further and further away drew the caravan, the mules hitched to the -chuck wagon being kept on the trot by old Shorty, who had once again -come into his own as cook for the outfit; yet wore a troubled look -on his face, as though he felt uneasy concerning the outcome. For -cow punchers are no respecters of persons when they feel that they -have good cause for complaint concerning the quality of the grub -with which they are being served; and Shorty had before then known -of cooks being actually tarred and feathered just because they -failed to come up to the expectations of the clamorous bunch of -reckless cow men. When they had vanished from sight far away over -the plain, in a cloud of dust, Frank went in to lie down again; -while Andy started to amuse himself developing some of the films he -had just exposed. - -And as the morning advanced it proved even a hotter day than the -preceding one had been, so that Frank felt he had acted wisely in -declining to take chances on so hard a gallop, with his head in such -a whirl. - -It was just before noon that Andy came into the room in somewhat of -a state of excitement. - - -CHAPTER XV—THE ONE WHO CAME BACK - -“Frank, do you remember what I did with the glasses?” asked Andy, -after he had been looking all around for a minute or two, with a -puzzled expression on his face. - -Now, Andy was not quite so methodical as his cousin. He had on -occasion been known to seem a bit careless, to confess the actual -truth. And Frank, knowing how such a habit is apt to grow on anyone -unless severely checked, sometimes played a little trick on his chum -with the sole idea of impressing things upon his mind, and -correcting this fault. - -He raised his head at Andy’s question. - -“Stop and think, where did you have them last?” he remarked, -quietly. - -“Oh! say, didn’t I fetch them in last night when we were all looking -at the man in the moon, and those stars that Uncle Jethro said were -the Belt of Orion the Hunter? I’m dead sure I did, Frank; but they -don’t seem to be around here. Do you know where they are? Has -anybody borrowed our glasses, Frank? I want them right now, and I -want them bad.” - -“Look on the table in the living room, and I think you’ll find -them,” returned Frank, sitting up. “I saw you drop them there last -night, and just wanted to see if you’d remember to fetch them to our -room. But what’s up, Andy?” - -“You seem to be, just now, old fellow; which I take it is a good -sign you’re feeling a whole lot better. Glad to know it, and that’s -straight. But about the glasses—why, there’s a lone horseman coming -along at a slow lope, as if he didn’t care to hurry one little bit; -and I’m wondering who it can be.” - -“Perhaps some neighboring rancher coming to ask a lot more fool -questions about the cost of biplanes, and whether any puncher who -has broken bronchos all his life could learn to herd cattle with one -of these up-to-date fliers;” and Frank, getting up from the cot, -started to stretch, as though he might indeed be feeling more like -himself again, the dizzy feeling gone. - -Andy chuckled at what his cousin said; then, being really curious to -learn the identity of the approaching horseman, he hurried out of -the room. - -Frank followed leisurely, and on getting outside found the other -with his eyes glued to the small end of the fine glasses, which had -come in so useful dozens of times when the Bird boys were whirring -through the upper currents, and looking for a place below to land. - -“Well, have you made him out?” asked Frank, coming up behind the -other. - -Andy took the glasses down as he replied: - -“That’s as easy as falling off a log, Frank; but I’m wondering what -under the sun brings Alkali Joe back home again.” - -“Alkali Joe, you say, Andy; why, he went with the bunch this -morning!” - -“That’s just what he did,” the other went on to say, a little -excitedly, “but all the same, that’s Joe, as big as life. And if you -notice, Frank, you’ll think it queer that he doesn’t act like they -all do when in the saddle, making his pony go like the wind, and -whirling his hat around his head.” - -“That’s so, Andy, he doesn’t,” remarked Frank, when he had clapped -the glasses to his eyes; “fact is, Joe acts like he might be going -to a funeral. I never saw a cow puncher come jogging along like -that, taking things as easy as he can.” - -“Gee! I hope he isn’t bringing us any bad news!” exclaimed Andy. - -“Well, now,” Frank remarked, “I never thought of that; but what sort -of bad news could Uncle Jethro be sending back; and even that -wouldn’t be apt to keep down the bubbling spirits of an average -cowboy.” - -“Then what do you think can be the matter?” went on the other. - -“I rather believe that Joe has had some sort of attack, just like I -did; and your uncle has sent him home to be dosed and to lie down, -knowing that he’d never be able to keep his seat in the saddle -during the wild dash of the round-up.” - -“Frank, I wonder if that could be so?” Andy observed, seriously. -“P’raps it’s going to be an epidemic and the whole of us may be down -with the same, yet. Couldn’t have been locoed by any of that weed -they tell us about, could we? If the cows they use for milkers -gobbled any of the same, would it affect us, do you think?” - -That idea tickled Frank, for he laughed. - -“I don’t think we stand in any danger that way, Andy,” he went on to -remark, “but anyhow, you’ll know about Joe pretty soon, for he’s -coming along on a steady lope, and will be here inside of ten -minutes, at most.” - -They stood and watched the cow puncher swinging along at that easy -gait; it seemed as though the man in the sheepskin chaps might be -part and parcel with his pony they moved with such a steady rhythm. -And before the time limit which Frank had set expired he had come to -a full stop before them. - -But Frank had already made a discovery. This was to the effect that -one of Joe’s lower limbs seemed to be bound up with a rough bandage. - -“What happened, Joe?” he asked, stepping forward to the side of the -other, who seemed to have what might be called a sheepish grin on -his sunburned face. - -“I made a fool play, and got pitched over the head of my pony, when -he stepped into a gopher hole. Broke a leg, that’s all; reckons as -how I orter broke my fool neck to even her up. Have to get you boys -to help me off the hoss. Never knew that to happen before to a -feller my size. Mr. Witherspoon, he did her up in fust class shape, -and sez he, ‘You get back to the ranch the best way you can, and the -boys’ll do what’s needed, with the help of Mrs. Ogden.’ So if you’ll -jest give me a hand, mebbe I might hop inside the bunk house.” - -“No you don’t,” said impulsive Andy, instantly, “you’ll go right in -the main house. Guess I know what Uncle Jethro’d do if he was here. -That bunk house may be all right for a well puncher, but with its -noisy crowd it’s no place for a man with a broken leg. Now, rest -your whole weight on us, Joe; we can stand it, all right. That’s the -way; hope it didn’t hurt much when you dropped out of the saddle. -Now, use us like you would a pair of crutches, and we’ll get there, -step by step.” - -The housekeeper and little Becky came running out just then, alarmed -by seeing Alkali Joe, who was something of a favorite on the ranch, -in dire straits. Even Charley Woo was solicitous about the comfort -of the injured man, and hurried in with Mrs. Ogden to get a bed -ready in the spare room. - -After the boys had gotten the cow puncher in bed, Frank took a look -at the way Mr. Witherspoon had bound up the broken leg. - -“Why, your uncle must be a regular surgeon, Andy!” he declared, -“that’s as neat a job as I ever saw; and done while on the gallop, -too, you might say. I take off my hat to Uncle Jethro, let me tell -you right now.” - -“We all do that, Frank,” said Joe, emphatically. “He’s the most -wonderful man in the whole country. There ain’t a puncher that ever -worked for him as wouldn’t go through fire and flood for Mr. -Witherspoon; well, I take that back, ’cause I reckon they has been -one or two as he had to fire, and for mighty good reasons, that’d -like to see him lose all his stock through a norther, or else that -Mexican cattle rustler.” - -Inside half an hour the injured man had been made as comfortable as -possible; he himself said it was the greatest snap that had ever -befallen him, and that he hadn’t lain between soft white sheets -since he was a kid at home in the East. Frank thought that old -memories were being stirred in Joe’s mind; perhaps, after all, his -accident might work for his good, in that it would cause him to -recollect that there was an old mother or father somewhere east of -the Mississippi, whom he had almost forgotten, and who would be wild -with joy if only a letter came from the boy who had gone away from -home so many years ago, and in the excitement of his life in the -Southwest shut out all thoughts of the past from his heart. - -Frank and Andy after having lunch sat outside where the shadows were -thickest at this sweltering time of day. There could always be found -a gentle puff of air at this favorite place; and lounging in a -hammock, while Andy worked at some of his prints, Frank watched a -lone white cloud that was drifting across the azure sky above. - -Perhaps his thoughts too were turning back to other scenes as he lay -there. It might be that the sight of that single fleecy fog-like -vapor caused him to remember events that were connected with other -scenes in the lively experiences which had come to the Bird boys -while harnessing their chariot to the clouds. - -“What you thinking about, Frank?” Andy asked, suddenly, after he had -been watching the face of his cousin for a full minute without the -other knowing it. - -“Why, I was trying to picture rough Alkali Joe in the past,” replied -Frank. “What he said about not having slept between sheets since he -was a kid, made me think. Did you see that picture that fell out of -his pocket when we took off his Mexican jacket, the one he won at -the raffle they told us about?” - -“Sure I did; but that wasn’t Joe’s best girl, Frank; when I picked -it up and put it back I saw that it was the face of an elderly -woman.” - -“All the same it ought to be Joe’s best girl; because I reckon it’s -his mother. And I remember him saying one day that he didn’t know -whether there was anybody alive in his family or not, because he -hadn’t written a letter home for six whole years. And Andy, I was -just thinking, that while he’s on his back there, it might be a good -time to get talking to Joe, and see if he wouldn’t think to write. -If his mother’s alive still, I reckon she’d be happy to hear from -him again.” - -“Frank, that’s just like you for all the world; always wanting to do -somebody a good turn. Now, that wouldn’t have struck me at all; but -since you’ve mentioned it, I’m going to watch my chance to get -talking about home and all such things, and see if I can’t wake Joe -up. He’s a good-hearted fellow, if he is tough. But by the way -you’re getting back to your old self, I think the chances look good -for our making that start tomorrow in the biplane.” - -“It does look that way, if nothing happens between now and then to -break up our plans,” replied the other. “Doctor Witherspoon has -certainly knocked that dizziness out of my system, and I’m as well -as ever now. Fact is, there’s a little job connected with the motor -that ought to be attended to, to put it in first-class condition, -and when the sun gets lower down, so that a fellow can breathe -better, why I think I’ll get busy.” - -“And me to help you,” chirped Andy, promptly, “I’m about done with -this printing business anyway. Say, what d’ye think of this lot of -pictures? Don’t it give you a cold chill just to look at that old -grizzly scattering things around at the mouth of his den? And every -time I glimpse Buckskin hanging on to that log bridge with his -fingers and teeth, trying to climb back again after losing his -balance, it makes me shake all over, I want to laugh so hard. A -pretty good lot all told, Frank.” - -“That’s what they are; Andy, and the folks at home will have a fine -time looking them over. You’ll be able to illustrate nearly every -big yarn you have to tell; and the round-up tomorrow ought to just -fill out the bill. But I can make use of you, if you care to come -over with me to the hangar. An air has started up, you notice, and -it doesn’t feel quite so hot,” and accompanied by his cousin, after -Andy had put his prints and trays away in the house, Frank sauntered -leisurely over to where stood the new shed, which had been built to -shelter the precious aeroplane wonder. - - -CHAPTER XVI—AN ALARMING DISCOVERY - -Long before evening came on Frank had completed his work, and -pronounced the aeroplane in as near perfect condition as it could be -placed. - -Andy had some more prints to worry over after supper, but it was a -labor of love with him, and he never wearied of it. There was such a -fascination about seeing the many well remembered scenes flash up -before him, after he had dropped the paper in the tray holding his -developing solution, and then carefully manipulating them so as to -bring out the best possible results, that Frank declared he would -have to drag him to bed later on. - -They spent a very pleasant evening. Mrs. Ogden played the piano, and -Frank was able to do some little execution with the violin which Mr. -Witherspoon himself could manipulate so cleverly. Andy thumped on a -banjo, and even sang a few college songs, such as the boys of -Bloomsbury High delighted to learn in anticipation of the time when -they would go away to Yale, Harvard, Cornell, or possibly Princeton, -according to the mood that influenced them in making a choice. When -Charley Woo was discovered by little Becky crouching in the doorway -and evidently enjoying the music, he was induced to bring a native -Chinese instrument, fashioned after the manner of a mandolin from -which he managed to extract some weird kind of music almost barbaric -in its way, which added more or less to the enjoyment of the -evening, and made the player superlatively happy. - -As the door of the room where Alkali Joe lay upon his bed was kept -open, so that he could enjoy the music, they heard him clapping his -hands for some time after each air. - -Purposely Frank influenced Mrs. Ogden to sing “Home, Sweet Home,” -with himself and Andy coming in on the chorus, as well as the sweet, -bird-like tones of little Becky’s voice. She gave promise of quite -some talent in the line of music, and would carol half the day in -her childish way. - -And Frank listening heard no applause after they were through; -instead, there was a dense silence beyond that open door, as though -something about the song had touched the hardened heart of the cow -puncher, and started him to thinking of things that had long -banished from his mind. - -Even Andy noticed the suggestive silence, and catching the eye of -his cousin, nodded his head in the direction of the room where the -injured man lay, while he smiled, as much as to say: - -“That was a center-shot, Frank; you hit the bull’s-eye that time, -old fellow, and chances are that now he’s got to thinking, Joe isn’t -going to be able to forget again in a hurry. You mark my words, -there’ll be a call for paper and pen inside of a day or two.” - -And sure enough, though there may be no further opportunity to -mention the matter again, on account of other stirring scenes that -await our attention, it can be stated right here and now that Alkali -Joe did write a letter home before another forty-eight hours had -expired. So that the little accident of his being pitched over the -head of his pony when the animal stepped into a gopher hole, while -going at a round pace, was the means of bringing joy to the heart of -a grieving old mother in a far-away Eastern State. - -Strange that not one of them noticed a face that was pressed close -to the corner of the open sash of the window in the back of the -room, from time to time, a dark scowling face that was marked by -glittering eyes, which seemed to be fastened on the little sprite of -a girl whenever she danced across the floor. - -No one dreamed of anything like danger, when the atmosphere seemed -so calm and delightful. But then, that is the way things often go; -and many times the gathering storm steals up unobserved, until there -is a savage burst of thunder, accompanied by a vivid flash of -lightning, startling every one by its sudden coming. - -Finally Mrs. Ogden declared that the hour had grown late for little -Becky to be up; and as was her custom, the winsome child went to -each of the boys to kiss him goodnight. - -After that Frank picked up a book, and interested himself in the -story; while Andy, unable to tear himself away from his beloved -camera work, started to print again, having another batch of proofs -from which he had not as yet taken pictures. - -The face at the window did not appear again after the housekeeper -and little Becky left the living-room. It might be assumed from this -that the spy without had lost all interest in the occupants when the -child vanished from view. - -Frank read on until he found his eyes growing heavy. Then with a -yawn he tossed the book on the table. “Ten o’clock, Andy,” he -remarked, as a gentle reminder. - -“Oh! that isn’t late,” said the other, “you know, we go to bed at -all hours at our house at home. A doctor never knows when he can get -a night’s sleep; and that breaks up things in his family more or -less. But I’m on the home stretch with this batch of prints, Frank. -Give me a little more time, won’t you? When I get started with my -trays and chemicals I like to clean up a lot of stuff.” - -“Ten minutes more,” remarked Frank, grimly. - -“Oh! well p’raps I can get through then; but even if I don’t you -might sneak off, and leave me to put out the glim when I am -through,” the other went on to say. - -“Not if I know myself and I think I do, likewise you,” chuckled -Frank. “Why, you never would come to bed till long after midnight. -It’d be just one more batch, and then another after that, to the -wind-up. I’ll wait for you, my boy. Ten minutes, and then we’ll -close up shop.” - -Andy knew that his cousin would stick to his word; he had been up -against it more than a few times in the past, and so he hurried -matters as much as he could. When the ten minutes had expired he -begged for five more, as grace, saying that he would just spoil the -few prints that had to be finished if they were left in the washing -water until morning; and so Frank gave in that far. - -When they were undressing, later on, Frank thrust his head out of -the window to look at the glory of the moonlight night, and wonder -what the boys were doing in the round-up camp, just then. - -The night was now cool and pleasant, as they frequently are after a -hot day in Arizona, especially about the Fall season. Stars shone -softly above, and there the moon hung like a big lantern, lighting -up the earth below. - -How many memories did it not recall to the Bird boys, every time -they looked up and saw that great yellow shield! Had they not looked -upon it under various periods of stress and peril in their own -lives; sometimes near the home town, and again it might be far away -in the mysterious country bordering the Magdalena river, down in -Colombia, where the tropical sun shone far hotter than it did here -in the Arizona regions. - -Often the Bird boys were influenced to talk of these past -experiences, when the mood came upon them; but Andy usually became -more or less excited whenever he was reminded of these stirring -events; and tonight Frank wisely refrained from starting him going -by mentioning the memories that were awakened by that lovely round -orb. - -The last thing he remembered Andy saying was that it promised to be -a good day for the little air voyage they contemplated taking on the -morrow; which caused Frank to chuckle, because in this arid country, -where it seldom rained, all days were good ones, save as the heat or -blowing alkali dust might bring discomfort in their train. - -When Frank awoke again it was broad day. He no longer was troubled -with that dizzy feeling; and yet it seemed to him as though a weight -might be pressing down upon him. The air was unusually bracing on -this particular morning, too, so that Frank did not know what to -make of it. - -Not being a boy given to such a things as the “blues,” he shook -himself with the intention of getting rid of this feeling and -sternly put it out of his mind. - -They went outdoors to take a look around, while waiting for Charley -Woo to call them to breakfast. He was already up and doing, as the -smoke from the kitchen chimney told. Indeed, there was an -unmistakable smell of cooking in the air that caused Andy to sniff -eagerly, and remark: - -“Tell me, don’t that coffee smell fine; and as sure as you live, -Charley Woo is going to give us a mess of his famous flapjacks, too. -When we go away from here, Frank, we’ll have to send that Chink -something nice, to pay him for all he’s done to make us happy while -on the ranch. I really think Charlie’d lie awake all night hatching -up some new mess to tickle us with. Uncle struck a treasure when -that moon-eyed Celestial came wandering along here looking for a -berth, when the tough punchers of the M-bar-M outfit chased him off -because he let a hair from his queue get in the soup.” - -Presently the call came for breakfast, and the boys hurried in to -attack the eggs and bacon and pancakes that were spread before them; -together with butter, rolls, coffee, and genuine maple syrup, of -which latter article the ranchman was very fond. - -They wondered a little that Mrs. Ogden was not with them, but all -the same proceeded to do full justice to Charley Woo’s cooking. The -grinning Chinaman waited on them with his customary agility, almost -anticipating their wants, and insisting on piling more flapjacks on -their plates as fast as they were emptied, until both boys had to -hold their hands over them and vow that they could not devour -another one for love or money. - -“Suppose you go and knock on Mrs. Ogden’s door at the other end of -the house, and tell her the cakes will get cold is she doesn’t come -quick,” suggested Andy. - -“Yes, I never knew her to be sleeping in so, since we’ve been here,” -added Frank, and yet as Charley Woo, who could make himself handy -about the house in the capacity of a man of all work as well as -chef, hurried off to carry out the suggestion, neither of the boys -had the slightest suspicion that anything out of the way was the -matter. - -The first thing they knew about trouble was when they heard the -Chinaman shouting in a wild fashion; and jumping up, regardless of -the heavy meal they had just devoured, they ran through the passage -to where the sound came from, their hearts almost standing still -with sudden apprehension, they knew not what of. - -The outer door of the two rooms which were occupied by the -housekeeper and little blue-eyed Becky was open, and as Frank and -Andy burst through impetuously, they saw Charley Woo, trying to -unwind some pieces of rope which had evidently been used to bind -Mrs. Ogden to the bed posts. A towel with which she had possibly -been gagged lay on the floor. The poor woman was in her wrapper, and -so completely exhausted that she could hardly make a sound. But -evidently she wanted to tell them something important, for her lips -kept on moving; and Frank, bending down managed to catch the sense -of the whispered sounds. - -No wonder his face was white as he turned his head, and looked at -his cousin. - -“She says little Becky has been kidnapped!” was what he flung at -Andy. - - -CHAPTER XVII—THE CARRYING OFF OF LITTLE BECKY - -Andy fell back and stared at his cousin helplessly when he heard -this startling announcement. - -Meanwhile Frank had started in to assist Charley Woo cut the rope -which had been so cruelly used to make the housekeeper a prisoner. -Then he helped her to regain her feet, for she had sank down utterly -exhausted as soon as released. - -But Mrs. Ogden was a sensible woman, and she was trying the best she -knew how to recover her speech; so that presently Frank thought it -time to ask her something about what had happened. - -“He must have crept in through the open window!” she gasped. “I -thought the night wind had started blowing the blind, and got up to -fix it, when he caught hold of me, and that was the last I knew -until I came to my senses and found myself bound, and with a towel -fastened across my face so that I could not cry out, when he was -just passing out of the window. In the moonlight I could see that he -held a bundle in his arms, and I knew what it must be. Oh! what will -Mr. Witherspoon say when he learns how I have let that sweet child -be taken away from under my eyes.” - -That seemed to be the main cause for her distress; she thought -nothing at all about her own sufferings, but was only concerned -about what her employer would think because she had not been able to -prevent the kidnapping of the child. - -Though Andy had not yet recovered his voice, and was groping in the -dark with regard to what it all meant, Frank, clearer visioned, had -already made a pretty straight guess. He immediately started to ask -a few questions, and each one of them went straight to the point. - -“Did you see the man clearly, Mrs. Ogden?” he demanded; and somehow -the housekeeper seemed to feel something of the same confidence in -Frank that his manner nearly always produced in those who were in -distress. - -“No, because the moon was on the other side of the house,” she -replied; “and besides, he seemed to have some sort of bandanna -handkerchief fastened around the lower part of his face as a -disguise.” - -“And did he say anything that you heard, anything that would give -you a clue with regard to who he was?” Frank went on to ask. “I -remember that when he first caught me by the throat he did utter a -low word, and it was a Mexican word, too,” she answered, slowly, as -though her mind might not yet be working as clearly as usual. - -“That is a point, then, to be remembered,” the boy insisted, “and -here’s something that might give us another clue.” - -He picked an object up from the floor, and held it aloft. - -“A Mexican sombrero!” exclaimed Andy, recovering his speech at last. - -“Just what it is,” said Frank, steadily, “and as is the habit with -these men from over the border, this one is decorated heavily with -silver beads, and gold buttons, as well as filigree work. One of -these hats is worth a lot of money, and the owner is as proud of it -as a lady would be of her magnificent diamonds at the opera. Please -try and think, Mrs. Ogden, did you ever see this sombrero before?” - -He held it up in front of her eyes, slowly turning it around, so -that she might observe every part in turn. - -The housekeeper uttered a low bubbling cry. Evidently the truth had -flashed into her mind, and she was no longer groping in the dark. -“Yes, yes, I do remember seeing that hat, Frank, Andy!” she -exclaimed. - -“On the head of a certain gentleman who went by the name of Jose -Sandero?” pursued the boy, as if trying to aid her memory. - -“No other, though it was some years ago!” she cried. “They always -decorate each new hat in the same way as the last. And when he was -here that time to demand his child, only to hear that the court had -given her into the keeping of Mr. Witherspoon, Jose Sandero wore -just such a sombrero. Oh! it was him, all right; and the poor little -darling has been carried off by her own unworthy father. He will -make for the border as fast as horses can carry him, hoping to be -safe beyond the line before the return of Mr. Witherspoon.” - -Frank had already guessed this much. It looked like a serious -proposition; but then he was a boy not easily daunted. The more -difficult the task the greater was Frank Bird’s resolution apt to be -aroused. - -First of all it seemed essential that the ranchman must be notified -of what had happened and that as quickly as possible. They were many -miles away, and doubtless much valuable time would be lost, even -after the messenger reached the round-up camp, since the boys would -be off here and there engaged in their work of gathering the cattle -for the purpose of picking out unbranded stock, and driving it in to -be marked, after it had been roped and thrown. - -Meanwhile, it was necessary that they find out if possible which way -the kidnapper had gone; though the chances were ten to one the -direction would be south. There were several reasons for believing -this. In the first place Mexico lay in that quarter; and doubtless -across the border Jose Sandero had prepared a hiding place where he -could defy the United States courts to summon him. Perhaps he also -had friends and comrades awaiting him there, who would defend him -against any pursuit of the Double X Ranch cow punchers, bent on -recovering the child and punishing the bold abductor. - -Frank stepped over to the window, and looked out. - -It happened that just below the earth was soft, for Mr. Witherspoon -had made a brave effort to have certain flowering shrubs bloom near -the house, and several pink oleanders and scarlet hibiscus did -manage to survive the heat, being carefully watered each morning and -evening by Charley Woo with his hose. And looking closely Frank -could see the mark of footprints. He climbed out of the window and -began to follow them, Andy being quickly at his side, bubbling over -with indignation and breathing all sorts of dire threats against the -bad man who had for some reason other than affection chosen to steal -the child to whom he no longer had any claim, selecting the very -time when the punchers would be far away from the ranch house, which -he had expected would be practically left unprotected. - -Frank kept on following the tracks until finally he came to the now -almost empty corral, where the riding horses were kept when the boys -were at home. - -“See,” Frank observed, “here is where he had his pony tied—there -were two of them, Andy, showing that he came here with the intention -of carrying little Becky off.” - -“Yes,” added Andy, “and now we ought to learn which way he went. But -Frank, there’s hardly a pony fit to ride except Alkali Joe’s mount -in the corral. They took every one along for use in the rough work -of the round-up. Uncle says he will have to break in a lot more -right away. They’ve been losing a large number lately, you remember. -Heads into the south, don’t it, Frank?” - -“Yes, just as I thought it would,” muttered the other coming to a -stand, and looking away off over the level stretch of plain, as -though he wished he had eyes strong enough to discover the fleeing -marauder, miles and miles away though he must be before now. - -“Poor little Becky, how frightened she must be to find herself being -carried off by that man,” remarked Andy, his voice trembling with -feeling; and he had to stop speaking to grit his teeth, as anger -almost overwhelmed him. “Of course he’s told her before now that he -is her father; but that won’t make her feel any better, because she -has heard enough from the boys to know that Jose is a bad man, who -deserted her mother, and was in one way the cause of her death. -Whatever do you suppose he did it for, Frank; not that he could care -about Becky, who looks too much like her mother did to ever make him -love her? More’n likely now, he’s gone to all this trouble, and -risked his neck in the bargain, just to get even with Uncle Jethro.” - -“I wouldn’t be much surprised if you’ve hit the nail on the head, -Andy,” observed the other soberly. “But the question is, what are we -going to do about it, for it seems to me it’s up to us pretty much -to start something moving.” - -Andy suddenly looked up eagerly. - -“Tell you what, Frank!” he exclaimed, “we’ve got something better -than ponies to take us over the ground to where Uncle Jethro and the -boys are at work. What’s going to hinder us from making use of the -biplane to cover these miles of space? Why, we can just whizz down -there, and carry the news!” - -Frank appeared to be thinking, for he did not make any remark in -answer to this bright suggestion on the part of his chum. - -“Look,” Andy went on to remark, “if there isn’t Alkali Joe hobbling -around on one foot with a cane to support him. Chances are, he’ll be -asking us to let him ride for help, while we try and overtake the -kidnapper; but that would be a terrible thing to let him do. Better -send Charley Woo, if somebody has to go, and you don’t want to waste -time by using the machine.” - -“I was thinking why shouldn’t we set out straight on the track of -Jose, using the biplane instead of ponies?” Frank suddenly broke out -with. - -“Good! Great stunt! It does take you to think up things, Frank. -There I kept on beating about the bush, and saying we might carry -the news to the boys, when all the time we had the opening before us -to chase right after the skunk, hot-footed. And say, there’s those -fine Marlin guns we used on the bear hunt; couldn’t we make out to -carry a couple of that sort along with us, Frank? Oh! the way I feel -right now, it wouldn’t take much to tempt me to put a chunk of lead -in that Mexican, I tell you. How about that, Frank; ain’t we going -armed, if we have to try and get our little ranch butterfly back -again?” - -“Of course, Andy; it would be silly to think of going without some -sort of gun along. When you’re meaning to arrest a bad man you had -ought to make sure you’re heeled so as to enforce your demands. -We’ll take shooting-irons along in numbers enough to riddle him if -it comes to a question of a stand-up fight. And now’s let’s hurry -back to the house. Before we can get off there are a few things we -must see to, you understand.” - -“Then you don’t think we had better run over to where the boys are, -first of all, and let them know?” Andy went on to ask, loth to let -his suggestion be wholly thrown into the discard. - -“A waste of time, when everything is going to depend on how fast we -can overtake Jose and little Becky,” Frank asserted, firmly. “We can -start Charley Woo off; or if necessary, Mrs. Ogden, who can ride -nearly as well as a man, will go. Come, the sooner we start in the -quicker we’ll be able to do something worth while.” - -And Andy, duly impressed once more with the fact that Frank was able -to handle the situation, if any one could, only too gladly hurried -after his cousin when the latter headed for the house. - -No one paid the least attention to the fact that it was a fine airy -morning, for the catastrophe which had come upon Double X Ranch so -suddenly had by this time filled their minds to the exclusion of -everything else. - -And it was an excited group that gathered by the horse block in -front of the door—the housekeeper wringing her hands in anguish; -Frank and Andy looking very determined; Charley Woo in a flutter; -and Alkali Joe furious because of his crippled condition. - - -CHAPTER XVIII—THE AEROPLANE PURSUIT - -“But ain’t you a-goin’ to let me ride over and tell the boss what’s -happened?” complained Alkali Joe, after Frank had in as few words as -possible explained just what he and Andy meant to do; and while this -was taking place his cousin had slipped into the house to secure the -coveted guns, the value of which they knew only too well after that -excitement over the bear hunt. - -“You never could make it, Joe,” said Mrs. Ogden decisively, “chances -are you’d give that leg a wrench on the way, and just faint from the -pain. Besides, it would be a crying shame to let a wounded man -gallop all day long nearly, or even for a few hours. I’d sooner ride -myself than let you try it.” - -“How about you, Charley Woo; can you ride a pony, and follow as -plain a trail as the bunch left behind them?” asked Frank, turning -to the Chinaman. - -Charley Woo nodded his head so violently that his dangling queue -looked like an animated rope hanging down his back. He removed his -hands with their long fingernails, from the wide sleeves of the -jacket he wore. - -“Sure tling, Flank!” he exclaimed eagerly, delighted it seemed to -have such confidence reposed in him; “him know where Mistah -Withasploon camp las’ night; been samee place much many tlimes ’long -with him. Go there light away, fast as Joe, he pony run. Tell when, -that all.” - -Alkali opened his mouth to object to his favorite cayuse being -ridden by another than himself, and a miserable “Chink” at that; -then he shut his teeth hard together as he remembered what it all -meant, and how foolish he would be to throw any obstacle in the way -of the rescue of the little sunbeam that had been the idol of the -ranch for some years now. - -Frank himself hurried off to rope the pony in the corral. He had -learned how to do this almost as well as any of the cow punchers -themselves; and quickly made his reappearance leading the mount that -had played havoc with his master’s limb when he failed to detect the -gopher hole in the trail. The little animal was showing all the -signs of anger at being caught by anyone other than the master he -acknowledged, but Frank had no time to waste, and had handled him -without gloves. Charley Woo did not seem to be one whit afraid -because the pony snorted and tried to bite him when he approached. -Watching his chance, when all was ready, the nimble Chinaman made a -flying leap for the saddle that would have done credit to Alkali Joe -himself. He had a quirt in his hand, secured by a stout buckskin -thong to his wrist; and no sooner did he clutch the bridle than he -brought this leather torment down upon the horse’s heaving flank -with a vicious smack. - -At the same instant Frank released his grip, and away the pony flew, -the huddled figure of the Chinaman dressed in his white, flapping -garments, on his back, with his long queue flying out behind like a -rope. - -“He’s headed straight to begin with,” said Andy, with a sigh of -relief. - -“Charley Woo is all right,” declared Frank, “and sooner or later -he’ll get to where Mr. Witherspoon is camped, to carry him the -news.” - -“He will if that pony don’t play some smart trick on him,” muttered -Alkali Joe, frowning. “You orter let me try it, Frank; I’m tough as -knots, and I reckon I’d a-stood it.” - -“You get back to your bed as fast as you can, Joe,” returned Frank. -“Right now, perhaps you’ve put back the knitting of that bone, and -it may have to be set all over again when Mr. Witherspoon gets a -chance to look at it. Come along, Andy, we’ve got our job laid out -for us.” - -Joe still leaned against the hitching rail, and looked longingly -after the Bird boys. From the gloom on his dark face, and the -twitching of the muscles around his mouth, it could be plainly seen -that the puncher was taking his misfortune with a bad grace; and -that he thought himself the most badly used fellow inside of fifty -miles; all because he had not been allowed to make that mad dash of -twenty or more miles in a broiling sun, with a broken leg dangling -uselessly at his side; and had to suffer the mortification of seeing -a “heathen Chinee” gallop away on his pony. It must have been a -cruel experience for Alkali Joe, and one that he would not soon -forget either. - -Meanwhile the two young aviators hurried over to the frame building -that Mr. Witherspoon had had erected before their coming, and which -was to be used as a hangar for their precious biplane. - -“How lucky, Frank that you overhauled the motor only yesterday,” -remarked Andy, as they reached the wide doors of the shed which, -upon being thrown open would allow of the aeroplane being wheeled -out to where they usually started off. - -“I was just thinking that myself,” replied the other. - -“Just like you seemed to believe we might have a sudden call for -service,” went on Andy. - -“Hardly that,” Frank sent back over his shoulder, as he dove inside -the building, “you know my maxim is to be ready always, for you -never know when the emergency is going to jump out at you. These -things nearly always drop down like a bolt of lightning from a clear -sky.” - -“That’s right, Frank. But there’s nothing wrong here, is there?” - -“Doesn’t seem to be,” and Frank, who had hurriedly moved about from -one side of the aeroplane to the other, sighed with relief, and so -loud that Andy heard him. - -“But you were afraid there might be, own up now, Frank?” he -exclaimed, quickly. - -“Well, I didn’t know but that Jose might have made his way in here -last night and damaged the biplane. He sure would if he’d known how -we could use it to chase after him, five times as fast as he could -go on his pony. You know how easy it is to put such a thing out of -commission, Andy. And Jose must have been prowling about here while -we were asleep.” - -“Wonder how it was Tige didn’t scent him, and give him a chase?” -remarked Andy, referring to the faithful watch dog that as a usual -thing, played the part of sentinel over the ranch house, when the -night grew old, and every inmate slept. - -“Which reminds me that we haven’t seen the old fellow this morning, -Andy.” - -“Great governor! that’s a fact!” exclaimed the other, excitedly. -“Say, I wouldn’t put it past that yellow-faced Mexican kidnapper to -poison poor old Tige. When they come to look, chances are they’ll -find him lying stiff in his kennel.” - -“But we’ve got no time to talk that over now, Andy,” said the other. -“Lend a hand and we’ll trundle the thing out to the starting place. -Plenty of gasolene aboard, you know, because I filled the reserve -tank yesterday, thank goodness. Here comes Mrs. Ogden with a package -in her hand.” - -“Bet you I know what she’s got!” exclaimed Andy; “thinks we might -get lost somewhere out on the desert, and she’s made us up a lot of -grub to carry along. Wait till I look and see if there’s plenty of -water in that jug I fixed to the back of the seat. Yes, brimful, -I’ll tie the guns here. Wait for me just three minutes, won’t you, -Frank? I’m going back to the house.” - -“What notion have you got in your head now, Andy?” demanded the -other a little impatiently. - -“We ought to have the glasses, you know,” came back to him. - -“You’re right, and it was a good thing you thought of them,” called -Frank, only too well pleased to commend his chum for a thing of this -kind. - -Andy fairly ran at top speed toward the house, and plunged in -through the open door, not wanting to waste a second more than could -be helped. He was back again at the hangar before the time allowance -he had given himself had expired; and so on arriving found that -Frank had made all other preparation necessary, so that there was -now nothing to prevent their immediate start. - -“Oh! how I will pray that you get back our little darling safe and -unharmed!” the housekeeper called out to them, as they were taking -their places. - -“Tell Mr. Witherspoon when you see him that we mean to do everything -we can to bring little Becky back home,” Frank said, as his last -words. - -“And look up poor old Tige,” called Andy, “just as like as not -you’ll have to bury him, because he must be dead; or else chased -after the boys last night.” - -Frank gave the word; each of them had a part to do in the successful -starting of the aeroplane; as the little motor burst into a merry -song they found themselves commencing to move slowly along the level -ground. Faster and faster grew the pace until Frank, deeming that -the time had come to mount upward, changed the planes, and -immediately the clever flier left the ground, rising gradually until -he felt able to increase the speed, and climb upward in spirals. - -The first thing that seemed advisable in Frank’s mind was to get -some sort of bird’s-eye view of the surrounding country. - -Of course he and Andy had done considerable moving about in all -directions since first coming to Arizona, so that Frank already had -a pretty fair knowledge of the vicinity. But with the glasses to -help out, he hoped to be in a position to discover several things. - -“Get busy, Andy, and see what you can glimpse,” he remarked, after -they had succeeded in mounting upward to a considerable distance. - -“I’ve already sighted Charley Woo,” replied the other. - -“I hope then he’s going right along,” remarked Frank, anxiously, for -his attention had to be confined almost exclusively to the working -of the aeroplane, and on this account he must depend on his chum to -tell him what was happening. - -“Oh!” Andy hastened to reply, “he’s still hanging to Joe’s cayuse -like a flea, and as far as I can see, whooping it up at the -liveliest pace ever. But I’m looking away beyond him to find out if -I can see the boys.” - -“Well, how about it?” asked the other. - -“Wait till we swing around again, and I’ll tell you.” - -They were by now high enough to afford quite an extended view in -every direction. Frank’s eyes had sought the south whenever he had a -chance to take them for a second or two from his work; but Andy was -leveling the glasses in almost an opposite quarter. - -“There! I’ve just glimpsed a lot of small objects moving this way -and that,” he announced suddenly, “which I take it are cattle, with -the punchers rushing them wherever they want. But they’re a whole -heap of miles away, Frank. Guess they see us by now, and expect -we’re going to sail up that way. Perhaps they’ll wonder to watch us -turn right around and go off to the south. Is it really necessary, -Frank? Couldn’t we run up there and let them know?” - -“What would be the use?” returned his cousin. “They could never -catch Jose, mounted on their ponies, and him with all that start. -Why, I’m only afraid he’ll be able to cross over into Mexico before -we get up with him, for all our swiftness with our humming motor. -And minutes are apt to count big in this game, Andy, so I say we’d -better not lose any time running over there, and then going down to -let them know what’s happened. Charley Woo is on the job, and he’ll -get there sooner or later with the news.” - -And so Andy said nothing more along those lines. - - -CHAPTER XIX—OVER PLAIN AND DESERT - -“I think we’re high enough up now!” observed Frank, presently. - -He no longer sent the biplane in widening circles, boring steadily -upwards; but turned toward the south and pushed for speed, as far as -was compatible with safety, which was always Frank’s way. - -And Andy seemed to have now lost all interest in what lay behind, -for he was looking ahead through the glasses, as though in the hope -of discovering the kidnapper of little Becky somewhere in the hazy -distance. - -It was still comparatively early in the morning, and in places there -lay an odd sort of mist that may have been a mirage, obscuring the -view, since the earth was hidden in its whitish folds. - -Away beyond these spots did Andy turn his marine glasses. Now he saw -something moving that at first gave him a little shock; but on -second inspection it turned out to be a sailing buzzard, evidently -scenting some carrion in a bunch of sage brush, that gave promise of -dinner, since it was close to the earth at the time. - -A minute later and Andy had another start, as once more he believed -he had discovered an object that certainly crawled over the ground. -Could it be some wounded man, or one who was perishing for a drink -of water, in that arid land bordering the desert? - -But hardly had this thought occurred to Andy than he realized his -mistake; for he now saw that it was only a cowardly coyote, -shuffling along as though ashamed to be caught returning to his den -at such an hour of the morning, after an all night feast, perhaps. - -Down below them they could see the plain which formed a part of -Double X Ranch. It looked like a great checkerboard, on account of -the different colors of the soil, which stood out in relief when one -was directly above. Had there been any water there they could have -seen to the very bottom, even though it were twenty feet deep, such -is the advantage which this lofty position gives. No wonder, thought -Andy, that the hawk is able to pick out just the fish he wants for -his dinner, and then finds it so easy to pounce down upon the -unfortunate thus selected. - -Frank was listening to the buzz of the motor. Whenever they were -thus humming along through space this was his favorite occupation. -And indeed, when one stops to consider how much depended on the -successful operation of that same industrious engine, he could be -easily excused for taking such intense interest in its labors. Let -it suddenly get out of condition and it would bring the daring young -aviators face to face with a crisis that might threaten even their -lives. Deprived of the means of making progress would necessitate a -volplane toward the ground, always a dangerous performance and one -that should only be attempted when the conditions are all favorable, -or some desperate need arises. - -Turn whichever way Andy would nothing but disappointment seemed to -meet him; and being pretty much an impulsive boy, perhaps it was -only natural that he should voice his disgust. - -“Oh! I wouldn’t give that any worry,” Frank told him. “If Jose has -had as much time as we think, he must be away ahead of the line of -your observation just now, especially on account of all that haze -along the horizon.” - -“But if we can’t see him, how are we to know that we’re keeping in a -direct line after him?” demanded the one who wielded the glasses. -“We can only take our chances,” Frank answered, steadily, as though -he did not mean to be ruffled so early in the game, when so many -things remained untried, any one of which might sooner or later -prove to be the magic key, fated to unlock the treasure chest. - -“And just keep on heading south, is that it, Frank?” - -“Exactly so, Andy. We’re about dead sure that it’s Jose who carried -away Little Sunbeam; and knowing that, we can figure he’s sure to -make a bee line for the nearest place where the border comes. So I’m -shaping our course for that same region myself. And when we get -there, perhaps we’ll find we’ve been left in the lurch and that his -fast ponies have won the day.” - -“And what then, Frank; would we have to turn around and come back -like a dog with his tail between his legs, just because the -kidnapper managed to quit American soil, and get on that belonging -to Mexico? As for me, I’d be willing to give him the merry chase -right down along the line till we landed in Mexico City, or else in -a Black Hole in some town on the way.” - -“I feel pretty much the same way, Andy; but first of all, you see, -we’ve just got to find out where the man and child are. So keep on -looking while I drive her along a little faster. I think we can -stand another turn, with this light and favorable breeze carrying us -with it.” - -For several minutes no one said a single word. Frank was busy with -his motor, while Andy had his eyes fairly glued to the small end of -the glasses, as though he kept hoping that he would make a pleasing -discovery the very next minute. - -Now even the ranch building would be found to look very small and -far to their rear, did they bother glancing back that way, which, to -tell the truth, neither of them did. - -And at the same time the rough country came closer, until one could -see where the fertile plain really ended, and the sandy desert -began. - -Unless one made a very wide detour it was absolutely necessary to -cross over this arid waste in order to reach the Mexican border. -Frank had been figuring it all out. He believed that Jose, being a -bold and audacious man, would not think of taking the longer route. -In the first place that course was apt to keep him exposed to the -hot pursuit which he knew he could count on as the result of his -audacious exploit. And doubtless Jose was fully aware of the -reputation those hard riding cow punchers connected with the Double -X Ranch had as trackers and fighters too, on occasion. What they had -done to the Mexican cattle rustlers must have made a reputation for -them across the border; so that Jose knew what chances he was taking -when he started in to steal his daughter, which the court had given -over into the keeping of her relative, Mr. Witherspoon. - -And Andy was not a great while in making the discovery that they -were now approaching the confines of that sandy region where the sun -beat pitilessly down all through the livelong hours of the day, and -the heat must be terrific. - -Up where they were they could feel nothing of the earth’s radiation, -and doubtless it would be delightfully cool. - -Beyond as far as the eye could reach, it held, that same glaring -stretch of glistening sand, on the surface of which toward noon it -would be easily possible to fry an egg; indeed Andy had actually -done the same on a previous visit, when they dropped down to -discover how it felt to be adrift in the midst of a desert, he -having been put up to the game through words spoken by Buckskin. - -Far away to the west he saw the tops of high mountains, but they -must have been scores of miles off. Between doubtless lay the -desert, with perhaps a stretch of the plain where the grass grew, -and even flowers could be found in their season, all the difference -being brought about by the presence of earth in the one case and -nothing but sand in the other. - -On this waste nothing seemed to grow save the cactus that stood up -like giant sentinels guarding the cemetery of centuries. Here and -there one could find the skulls and bones of unfortunate animals -that had become lost in the sand storms occasionally blowing over -this heated stretch, to perish miserably from suffocation or else -subsequent thirst. - -Straining his eyes Andy kept on looking, always hoping that the very -next minute might result in a pleasing discovery. If the glare -caused his eyes to burn he paid little attention to that discomfort. -All the while he was thinking how terrible it would be if they had, -after all, made a mistake in figuring out the probable way Jose -would take in trying to escape the penalty of his cruel deed. Should -he have turned aside, and continued to avoid the desert, all their -work would go for nothing. - -Still, Andy had the utmost confidence in his chum’s ability to -grapple with a question like this. He felt that Frank must know just -about what would be passing in the mind of the man they were -hunting. Frank had a faculty for putting himself in another’s place, -and figuring things out from that standpoint. - -And then there was another comforting thought that came to Andy. -Supposing the fugitive had done this same thing, he could not reach -the border under several days, since the desert was extensive; and -surely there would be a good chance of the hard-riding cowboys -coming up on him meanwhile. - -They would of course follow directly on his trail, their practiced -eyes picking it out of the many that crossed the level stretch to -the south of the ranch buildings. And like bloodhounds on the scent, -once they had started, they would keep it up to the end. - -As the aeroplane pushed on, and neared the border of the desert, so -plainly marked below, Andy gave an ejaculation that caused Frank to -look expectant. - -“A pony, Frank, yes, two of them feeding there, and without saddle -or bridle to show that they have been ridden. Whatever can that -mean?” he called out, so as to be heard above the humming of the -motor. - -“I think I can guess,” replied the other, quickly. “This has been a -deep-laid scheme, and no sudden fancy. Jose has made all sorts of -preparations for carrying it out with success. He knows that perhaps -his life would pay the penalty for any failure. So, you see, Andy, -chances are, he left two fresh ponies staked out here and ready for -use when he came along after riding the others for these twenty or -more miles. A quick change of saddles and bridles, and then he and -the little girl were away again, this time striking out straight -across the sand, and headed for the nearest point of the Mexican -border.” - -“That sounds like you had guessed it first pop out of the bottle, -Frank,” the other went on to say, “and if it’s so, then we’re bound -to come up on him before long.” - -Andy once more started to glue his eyes to the end of the field -glasses. Carefully did he scrutinize every object he could pick out -along the horizon ahead. If he had any idea that it moved, he would -stop in his shifting movement to concentrate his gaze long and -earnestly upon that one spot; but only to give a grunt of bitter -disappointment, and once more continue to scan the waste of sand -beyond. - -So it went on for some time. The minutes must have seemed unduly -long to the ever anxious lad. Frank, more inclined to take things as -they came, always hoping for the best, was better able to control -his emotions. It had perhaps been twenty minutes since they reached -the border of the desert, and now on all sides they could see -actually nothing but that same dead glare of the burning sun beating -on the absorbing sand. - -Frank was himself thinking that they must have reached the limit of -distance which the fugitive could have covered, even though he had a -fresh relay of ponies to help him along; when once again he heard -his cousin give utterance to that bubbling little cry that seemed to -announce a fresh discovery. - - -CHAPTER XX—WHAT ANDY SAW FROM ALOFT - -“No false alarm this time, eh, Andy?” asked Frank, quickly. - -“I think not,” came the ready response. - -“Ponies again?” queried the pilot, as he steadied the quivering -biplane by a little movement that had become second nature with both -young aviators; just as a boy rider on a bicycle unconsciously bends -his body at just the proper angle when about to whirl around a curve -in the road. - -“Yes,” the other replied. - -“And riders too, this time, I hope?” Frank went on. - -“I’m dead sure of it, because there are two horses, and they’re -running along side by side, Frank.” - -“That looks more like it; and I want to say it’s about time we -struck some good warm scent about now. That Jose had been going at a -mad pace ever since the start, and the poor little girl, how I pity -her, Andy.” - -“But however in the wide world d’ye suppose she could stick on a -pony through it all?” the boy with the glasses asked, wonder in his -voice, as he continued to keep watch upon the far distant moving -objects which he had discovered, thanks to the magnifying qualities -of the powerful lens. - -“Oh! there’s only one answer to that, my boy,” answered Frank. “Jose -must have tied her to the pony. And even at that I feel mighty sorry -for the little thing, for it must have been a terrible run, all -these hours.” - -“The inhuman scoundrel!” growled Andy, almost savagely. “I’d just -like to see him get what’s coming to him, if the boys ever lay hands -on him.” - -“Well,” observed Frank, “I wouldn’t say that, until we find out how -Becky’s stood the long ride. If he’s been cruel to her besides, then -I’d be inclined to say what you did; but there’s always the chance -that the man really wants to have possession of his own child; for -he’s her father, we’ve got to remember.” - -“Yes, but think of all we’ve heard from the boys at the ranch about -how badly he treated Mr. Witherspoon’s niece, after running away -with her, and marrying her. You needn’t tell me, Frank, that such a -man is going to care anything for his own child. Like enough he -hates Becky, just because she looks like the wife he treated so bad. -And I’m ready to believe he’s doing this right now, not to get -possession of his own, but to strike a blow at Uncle Jethro, because -he hates him so.” - -“I’m not saying that it isn’t so, because all things point that -way,” Frank continued. “But how are we coming on now, Andy?” - -“Drawing up on them by degrees; but I notice that you’ve cut off -more’n a little power, Frank, and that we’re not rushing along as -fast as we were. Tell me, what have you done that for?” - -“Well, you see, now that we’ve sighted our game there’s no need of -rushing things at racehorse speed. We’d better go along a little -slower, and try to get the lay of things in our minds before we drop -down, and surprise Mr. Jose Sandero,” was the way the aeroplane -pilot made reply. - -There was little of the haphazard about Frank. As a general rule he -had a reason for everything he did; and each move was carefully -considered beforehand. - -Not that he could not do things with lightning-like rapidity when -there was actual need for haste, because he had frequently surprised -even quick moving Andy on occasions; but the chances were he had -thought out all the results of the action before the occasion for it -came about. - -And the beauty of the relationship between the two Bird boys lay in -this fact, that Andy recognized his cousin’s superiority of -judgment, and rarely, if ever, questioned his decision. - -This did not mean that Andy was merely an “echo,” for that would be -a wrong view to take of the case; he had a mind of his own, and -often Frank was only too glad to ask his advice when a little in -doubt himself. But when two fellows keep company a long time as -chums, they gradually come to know each other “from the ground up,” -as Andy would express it; and one of them just naturally forges a -little to the front as the leader. - -In the case of the Bird boys it happened to be Frank, that was all. - -As they kept on advancing after the moving figures, Andy would from -time to time continue to make some remark, as he looked through the -glasses; so that in this way Frank was posted on how things were -going. - -Even though he cast an occasional glance ahead on his own account, -as yet he had not been able to exactly locate the fugitives. This -might partly be on account of the smallness of two ponies at such a -distance; and then again the glare of the sun, far up in the -heavens, in spite of the early hour, was very strong on the desert -sand. - -There was one thing that Frank was pretty positive about; he -believed that the fugitive Mexican could hardly as yet have -discovered what was coming after him. To his naked eye the aeroplane -would hardly be noticed at all; or if it did accidentally catch his -attention, he would believe that it was merely some buzzard, or -perhaps a great bald eagle floating in space far up in the blue -expanse of sky. - -If he looked back at all he would be more apt to confine his anxious -gaze to the level horizon, for it would be there an enemy was apt to -appear; no sane man could dream of an attack from above, since -aeroplanes have not yet become so common as to be recognized by -everyone. - -And so the pursuit went on. - -Andy seemed deeply engrossed in his business of “keeping tab” on the -movements of those so far in front. - -Presently he began to notice that Frank was doing something to -effect a change in their relative positions. - -“Are you going down now?” Andy demanded a little fearfully, as -though he could not understand why such a move should be in order. -“Better now, than later on,” returned the pilot. “We’re too high up -to be able to make any sort of landing when we want to. Besides now -that you’ve got track of Jose, there’s really no need of keeping to -this high elevation.” - -“Then after you bring the biplane down to a lower level, we can just -rush things, if we think it best, is that it, Frank?” - -“My notion to a dot, Andy.” - -They were already circling around, so as to descend in the safer -“spirals.” Frank would not take the great risk of volplaning when -the other way answered just as well, and at one-tenth the chance of -accident. - -Andy managed to keep his eyes on the distant ponies pretty much all -the time the aeroplane was dropping in those immense circles, each -one lower in the grand spiral than the preceding one. - -“They’re gaining some on us, Frank!” he finally announced, -regretfully, as if he just could not bear the thought. - -“Oh! that’s a mere nothing,” declared his cousin, cheerfully; “and I -wouldn’t bother my head over it, if I were you, Andy. Why, when we -get to where I want to go, all I’ve got to do is to put on speed, -and we’ll make that up in three shakes of a lamb’s tail. What are -two or three miles to a wonder of the air that can, if hard pushed, -clip along at the rate of a hundred an hour, and perhaps that is far -from the capacity of a reliable biplane with a favorable wind.” - -As usual Frank managed to cheer his chum up immediately. - -“Sure, you’re about right, Frank, and I was silly to let it bother -me. But seems as if we ought to be down nearly far enough. If there -were any trees here we’d be only a couple of hundred feet or so -above their tops. And whew! Frank, I can feel the heat of that -desert easy enough now, even while we’re moving along like we are.” - -“It’s all over now, and I don’t mean to go down any further. Tell me -if you can still see Jose and the little girl, Andy?” - -“Yes, I can see the ponies moving like crabs away off there; and I’m -taking it for granted that the ones we’re chasing after are mounted -on the same, Frank. Oh! wouldn’t it be a terrible disappointment -now, if after we got up close we found we’d been bamboozled, and -that these were only a couple of Indians, or Mexicans going back -home after trading in some American town?” - -“There’s always a little chance that way,” Frank admitted, “but all -the same I don’t believe we’re going to be disappointed. Traders -would hardly strike across this desert, you understand. It’s a bad -place to get lost in, and mighty unpleasant traveling at the best. -Few people cross it, they said at the ranch. Once in a while some -Indians wander down here from their reservation in the northern end -of the State. You know the Navajos used to be in this region, and -the Comanches too, I was told, before the Government rounded them -up, and gave them lands up there, besides paying them a big sum -every year in money and supplies.” - -“I wonder——” began Andy, and then stopped, while he screwed his eyes -still closer to the ends of the twin tubes of the marine glasses. - -“What’s the matter now?” asked Frank, realizing that in all -probability Andy had made some fresh discovery. - -“Frank, there’s sure something moving over beyond where Jose and -Becky are plodding along. I can see several dots, and they have life -to them, too! It looks for all the world to me as if a pack of -wolves might be lying in wait for the ponies—half starved wolves -maybe, crazy for a chance to pull them down, and make a meal.” -“Wolves,” repeated the other, thoughtfully; “it would be hard for me -to believe such animals would ever be found in the middle of this -sandy desert, where they’d never find a bite of food in a year, and -not a drop of water. You must be mistaken, Andy; look again, won’t -you, please?” - -Nevertheless the suggestion appeared to influence Frank so that he -again sent the aeroplane ahead at full speed; and Andy had a little -difficulty in keeping his glasses steady when leveling them, such -was the constant vibration of the uprights, under the full force of -the powerful little Kinkaid engine. - -But it was so much in sympathy with his own desire to get ahead that -Andy was willing to put up with almost any trouble. He knew -instinctively from the feel of the biplane that they were now -speeding. - -A minute later, and he gave another exclamation. - -“Frank, I saw something flash just then; and as sure as you live I -believe it must have been the sunlight glistening on steel, just -like it might be a gun barrel or a knife!” - -“Do you mean that you saw it ahead of Jose, and among the crawling -objects you thought were wolves?” demanded the other. “Yes, yes, -there it is again, Frank!” - -“Well, that settles one thing then—they’re hardly wolves, Andy; for -I never yet heard of such animals carrying either guns or knives, -did you?” - -“They’re spreading out, Frank, just like they were lying in wait for -Jose. And while it looks queer from up here why doesn’t he discover -them, I suppose that’s because they’re hiding behind some sand -hills,” Andy went on to say. - -“But you don’t think any longer that they can be wolves, do you, -Andy?” - -“Not much,” the other replied. “We’re getting closer all the time, -and now I can see that they must be walking on two legs; though for -that matter they seem to be sprawled out pretty much all of the -time, like great toads, hopping this way and that. And Jose, he -don’t know what’s waiting for him, not one little bit.” - -“Then he’s still going on, is he?” asked Frank. - -“Yes, and now I can see that each pony has a rider; why, Frank, -we’re bearing down on them so fast that I can tell Jose from little -Becky. It’s her, all right, Frank. Don’t I see her hair flying out -behind as she rides. Oh! the meanness of that skunk making that -little child gallop across this red-hot desert, just to save himself -from being caught by our boys.” - -“Well, you could hardly blame him for that,” Frank went on to say, -with a touch of humor in his voice, “because what a bunch of furious -cow punchers wouldn’t do to him you could say in one breath. But -tell me, how does it look now?” - -“They’re getting mighty close to where the men are waiting, Frank. -Whoever do you suppose they can be?” - -“We’ve heard a lot about that Mexican cattle rustler, Carlos, since -we’ve come to the ranch; perhaps, now, these may be some of his -crowd. They’ve got no love for the Double X Ranch boys, you -remember; and if they think Jose and the child belong there, it’s -going to go hard with them. But you see we don’t know all about it -yet. Take a closer look, Andy.” - -“Yes, I’ve got the lot in focus,” muttered the other. - -“Do you see any feathers about them—examine their heads, and tell -me,” Frank went on to say. - -“Feathers!” ejaculated Andy, in astonishment, “why what in the wide -world would—say, Frank, do you have an idea that they may be -Indians?” “Well, I heard your uncle say that once in a while they’ve -seen a squad of the reds down this way, sort of escaped from their -reservation, and trying to see how it feels to be wild again. How -about those feathers, Andy?” - -“Why, there does seem to be something queer about the heads of those -chaps, I give you my word there is, Frank. Honest now, I believe -you’ve struck it right, and that they are Indians, but Frank, would -they hold Jose up, and perhaps take his scalp, just like in the old -days?” - -“If so be they’ve been indulging in too much firewater. I wouldn’t -put even that past them,” the other boy answered, soberly. - -“Well,” added Andy, with a shutting of his teeth; “I’m glad of one -thing, then.” - -“What’s that?” questioned the other. - -“That we brought our bully old Marlins along, Frank!” was the quick -response Andy made. - - -CHAPTER XXI—THE TERROR OF THE AIR - -“Perhaps you’d better be getting the guns loose, Andy,” suggested -Frank, in his quiet way. - -“You bet I will, and only too glad of the chance; but can you hold -yours while you steer; or shall I fix it, so you can grab it up the -very second you land the biplane on the sand?” Andy asked, as he let -the glasses hang by their strap, and with hands that doubtless -trembled more than a little, he proceeded to unfasten the two -repeating Marlins with which so much execution had been done on the -occasion of the grizzly bear hunt. - -“Better lay it in the crotch you made for me, where I can get it in -a hurry when my hands are free,” the pilot explained. - -By the time all this had been done they were of course much closer -to the scene of the expected trouble. And when Andy again picked up -the glasses, and clapped them to his eyes, he uttered new -exclamations that indicated excitement. - -“It’s coming, Frank!” he exclaimed. - -“You mean the attack, Andy?” - -“Yes, because now Jose seems to have become suddenly suspicious. -There, I can see him jump off his pony, and he’s doing something -with Becky. As sure as anything, Frank, I do believe he’s cutting -the strap that’s held the child to the saddle. That looks like he -expects trouble, don’t it?” - -“I should say yes,” replied Frank, shortly. - -“Hark! did you hear that?” suddenly demanded Andy. - -“I thought I caught a faint sound like a shot,” replied the other. - -“That was just what it was, Frank. I saw the smoke long before we -got the crack of the gun.” - -“Who fired?” demanded Frank. - -“One of those concealed Indians; and there goes another, and yet a -third shot! Oh! Frank what if they should hit poor little Becky, the -half-drunken scamps, trying to believe these are the good old days -when they chased white men across the plains. Just listen to the -shots would you, Frank?” - -Andy was fairly quivering with the nervous tension. What made it -doubly hard was the fact that while he could see these exciting -things so easily through the powerful lens of the glasses, yet they -were still far away from the scene of action and unable to raise a -hand as yet to render any assistance, should such be needed. - -“What is Jose doing now?” asked Frank. - -“Oh! one of the ponies seems to be down, and for the life of me I -can’t tell you whether it was shot, or has laid down like some of -those cow ponies are taught to do, Frank. There goes the other one -the same way. And now Jose has pulled the little girl down with him. -They’re out of sight behind the bodies of the ponies, I do believe, -Frank!” - -“Bully for Jose, then; he sure knows how to stand the Indians off!” -exclaimed Frank; and for the time being Andy seemed to forget that -just a minute or two back he had been declaring that the same Jose -deserved the worst punishment the cow-punchers from the Double X -Ranch could deal out to him, for he almost echoed the words of his -chum. - -“Good! good! he’s opened fire, too, for I can see the puff of smoke -each time he pulls trigger. Oh! Frank!” - -“Well, what now?” demanded the other, a little impatiently, as Andy -paused after giving that last exclamation that might stand for -almost anything. - -“He hit one of the Indians that time, as sure as anything!” Andy -declared, with a ring of delight in his voice. - -“What makes you think so?” demanded Frank. - -“Didn’t I see him turn a flop, though; and right now he’s holding -his leg like fun! Guess he got a puncture in his tire, all right, -Frank. After all, that Jose can shoot some, let me tell you. There, -I do believe he’s gone and done it again!” - -“What! hit another Indian, Andy?” - -“Well, I c’n see a second fellow rolling over and over; and now he -sits up and it looks like he’s examining his arm. Perhaps they’re -beginning to learn that it ain’t all one sided after all, this -stopping a mounted man, and trying some of the old tricks. Mebbe -they’ll want to clear out now, Frank?” - -“That wouldn’t be like Indian nature, from what they’ve been telling -me since we came here,” Frank went on to say. “They’re all as -obstinate as they make them; and the chances are, these fellows will -just be more bent on shooting Jose up than ever, if, as you say, -he’s already pinked a couple of their men.” - -“Well, they don’t seem to be clearing out that I can notice, and -that’s a fact,” Andy admitted immediately afterward. Frank could -himself hear the reports of guns being discharged, and they came so -thick and fast that he could almost imagine a battle was being -fought between large numbers of enemies on either side. Evidently -the Indians were flush with ammunition, and did not hesitate to use -it plentifully. The White Father in Washington would supply them -with plenty more when this was gone; or at any rate the hard cash -with which to purchase the same. And they were just as prodigal in -wasting cartridges as so many half-grown and irresponsible boys -might have been. - -For the number of shots that kept ringing out, the amount of damage -done must have been remarkably small, from the accounts Andy kept -giving him. - -The Indians were creeping along wherever they could find protection -by way of the sand dunes; and the watcher in the air declared that -he believed they meant to completely surround the man at bay, when -doubtless they could pour in such a hot fire that he would either -have to surrender, or else be wiped out. - -It was a pretty exciting time for the two young aviators while they -were thus speeding toward the scene of the desert warfare. The -biplane was doing its level best, and yet so impatient was Andy to -arrive before the Indians had succeeded in accomplishing their -terrible work that it seemed to him they were fairly crawling along. - -“Oh! can’t we go faster, Frank?” he begged more than once. - -“We’re doing the limit right now,” Frank would answer. - -“I suppose so, Frank, but don’t you know it seems like we’d never -get there at this pace,” Andy would go on to say. - -“Keep cool,” was the advice of the other. - -“I’m trying as hard as I can to do that, but it makes me shiver all -over when I think of poor little Becky being exposed to that -shooting,” said Andy, between his clenched teeth. - -“Well, let’s hope Jose has been merciful enough to keep her lying -flat on the ground behind the ponies. They must be dead, Andy, -because with all that lead flying around no cayuse would ever -consent to lie still, wounded perhaps at that. And their bodies -would protect the child, even if they didn’t do the same altogether -for the man. Is he still shooting?” - -“I haven’t noticed a puff of smoke over the spot for some time—but -there, I did get a glimpse of one just then; and Frank, believe me, -he must have done it again, because I can see several of the others -crawling toward one that seems to be kicking on the ground. There, -they’re helping him away. Let me tell you that same Jose is no -slouch when it comes to using a gun. He must have had a lot of -practice in the revolutions they have every little while down in -Mexico since Diaz was kicked out. I take off my hat to Jose when it -comes to knocking chips off the shoulders of half-drunken reds.” - -And this was the same Jose whom Andy had been saying such hard -things against only a short time before; but then circumstances -alter cases; and right now Jose was risking his life in defense of -the little girl whom he had for some reason kidnapped from her home. - -When they had been observing these things some time back they may -have been as much as ten miles away from the scene of spirited -action; but as the biplane was spinning along at a tremendous pace, -in spite of the belief of Andy that it did not seem to be doing its -best, this distance was being rapidly diminished. - -Whenever the shots came now they were plainly heard, as the air -seemed to be directly in the faces of the aeroplane boys while thus -heading into the south. - -And Andy also noticed that they kept gradually sinking just a little -lower as they proceeded. Had he been able to allow himself time to -think this over, he must have guessed why Frank was doing this; and -that he wanted to avoid being discovered by the Indians until he -could suddenly burst upon their vision in a terrifying apparition, -frightening them so badly that they would only think of making a -hasty flight. - -Well, things were going on at such a pace now that whatever the -outcome might prove to be, it would soon be over. In a couple of -minutes at most the oncoming air wonder must have arrived so close -to the scene of the disturbance that its presence could no longer be -concealed from the sharp eyes of the Indians. Some warrior whose -eyesight had not been so seriously impaired by the strong drink he -had purchased from some bootlegger or trader, would while peeping -around a sand dune, suddenly discover that dreadful apparition -coming straight through the air, with an angry mutter that could -only mean the sore displeasure of the Great Spirit, whose messenger -this frightful object must be. - -And when this occurred, Frank was rather inclined to believe there -would be a scamper on the part of the frolicking Indians such as had -not been seen on this same desert for many a day. - -Luckily they could depend on the stability of their machine; and -every particular part of the framework had been carefully gone over -just the preceding day by the one whose hand now controlled the -levers by means of which the aeroplane was guided on its way through -space. - -Hence, there was little likelihood of any accident happening. Frank -did not allow the thought of such a thing to enter into his -calculations. He placed the fullest dependence upon those staunch -steel guys and the faithful little motor that never yet had failed -him in time of need. - -“Oh! will we ever get there?” groaned Andy. - -“Keep cool, and hold on; we’re doing fine!” was Frank’s advice. - -“But I think they’re getting ready to rush Jose now!” the other went -on to declare, with renewed excitement. - -“What makes you think that, Andy?” - -“They seem to have gathered in knots in three places, and act like -they meant to make a swoop down on him from all sides at once,” came -the answer. - -“Well, if they’ll only hold off another minute or two we’ll fix -things so that their swoop’ll turn out a fizzle. Tell me when they -start out on the run, Andy, because I want to turn on our siren, you -know.” - -“Oh! I clean forgot all about that little trick Frank!” - -Frank some time before had arranged a contrivance by means of which -he could make the engine sound a loud-voiced whistle that he always -called a siren, because it had all the harsh, discordant notes of -the big steam fog-horns to be heard in some places along the stormy -coasts of our country, where the dangerous shoals or reefs make it -important that vessels should be warned while still far out at sea. - -This could be made to do duty at a second’s notice. Of course the -boys did not often sound the deep-throated whistle or horn, because -it was apt to create too much alarm in every living thing that heard -it for the first time, animals as well as human beings. - -But in a desperate case such as the one by which they were now -confronted this hoarse-tongued signal might prove the very finest -auxiliary they could hope to have in alarming the attacking Indians. - -And here Andy, with his usual thoughtlessness had entirely forgotten -about such a means of sending out a warning; while Frank had it in -his mind all along. That little incident showed the difference -between the two cousins; for with all his good qualities Andy often -forgot things that it would have paid him well to remember. - -Both of them were intensely interested by now, and a study of their -set faces would have been worth while. Andy did not depend on the -glasses any longer to tell how things were progressing, since they -had come close enough for him to see with the naked eye. Of course, -the fact that they were several hundred feet above the level of the -sand gave considerable assistance, for they were entirely free from -the little dazzling heat waves that must hug the face of the desert -more and more as the day advanced, making seeing perfectly a -difficult job. - -The seconds clicked along, each one in the mind of the impatient -Andy being registered by so many loud “pops” of the exhaust, for it -was not muffled now. - -“There, what did I tell you, Frank; listen to those awful yells, -would you? Oh! he knocked one over then, I say! But the whole lot -have started up, and bending low down are sprinting in the direction -of Jose as fast as they can go. Frank, why don’t you do something -before they get to him? It’s now or never, I tell you; just hear the -guns going off with a rattle and a bang! Frank——” - -But Andy’s words were suddenly lost in a most terrific roaring sound -that broke forth, as Frank turned on the big siren whistle or horn. -Across the face of the desert went the strange sound, in a wave that -would annihilate space. And coming to the startled ears of the -on-rushing Indians, it must have instantly riveted their attention. - -Imagine their astonishment when upon raising their eyes for the -first time they discovered what seemed to be a tremendous bird -rushing through the air toward them and uttering that thrilling -whoop, the like of which none of them had ever heard before. - - -CHAPTER XXII—THE BIRD BOYS’ TRIUMPH - -The aeroplane was speeding down upon the spot, with that -loud-throated siren going at full blast. Andy had been holding -himself in so long now, that it was utterly impossible for him to -stand it any longer; so he too let out a series of ear-piercing -shrieks that at least added to the din. - -Not content with that the boy commenced firing his repeating Marlin. -He did not bother trying to take any particular aim, which would of -course have been next to impossible in the swaying aeroplane, any -way; but only meant to add all he could to the tremendous din -accompanying their swoop. - -Frank could see all that happened, because they were no longer far -away. No need of glasses either at this stage of the game. He could -note the movements of every one of those who had been in the act of -rushing the Mexican at bay when the appearance of the biplane in the -near heavens came to put a damper on their enthusiasm. - -Although at first stunned by the sight that met their startled eyes, -and the ear-splitting sounds accompanying the same, the runaway -Indians from the reservation had quickly remembered that they still -had legs. If any of them had been a bit wobbly before, on account of -the potions they had been imbibing, it seemed to be driven from -their systems by this scare, for they ran like prize sprinters. Even -the several wounded warriors endeavoring to flatten themselves down -behind the sand dunes, as though in hopes of being able to hide from -the argus eyes of this wonder of the skies. - -Andy no longer had any fears concerning the attack, for he saw that -it had been effectually broken up by their coming. He started to -shout again, but found it beyond his ability, for the situation had -resolved itself into a comical farce by this time in the boy’s mind, -and offered all the humorous aspects of a great joke. - -But none of those Indians thought so, if one could judge from the -way they were running. Andy had seen rabbits speeding away after the -crack of a gun; but that was hardly in the same class with what -those braves did that morning. - -Some of them jumped this way and that as they sped off; as though -under the impression that they might thus escape the swarm of -bullets that their imagination filled the air with, on hearing the -crackle of Andy’s fast-shooting gun. Others dodged behind each -succeeding sand hill, and then appearing beyond, continued their -flight in eccentric curves; only glad if by this means they might -escape the terrible eye of that mighty bird that came whirring -along, letting out such hideous war cries, and assuming all the -appearances of a dragon as pictured by the Chinese on their flags -and everywhere. - -Frank did not attempt to alight just then; he believed that it was -good policy to make sure that the hostiles had all been frightened -off before exposing the fact that after all it was only two boys in -some clever invention of the white man who had come upon the scene. - -And so, instead of heading directly for the spot where Jose lay -behind the two ponies, which they now realized were surely dead, -Frank continued to sweep around in a widening circle. - -It was worth while to see the abject terror of such of the Indians -as they passed over. They would flatten themselves on the burning -sand, as though hoping in this way to escape the attention of the -terror that was seeking its prey; nor did any one of them dare to -turn his head to look upward at the monstrous bird with that loud -shriek. - -From a distance one or two discharged guns at the speeding -aeroplane, but of course there was not one chance in ten thousand of -the bullets doing any execution while the Bird boys were rushing -along at such a pace; indeed, they did not even hear the whine of -the passing lead. - -Frank had his hands full taking care of the biplane, so that even -had he desired to do so he could not have added anything to the -racket. One hand controlled the lever which brought about the -circling movement of the aeroplane, while with the other he kept -that siren busy. - -But by now Andy had bethought him of another means for adding to the -panic of the fleeing Indians. In the box just back of him he -happened to have a number of large cannon firecrackers. Under -ordinary conditions these would appear to be rather queer things to -carry on an aeroplane; but it seemed that Andy was particularly -interested in experimenting with dropping stones which he called -“bombs,” from a great height, in order to see how aeroplanes might -be made useful in war times. And thinking some time to rather -astonish Frank by sending down some of those big explosives, he had -smuggled them aboard. - -The idea had about passed from his mind at this time, but suddenly -remembering the big red crackers, he was now pulling them out, and -feeling for some of those wind matches they always carried when on a -trip, because they could be used no matter what current of air they -happened to be passing through. - -Frank did not see what his cousin was doing. In the first place he -had enough to look after as it was; and then again, when he could -spare a second, he wanted to ascertain what the Indians were up to. - -The first thing he knew about it was when a terrific report came -from directly under the aeroplane, and close to the face of the -sandy stretch. Immediately on top of it came a shriek from Andy. - -“Oh! it nearly fell on top of that Indian before it exploded, Frank! -If only you could have seen him go head over heels; and now he’s -running to beat the band! Talk to me about a scared rabbit, these -noble red men are sure the limit. I really believe they think the -Day of Judgment has come along ahead of time. If you keep it up much -longer, Frank, I’m going to fall right out of my seat; I’m laughing -so hard I just can’t sit still.” - -“Then perhaps it’s about time we called a stop on the excitement, -and let the poor fellows get away,” said Frank. - -“No danger of them coming back again,” ventured Andy, as he threw -his last big cannon cracker in the quarter where he had caught sight -of another brave trying to dig a hole in the sand, as though wild to -cover himself up, and thus avoid attracting the attention of the -monster bird. - -His aim was pretty fair, since Andy had been practicing this thing -for quite some time now. The explosion took place on schedule time, -too; and with about as tremendous a result as before; since it sent -the terrorized warrior flying off as if he believed the Evil Spirit -were in full pursuit. - -Frank turned back. - -The coast seemed clear of Indians now, even the wounded braves -having found some way of hiding from sight. Perhaps they had in -despair scooped hollows out of the burning sand, and were even now -lying under a scanty covering of the same, trembling in mortal -terror of discovery. - -Neither of the Bird boys cared whether this were so or not. They had -succeeded in accomplishing their main object; which of course had -been to give the assailants of Jose a severe scare, so as to scatter -them to the four winds. And now the next thing they wanted to do was -to drop to the earth, and capture the man himself. - -Accordingly Frank guided the biplane to where he thought best to -make his landing. Then he proceeded to accomplish this ordinary feat -with his accustomed ability. - -As the sand was loose and liable to clog the wheels, he had to be -additionally careful about landing. And Frank had already -experimented in getting up again after dropping upon such a shifting -bed, so that he knew just how it should be done. - -Picking out a spot which looked better than anything around it, he -brought the aeroplane to the ground so softly that it almost seemed -like a thistle-down blown by the wind, and alighting. - -The motor had ceased to whirr, and the propellers to whizz as Andy, -clutching his Marlin in his grasp, sprang from his seat to the sand. - -Frank was hardly three seconds behind him, and it might be noticed -that he too held one of the useful guns. - -Who could tell what need they might have for these life preservers, -when adrift in such a desert land, and with reckless Indians all -around them; not to speak of the man who lay behind the two dead -ponies, with his gun covering them even now. - -Frank was not taking any chances with Jose. He knew that the Mexican -must be in a desperate frame of mind, and ready to fight to the last -gasp before he would consent to yield. And Frank believed in -strategy when it could be made to answer the purpose. - -What they wanted above all else just now was the return of little -Becky to the care of her legal guardian. They were not appointed to -wreak vengeance on the head of the father who had seen fit to steal -his own child away. Besides, somehow, after seeing how valiantly -Jose had held the whole band of reservation Indians at bay, both -boys felt considerable more respect for the Mexican. At least he was -no coward, even if his actions in the past had been along that line, -Jose, like so many of his class was a bravo; he could display mean -traits toward women and children, but face half a dozen men in a -brawl, or a fight like this, without showing the white feather. - -So Frank immediately held up his hand, as he called aloud: - -“Halloo! Jose Sandero! do not fire upon us! We will not do you harm -if you turn over the child to us to take back to her home! Do you -understand me?” - -They saw the figure of the Mexican now. He had scrambled to his feet -to face the boys who had come so happily to his rescue just in time -to save his life. Perhaps this fact was duly impressed upon the mind -of the man from across the border. He owed these lads something, and -a Mexican always has an exaggerated sense of his own honor; it is a -heritage he has received from his Spanish ancestors far back. - -“Si, senors,” he answered back, in a mellow tone, “I understand. -Come closer that we may talk it over. I promise you I will not fire -one shot. Carramba! it is only one that I have left me, after all -you saw.” - -Then they advanced until close by where the two dead ponies lay. One -thought was in the minds of both Frank and his cousin—the little -girl, how had she fared while all the bullets were flying through -the air, sent by half-drunken Indians who cared little where they -landed. - -Jose had suffered. His left arm hung almost helplessly at his side, -and they could see that the blood was dripping from his fingers; but -he clutched his repeating gun in the right hand and seemed still -full of the lust of battle. - -“How about the child; is she safe?” called Frank almost afraid to -ask the question, for his heart seemed in his throat with the -dreadful suspense. - -“Surely, senors,” came the immediate reassuring reply. “I saw to it -that she lay flat on the ground where nothing could injure her. Look -and see for yourselves,” and with that he spoke something to little -Becky, so that she immediately sprang to her feet and stretched her -tiny hands longingly toward the boys. - -At that both of them experienced a deep sense of relief. It began to -look, if only Jose proved reasonable, that the end of their long and -arduous air chase was now in sight, and that presently they could -proceed back to the ranch, bearing with them the little sprite whose -abduction had created all this excitement. - -“We would make terms with you, Jose,” said Frank in a business like -way. - -“I am ready to hear what you have to say, young senor,” came the -reply. - -“You admit that our coming has probably saved your life?” Frank went -on, thinking it the part of wisdom to have that point well -understood in the beginning. - -“Si, senor, it is true, and for that Jose is grateful; if it had not -been so he would not consent to give up the child, even if you tried -to recover her by force. But you have done me a good turn, and -perhaps we can make terms. If, then, I hand her over, will you agree -that I go my way unmolested?” - -“We willingly agree to that, Jose. You may be a bad man, but we saw -you stand off those Indians like a brave one, and for that we -respect you. Yes, we will promise not to raise a hand to molest you. -Listen Jose, if you place the little girl in our hands we will -promise to do even more than that, if so be you are courageous -enough to trust yourself with us in our aeroplane. We could rise -with you, and fly far away across the desert to where you will be -near the border. There we can land, and give you a chance to save -yourself from these Indians, who may hang around here, seeking -revenge for the wounds you have given them.” - -That was a square offer on the part of Frank. Andy held his breath, -wondering if the other would dare accept it. The same courage that -had led Jose to face the guns of the Indians might not be sufficient -to allow of his getting aboard that wonderful air bird, and let -himself be carried up among the clouds. - -Jose was hesitating between opinions. He hardly knew which seemed -the worse of the two. But one danger he could understand, while the -other was along the line of the mysterious and unfathomable. - -They saw him pondering for a full minute. Then, as if he had made up -his mind, he threw up his hand. - -“I will accept your offer, senor,” he said. “A man can die but once, -and what matter if he fall from the clouds, he may never know what -hurts him. And if I am left here without a mount, the Indians are -sure to get me. Advance, then, senors, and fix it as you please. I -am ready to take the word of such honorable young men.” - -But all the same Andy could see that he shuddered when he cast a -glance over toward the quarter where the stranded biplane lay, as -though the mere thought of allowing himself to be carried up in the -regions of the upper currents aboard that frail combination of -engine, planes, and rigid uprights and stays, struck Jose as with a -cold breath from the Arctic regions. - - -CHAPTER XXIII—HOME AGAIN—CONCLUSION - -Frank knew that they had better not loiter there. Still, he could -not see Jose losing blood like that, when it was so easy to stop the -flow. - -So, while Andy watched to see that none of the frightened Indians -got over their scare, and came sneaking back, bent on potting some -of the palefaces, Frank made a quick job of looking after the -wounded arm of the Mexican. - -The man seemed to hardly know what to make of it all. He watched -every move of the amateur doctor as though he could not understand -how any one would be so generous toward an enemy. But Frank knew -what he was doing, and he meant to extract a promise from Jose, -before they left him, that never again would he dream of trying to -do any injury toward either little Becky or Mr. Witherspoon, her -relative, and legally appointed guardian. And he believed the man -would keep such a promise faithfully too; for Frank was a pretty -good reader of human nature. - -Then they all walked toward the aeroplane that lay there on the hot -sand as a camel of the desert might for its Arab owner, prostrate -for his mounting. - -It was easy enough to fasten little Becky in; but with the man there -had to be some maneuvering, because a sudden movement on his part -would endanger them all. Jose drew a long breath as he took his -seat, and held grimly onto an upright with his one well hand, his -rifle strapped to his back meanwhile. It was as though he hardly -expected to ever come safely down again; but then he had carefully -counted the cost, and having decided his pride would not allow him -to back out. - -Frank knew that it would be a very difficult task to get the biplane -to travel over the sand at a rate of speed sufficient to allow of -their mounting when the proper moment came; but he had experimented -so many times, looking to some such contingency, that he believed he -could surmount every trouble. - -He therefore moved the aeroplane with the help of the others, so -that he would have the assistance of the slight wind that was -blowing. - -Finally all was ready. - -The motor began to hum, gradually increasing its note as Frank -turned on more power, on finding that his hopes were about to be -fulfilled. Yes, they were actually passing along over the sand now; -for just there it was packed more than in most places. Andy had held -his breath with the suspense, figuring on how he could climb back if -he had to go overboard to help push. But it was all right now, and -such a move would not be necessary. - -When the final moment arrived, they started gradually upward. Frank -heard Jose gasp for breath, and he knew the Mexican must be saying -his prayers from the low mumble that drifted in at his ear; -doubtless the man was almost stiff with fright when he dared look -down, and saw that he was apparently as far above the surface of the -desert as many mountain peaks would be. - -Frank knew what he was doing, and that if the man was left on the -desert in his present wounded and weakened condition, it was just -the same as giving him over to death, which might come in any one of -several ways. If the Indians did not get him he might starve or die -from lack of water; and then again, should the infuriated cow -puncher band from the Double X Ranch come upon Jose he might count -on a short shrift and a rope. - -After all was said and done, fortune had been so kind that no -irreparable damage had followed the bold raid of Jose, unless indeed -poor old Tige had received a dose of poison as the boys had feared. -Little Becky seemed to have come through it all in very good shape, -and for these mercies Frank felt that they had great reason to be -thankful. - -And that was mainly why he was now carrying Jose across the balance -of the desert to place him on the road to the near-by border, beyond -which he undoubtedly had friends who would take care of him. - -Andy had not forgotten the Indians, and was constantly on the -lookout for any signs of them. Whenever he did sight a skulking -figure Andy made haste to squeeze the rubber that caused the siren -to give tongue. Jose nearly lost his hold the first time he heard -that fierce whoop so close to his ear; for of course in his nervous -condition he thought that something had burst, and that they were -now bound to go tumbling down through all that space to be splashed -about below. - -But that lasted for only a very brief time, since they speedily -reached a point far beyond where any of the fleeing Indians had -gone. After that it was plain sailing and they made rapid speed. - -Then, after they had covered many miles in this fashion, with the -glasses Andy was able to make out trees ahead, and some sort of -ridge that doubtless marked the delimitation of the desert’s border. - -Nearer and nearer they drew. Jose began to actually consider that he -still had something of a chance to live through it all; though the -balance of his life he would certainly never be apt to forget what -dreadful fears had held him gripped fast in their power when up in a -fast-flying aeroplane. - -Now the keen-eyed pilot was looking for a likely place to land, and -this he discovered close to the trees themselves, where the ground -became much firmer, and Jose could immediately get under shelter -from the broiling sun. - -After coming down from that cool altitude the tremendous heat of the -desert was almost overpowering, and both boys were glad to know that -they did not have to continue on through it for any great length of -time. - -So Jose was finally landed. He seemed to be rejoiced to find himself -once more on solid ground. True, he would always boast of having -been up almost to the clouds, but it is unlikely that any ordinary -attraction could tempt him to try it again. - -He shook hands with each of the boys when they were ready to once -more venture into unknown space with the aeroplane. Andy was a -little dubious about accepting that hand, which he felt pretty sure -had not always been free from crime; but then Frank had done it, and -he felt that he could not do better than imitate his cousin in such -matters. - -They had no particular trouble about the new launching; indeed, now -that the biplane was free from the weight of Jose, it seemed to -mount upward like a bird that has broken loose from its cage. - -The last they saw of the Mexican he was waving a hand after them. -And Frank felt well satisfied with the morning’s work. He believed -that not only had they succeeded in rescuing the little girl, but -that fortune had allowed them to give a bad man a chance to open his -eyes. It might be the means of turning Jose Sandero from his evil -ways; and then again the incident was liable to be swallowed up by -the demands of his hard life. And probably they would never know. - -Once again they were flying boldly across the wide stretch of -desert, with its lonely looking cactus plants, and its queer -windrows of sand that looked for all the world as though a giant -comb had been drawn over the land, leaving it in this peculiar -condition. When, finally, they reached the northern end of the -desert, and headed direct for the ranch house, possibly both of the -Bird boys were feeling happier that ever before in all their lives. -They had accomplished what seemed next door to a miracle, because, -had the men in “chaps” chased after Jose, and threatened to take -him, there could be no telling what the desperate Mexican might not -have done rather than submit. - -“Look there, Frank,” Andy was saying a little later, “you can see -the ranch house as plain as anything from here, and why, if that -ain’t the boys coming on the tear over yonder!” - -Frank, looking, saw that his chum spoke the truth. There could be -seen a confused medley of boys and horses. They were whipping their -mounts madly, and using both hats and quirts to try and increase -their speed. - -“That must be Charley Woo among the front ones,” Frank remarked, -after he had taken a second good look. - -“Yes, you can tell him miles off by his white clothes,” Andy went on -to say, “and he’s done himself proud, has Charley, this day. Uncle -must be there alongside, and asking more questions, as he tried to -get a little more speed out of his mount. And I reckon they’ve -glimpsed us, Frank, by the way they act. Are we going to land and -let them see that Little Sunbeam is safe with us?” - -“It would be cruelty to animals not to,” replied the pilot, as he -started to head gradually toward the earth. - -Ten minutes later, and they were surrounded by an eager, excited -throng, and when Buckskin, Shorty, and all that lot learned that -little Becky had not suffered to any serious extent as a result of -her terribly long and wearisome ride, bound on a pony as she had -been, they “awoke all creation,” as Andy declared, with their -exultant whoops. - -Nothing would do but that the boys must tell the whole story; and -those wild riders fairly held their breath as they listened to the -modest account of that most remarkable dash through space, to arrive -just in the nick of time—Frank called it the psychological moment, -and then had to stop and explain just what he meant by that, before -they would let him proceed. - -It was the greatest story they had ever heard. They would never have -believed such a thing possible, only that they knew Frank and Andy -never told yarns, or even stretched a fish story. Besides, there was -little Becky ready to corroborate all that had been said. Mr. -Witherspoon insisted upon taking the child on his horse, and thus -heading for the ranch, while the boys continued their flight; of -course they would arrive at their destination an hour before the -ponies could make it, and thus relieve the minds of those who were -there. - -The round-up was all off for the present. Later on they could make -another start, and this time the boys would be along, to witness all -that was done, with Andy taking pictures of the various phases of -the operation, as long as his roll of films lasted. - -But Mr. Witherspoon had learned a lesson, and never again would he -leave home without a sufficient guard remaining there at the ranch -house to handle any situation that might arise. - -He took some of Frank’s philosophy, to the effect that he would -always after that be prepared for possibilities, since lightning can -at times apparently strike out of a clear sky. - -The boys’ time on the ranch was now getting toward a close; but -before they left they had one pleasant surprise that made them feel -happy. It was just on the little maid’s sixth birthday that a tired -Mexican came to the place and asked to see Mr. Witherspoon. - -It happened that both boys were with him, and remembering their -recent adventure in connection with one such greaser, they eyed the -dusty traveler with more or less curiosity. He handed Mr. -Witherspoon a packet which he said his master, who was a ranchero -down in Chihuahua, Mexico, had ordered him to get there before dark -on this particular day. - -Opening the packet the ranchman disclosed some beautiful silken -garments such as would be apt to set a little girl wild with -delight, and also a lovely slender gold necklace with pearls as its -ornaments. - -When he had glanced at the paper that had come with this gift Mr. -Witherspoon smiled, and looked meaningly at the boys. - -“Well, all I can say is, that you two boys are next door to wizards. -You’ve actually made an impression on a heart that I calculated was -as hard as flint. Here are some presents for our little girl,” and -on the paper I read in Spanish: “To the little Senorita Rebecca from -her unworthy father, on her sixth birthday. May the good God bless -her.” - -And neither of the boys so much as smiled, for they felt that in -some fashion that merciful act of Frank’s in treating Jose Sandero -so generously had borne such fruit as no one would ever have -believed possible. - -When the time came for them to say goodbye to Uncle Jethro and the -jolly boys on the Double X Ranch, it was hard to do it. And neither -Frank nor Andy would ever forget the rousing cheers that burst from -the lips of those happy-go-lucky punchers, Buckskin, Waldo Kline, -Shorty, Alkali Joe and the rest, not forgetting even Charley Woo, -when they saw the last of them at the station. - -Of course Frank and Andy reached their home town in safety, and in -due time the biplane once more rested in its accustomed hangar back -of Frank Bird’s home; with the first snow of winter covering the -ground, and a frosty tang in the air that was just the opposite of -that torrid wave the Bird boys struck when crossing the Arizona -desert. - -And it is to be hoped that we will have the pleasure of recounting -further thrilling adventures that befell these intrepid air pilots -in other volumes to succeed this. Meanwhile, having seen them safely -through experiences at the cattle ranch, and once more back home -before the delayed session of school opened, it only remains for us -to say goodbye to the reader and write— - - THE END. - - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BIRD BOYS’ AEROPLANE WONDER *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Bird Boys’ Aeroplane Wonder</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1em;'>Young Aviators on a Cattle Ranch</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: John Luther Langworthy</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: January 16, 2022 [eBook #67185]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BIRD BOYS’ AEROPLANE WONDER ***</div> - -<div class='page'> - <h1>The Bird Boys’ Aeroplane Wonder</h1> - <div class='mt10 mb10 w001'> - <img src='images/illus-001.jpg' alt='' style='width:100%' /> - <p class='caption'>Judge of Their Astonishment and Wild Delight When They Saw the Aeroplane Leave the Earth.</p> - </div> -</div> - -<hr class='tps' /> - -<div class='page'> - <div class='tac'> - <div class='fs14'>THE BIRD BOYS’<br/>AEROPLANE WONDER</div> - <div class='mt05'>Or</div> - <div class='fs12 it'>Young Aviators On a Cattle Ranch</div> - <div class='mt20'>By</div> - <div class='mb20'>JOHN LUTHER LANGWORHTY</div> - </div> - <div class='w002'> - <img src='images/illus-002.png' alt='' style='width:100%' /> - </div> - <div class='mt20 tac'> - <div>Chicago</div> - <div>M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY</div> - </div> -</div> - -<hr class='tps' /> - -<div class='page'> - <div class='tac'> - <div>Copyright 1914</div> - <div>M. A. Donohue & Company</div> - <div>Chicago</div> - </div> -</div> - -<hr class='tps' /> - -<div class='page'> - <div class='tac fs12'>CONTENTS</div> - <table class='toc tcenter' style='margin-bottom:3em'> - <tbody> - <tr><td class='c1'>I</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chI'>Under the Spreading Beech</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>II</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chII'>“Glorious News!”</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>III</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chIII'>Looking For Trouble</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>IV</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chIV'>The Panic That Came to Pass</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>V</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chV'>What They Found at Witherspoon</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>VI</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chVI'>At the Double X Ranch</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>VII</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chVII'>A Pretty Close Call</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>VIII</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chVIII'>Broncho Buster Meets His Match</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>IX</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chIX'>Figuring It All Out</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>X</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chX'>Learning the Ropes on the Ranch</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>XI</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chXI'>Out for Bear</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>XII</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chXII'>The Defense of the Log Bridge</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>XIII</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chXIII'>Never-to-be-Forgotten Days</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>XIV</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chXIV'>Off For the Round-Up</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>XV</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chXV'>The One Who Came Back</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>XVI</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chXVI'>An Alarming Discovery</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>XVII</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chXVII'>The Carrying Off of Little Becky</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>XVIII</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chXVIII'>The Aeroplane Pursuit</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>XIX</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chXIX'>Over Plain and Desert</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>XX</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chXX'>What Andy Saw From Aloft</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>XXI</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chXXI'>The Terror of the Air</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>XXII</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chXXII'>The Bird Boys’ Triumph</a></td></tr> - <tr><td class='c1'>XXIII</td><td class='c2'><a href='#chXXIII'>Home Again—Conclusion</a></td></tr> - </tbody> - </table> -</div> - -<hr class='tps' /> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<div class='tac fs14 mt20 mb05'>The Bird Boys’ Aeroplane Wonder</div> -<div class='tac fs12 mb10'>Or, Young Aviators On a Cattle Ranch</div> - -<h2 title='Under the Spreading Beech' id='chI'> -CHAPTER I—UNDER THE SPREADING BEECH -</h2> - -<p>“Was there ever such great luck, fellows?”</p> - -<p>“Whew! for one, I feel like giving a vote of thanks to the striking -masons, who loafed pretty much all summer, and held the repair work on the -Bloomsbury High building up till now.”</p> - -<p>“Them’s my sentiments, Elephant!”</p> - -<p>“And they say now the work can’t be finished and school taken up till -December! What d’ye think of that, Frank, and you, Larry?”</p> - -<p>“Glory to goodness! two extra months’ vacation, and right through -October too, when the chestnuts are ripe, and walnuts are dropping! What -bully days we’ve got ahead of us, boys!”</p> - -<p>“And November, too, mind you,” went on the little “runt” who had been -called “Elephant” in a joke by his chums and could not shake off the name, -“the month when the frisky cottontail is also ripe. Say, Frank, won’t you -have a ge-lorious time trying out that new Marlin pump-gun -you got for your last birthday?”</p> - -<p>The third member of the group sitting under the beech tree had as yet -not spoken, since his two companions started to give expression to their -extravagant delight over the wonderful news brought by Fenimore Cooper -Small, the aforesaid “Elephant,” whose father happened to be the head -Selectman of the town, and could fetch the decision of the Board of School -Trustees home before the rest of the worthy citizens had been put wise to -the facts.</p> - -<p>“Well,” said Frank Bird, with one of his rare smiles that always made -him friends wherever he went, “I had a pretty good idea it would end that -way, when I heard how the trustees failed to find any building in town -that would answer to house the high school pupils. Yes, I’m glad for some -things, and sorry for others. But it’ll give the Bird boys a chance to do -a little more flying before winter sets in and stops all that fun.”</p> - -<p>Frank and his cousin Andy had become quite famous throughout the region -around Bloomsbury, a town in Central New York, on account of the wonderful -success they had made of aviation.</p> - -<p>Indeed, some of the doings of the Bird Boys, as they were -called, had even found their way into the columns of the big metropolitan -papers, and among professional birdmen they were looked upon as most -promising “comers.”</p> - -<p>Back of Frank’s house—where he lived with his father, Professor Bird, -once a noted balloonist and scientist, together with an old gentleman who -had served as guardian to Frank when his father was believed to have -perished on one of his long flights while exploring parts of the Panama -Isthmus—in a field some distance in the rear of his house there had been -built a fine workshop, where the two boys spent most of their time when -not in the air.</p> - -<p>Already they had invented quite a few ingenious contrivances which gave -promise that some day their names would figure along with those that have -made aviation in heavier-than-air machines what it is today—those of the -Wright brothers.</p> - -<p>Close to this workshop was the great “hangar” in which they kept their -aeroplane when it was not in use; and since enemies had frequently tried -to injure their property these buildings were not only securely locked but -as a rule watched of nights.</p> - -<p>To tell even a small portion of the doings of these bold cousins when -navigating the air would consume too much space and time; -and the reader who has been unfortunate enough not to have enjoyed their -perusal is referred back to the previous volumes in this Series, where -they will be found recorded at length, and the story told in an -entertaining manner.</p> - -<p>The third member of the little group taking it easy under the wide -spreading beech tree, with its thick branches, was one Larry Geohegan, a -firm friend of the Bird boys; whose only fault was the envy he often felt -because he could never accompany either of his flying chums aloft, being -afflicted with a weakness that made him dizzy whenever he looked down from -any height.</p> - -<p>Elephant had met the other two quite by accident on the road, and -stopped to communicate the grand news, which he had heard his father tell -at the breakfast table.</p> - -<p>Apparently the other two lads were going fishing, for they had poles -and bait cans lying on the ground. There was a beautiful lake named -Sunrise, upon which the town lay; and a mile away a stream ran into this -which could always be depended upon to furnish a splendid string of bass, -chubs, sunfish and horned pouts or catfish, when the wind was favorable, -as happened on this lovely morning. “What were you waiting -here for under this tree; did you expect Andy to show up?” asked Elephant -after he had declared his intention of joining the fishing party, and -cutting a pole when he got on the grounds.</p> - -<p>“Just what we did,” replied Frank. “He spent last night out at -Spencer’s, because as you all know, the old gentleman is especially fond -of Andy, and every once in so often begs him to come out and cheer him -up.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, and they do say he means to leave all he’s got to Andy, in trust -of his father, Doctor Bird,” declared Larry, that little streak of envy -again making itself evident in his voice; for it did seem to him that -things were always coming to his chums and passing him by.</p> - -<p>“Oh! that’s silly talk,” laughed Frank, “I wouldn’t pay any attention -to it, if I were you, Larry. I’m sure Andy never gives such a thing a -thought. He’s only too glad to oblige the poor old man who’s so crippled -with rheumatism that he can hardly hobble around. And you know that years -and years ago he used to be a noted traveler, and a lecturer as well. Why, -fellows, there hasn’t hardly been a country on the face of the earth that -Mr. Spencer hasn’t visited, and explored. I could sit for -hours and just hear him tell about what he’s seen and gone through with. I -try to go out with Andy every chance I get; but last night I was too busy -with a knotty problem I had to solve.”</p> - -<p>“I just bet you it was about some new contraption you’re making up to -surprise the flying people. Already you’ve done a heap along that line, -Frank; and they do say that the time is sure to come when you’ll give the -Wrights, and all that bunch, a rude jolt, by inventing something that -they’ve all been trying hard to discover, but nixey, nothing doing up to -date; because the time ain’t ripe, and the Bird boys haven’t had a fair -chance to show what they can do.”</p> - -<p>Frank only laughed when Elephant applied this thick coat of flattery. -He was accustomed to hearing this sort of talk from that quarter; because -the Small boy had always been one of his greatest admirers from the time -when he and Andy were struggling with their first rude pattern of an -aeroplane, in which they had installed some sort of cranky engine, and -actually taken short flights, without getting their necks or legs -broken.</p> - -<p>“But you must have agreed to meet Andy here then, didn’t you?” Elephant -went on to remark, stretching his neck to glance along the -road as he spoke.</p> - -<p>“That was the agreement when he went off on his wheel yesterday -afternoon,” replied Frank Bird. “If the morning looked fishy, Larry and -myself were to wait here under the old beech at eight o’clock until he -came along. You see, I’ve got a pole for him; and we dug lots of worms. -Larry even went out last night with a lantern, and picked up a can of big -fat night-walkers that look like young snakes. I dropped in at Andy’s -house on the way here, and told them he wouldn’t be back till evening, if -the fish took good, and the bathing turned out fine. We’ve also got plenty -of grub along; yes, enough for you, too, Elephant.”</p> - -<p>“Hoop-la! you make me feel happy when you say that, Frank; because I -was born with an appetite, you must know; and when I can’t get my grub at -least three times per diem I’m apt to complain,” and the Small boy grinned -good-naturedly as he made this remark.</p> - -<p>“I say, Frank, have you and Andy invested that reward money the bank -insisted on you accepting when you captured the two hobo yeggmen who broke -into their safe; and also stole Percy Carberry’s biplane to make their -get-away in?” asked Larry, who, it might as well be -confessed right here, had a pretty average streak of curiosity in his -make-up, and was forever wanting to know this, that, and the other -thing.</p> - -<p>“Oh!” answered the other carelessly, “we’ve still got that in bank, and -may put it into another machine later on; or else invest in some parts we -want to work with, Andy having a new idea this time that looks worth while -experimenting with.”</p> - -<p>“You sure are the luckiest pair I ever ran up against, and that’s a -fact!” declared Larry.</p> - -<p>“We think so ourselves,” Frank admitted. “There’s one thing certain, -and that is we don’t deserve all the great times we’ve been having this -year and more.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t you believe it!” exclaimed Elephant. “It ain’t luck so much as -being everlastingly at it, and minding how you do things. You deserve all -you’ve got, Frank; and lots of people say so besides me.”</p> - -<p>“Here comes Andy,” remarked Larry, anxious to turn the conversation -just then, for he was really somewhat ashamed of his weakness, “I saw him -flash past that open place up the road, and spinning along like fun.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, you’re right there, Larry,” added Frank, “and here he is.” - A boy mounted on a fine bicycle came whirling along the -road, and speedily drew up at the beech with the dense foliage, which -later on would yield a harvest of the small but sweet nuts boys love so -well when it is a “fat” season.</p> - -<p>Andy Bird was not quite as tall as his cousin, though well built and -rather stocky at that. There was more or less resemblance between them, -although their temperaments differed in many ways, Andy being more -inclined to impulsiveness than the cooler and far-seeing Frank. But they -were exceedingly fond of each other, and had been inseparable for -years.</p> - -<p>Andy threw himself from his saddle, and lowering his wheel to the -ground after the usual boyish way, dropped down beside the others.</p> - -<p>“Whew! I hit it up at a lively clip all the way down!” he remarked. -“You see, it’s awful hard to break away from Mr. Spencer, and he kept me -up to the last minute. I knew you said eight o’clock, Frank, and I didn’t -want to keep you waiting. Glad you turned up, Elephant; we tried to get -you on the phone yesterday afternoon; but they said you’d gone off, and -nobody knew where. Going with us, ain’t you?”</p> - -<p>“Make your mind easy on that, Andy,” replied the -diminutive Elephant, glibly. “I never could hold out when there was any -fishing going on. I just revel in pulling out the gamey bass, the festive -catfish, and the acrobatic eel; while as for perch and pickerel and -sunfish, why, I delight to see them wriggling on the hook, ready to take -their places in the pan. See you’ve got a fryingpan along, Larry; and that -means we’ll have fish for dinner today—after we grab ’em out of the -water.”</p> - -<p>“But Andy, think of the bully good news Elephant’s gone and brought with -him,” Larry went on to say, jubilantly, “the trustees have finally decided -that, as the big repairs on the high school building have been started, -and can’t possibly be done till early winter, why, because there’s no -place in town that could be used just now, vacation has got to be -lengthened until about the first of December.”</p> - -<p>Andy Bird looked delighted, as what boy would not. Immediately his eyes -traveled in the direction of his cousin, and there was exchanged between -them a significant series of nods and winks, that possibly meant their -thoughts were along the same lines; and that now they would have the time -to go with certain work that had been taking their attention of late. - “By the way,” said Frank, “I stopped at your house on the -way out, Andy, to tell your father that you would go fishing with us, and -not to expect you till night. And he gave me a letter for you that he said -had come in the early morning mail. From the postmark I see it’s from your -uncle Jethro, away down on that Arizona ranch you were telling me about. -Here it is, and a fine fat one too.”</p> - -<p>Andy hastily opened the letter, and was heard to give vent to a low cry -that seemed to spell both astonishment and delight.</p> - -<p>“What’s this mean?” exclaimed Frank, stooping to pick up a paper that -had fallen to the ground, “why, as sure as you live, it’s a check made out -to you, Andy, and signed by the old bachelor uncle, your mother’s brother. -Hold your breath, fellows, while I whisper what the amount is he takes -pleasure in sending to his beloved nephew—four figures in it, as sure as -you live—a clean thousand dollars!”</p> - -<p>Larry gave a groan and threw up his hands while his eyes rolled.</p> - -<p>“Of all the lucky fellows, you Bird boys do certain sure take the -cake!” he cried.</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 title='Glorious News' id='chII'> -CHAPTER II—GLORIOUS NEWS -</h2> - -<p>“Ain’t you going to read it out, Andy?” asked Elephant, anxiously.</p> - -<p>“Wait till he gets through, can’t you?” asked Larry, although he was -fairly trembling with eagerness to hear what the sending of that glorious -check could mean; when he looked at the small bit of paper Frank was -holding he almost held his breath with awe, for to tell the truth Larry -had never seen a check a quarter as large as that in all his life.</p> - -<p>Andy could not say a word when he finished reading. He seemed to be -fairly overpowered with emotion, and holding the letter out to Frank, -motioned that he should accommodate the other two.</p> - -<p>And so Frank started in. The letter was written in a cramped hand, as -if uncle Jethro Witherspoon had rather lost the knack of using a pen; but -then Frank could wade through it, even if he did hesitate here and -there.</p> - -<p>It started in after this fashion:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>“My Dear Nephew, Andrew Bird:—I’ve been hearing a whole lot about the -way you and your cousin Frank are coming along with that - airship business, and your mother has got me worked up to -pretty nigh fever pitch about your precious doing. Now here I am, an old -and cranky bachelor, with a big and successful cattle ranch on my hands, -and no chick or child to cheer me up. I want you two boys to pay me a long -visit, and bring that wonder of an aeroplane along with you. I sounded -your mother some time back, without her letting you know, and she was -agreeable, if only it could be arranged without interfering with your -school duties. And here today your good dad, the doctor, has wired me that -he believes there is going to be an extension of the vacation period for -another two months.</p> - -<p>“Seems like things might be working to please a lonely old man out this -way. Now here’s a little check to cover expenses. If you need any more -draw on me to any amount. What’s money for anyway but to give pleasure to -somebody? Pack up that flying machine of yours, and either tuck it under -your arm or else ship it by the fastest express you can get to receive it, -regardless of cost.</p> - -<p>“I’m not going to take no for an answer. I want you and that smart -cousin Frank down here to show some of my cow-punchers what’s doing in the -line of this flying business. But most of all I want to see -you. I’ve got your pictures before me as I write, and I’m counting the -days until you arrive, bag and baggage. Wire me on receipt of this all -about your plans and when you can start. If you say you can’t come, I’m -going up after you. I’m used to having my own way, the boys down here will -tell you. With lots of love, believe me,</p> - -<div class='tar mr40'>“Your affectionate uncle,</div> -<div class='tar sc'>“Jethro Witherspoon.”</div> - -</blockquote> - -<p>When Frank finished reading this remarkable letter, Larry gasped for -breath; while little Elephant stood on his hands and cracked his heels -together.</p> - -<p>“That sure takes the cake, Andy, Frank!” he declared, when he had once -more resumed his customary position, with his head higher than his heels. -“And my stars! what a ge-lorious time you two will have of it, away down -in that desert corner of Arizona! Cowboys—bucking bronchos—whirling -ropes—branding cattle—the merry round-up—the camp-outs on the plains, -and all them stunts. Oh! what wouldn’t I give to be going along with you, -fellers?”</p> - -<p>“It’s always better to be born lucky than rich; I’ve said that before, -and I’m ready to stick by it!” stoutly asserted Larry. -“Frank, can we go, do you think?” asked Andy, almost in a whisper, as -though he had hardly as yet recovered his breath, taken away at the -wonderful news contained in that letter which his cousin had brought -him.</p> - -<p>“We’ll think it over and see,” replied the other, always avoiding the -rush tactics that Andy frequently displayed, and which made him a valued -member of the Bloomsbury High football eleven. “But I rather guess it -could be arranged, if my father is willing.”</p> - -<p>“Huh! no danger of him saying no,” grunted Larry. “He ought to know -that you two boys can take care of yourselves anywhere on the face of the -earth. After you went down to Colombia in South America, and figured out -where he must have drifted to, when he lost control of his balloon; -afterwards rescuing him from that queer old valley surrounded by the high -cliffs, that made him a prisoner, the Professor’d say yes if you wanted to -try a trip to the moon. And some of us’d believe you, if you said you’d -been that far in your airship, and shook hands with the Old Man up -there.”</p> - -<p>“But he wants us to take our aeroplane along, Frank; could we pack that -up and send it by express, do you think? Will they take anything as big -and cumbersome as that, in boxes or crates, by express?” -Andy went on, eagerly, as though in his mind the fact of their going was -already assured.</p> - -<p>“I guess they’ll take anything short of a house!” declared Elephant. -“Even if it needs a special car to carry it along. If you sent the thing -by freight, chances are it’d be a whole month getting there.”</p> - -<p>“And time counts with Uncle Jethro more than money does with most men,” -remarked Larry. “You see he wants to get you there with your flier -regardless of expense. Why, I’d wire him tonight, Andy, and pack up in a -couple of days. Elephant ’nd me’ll help out all we can.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I should say we’d thank you for the chance,” spoke up the Small -boy.</p> - -<p>“It’s hard to believe we’ve got such a great chance to see something of -that country down there among the mountains and deserts and plains of -Arizona,” Andy went on to say, as though he wanted some one to stick him -with a pin, so as to find out whether he were really awake, or only -dreaming.</p> - -<p>“And I never dreamed we’d have such a great opening to visit that -country,” the other Bird boy went on to say, while his face beamed with -delight which refused to be repressed. “That uncle of yours -must be a fine old chap, Andy. His letter is a peach, and I’m as sure as -anything we’ll like him from the word go. Think of his throwing you a -check for a thousand just like it might be thirty cents; and telling you -to draw on him to any amount. He must think we’ll be wanting to charter a -special train to take us and the aeroplane along.”</p> - -<p>“Chances are he’d stand for it,” ventured Larry. “Say, why didn’t some -rich old uncle of mine think of me, and send a little piece of paper this -way? I’ve got half a dozen wealthy ones, but they don’t know I’m on the -face of the earth.”</p> - -<p>“Well,” said Elephant, “get busy then, and make the name of Geohegan -famous, and then they’ll all break their necks trying to get you to let -’em adopt you. The trouble is, Larry, you hide your light under a bushel -too much. Fly high, like the Bird boys do, and everybody ’ll see what you -are.”</p> - -<p>The other gave a dismal groan.</p> - -<p>“That’s just what ails me,” he complained, “I can’t fly at all. Why, I -get dizzy in a swing; and even when I go out on the lake, if she’s the -least bit rough, you’ll find me hangin’ over the side right away, tryin’ -to see how deep it is, and wonderin’ if drowning’d stop my - troubles easy like. I reckon I’ll just have to make up my -mind that if ever I set this old world afire, it’s got to be by doin’ some -stupendous intellectual stunt. That seems to be my long hold, just as -eatin’s yours, Elephant.”</p> - -<p>“Rats,” jeered the other, contemptuously, “as if you couldn’t stow away -twice as much as me any day you felt like it. I talk a heap about the grub -racket; but you can work them jaws of yours to beat the band, Larry -Geohegan.”</p> - -<p>“Well, do we start off now, or fuss around and chatter like a lot of -monkeys?” demanded the party thus referred to by Elephant.</p> - -<p>“What about your wheel, Andy; you don’t want to lug that along through -the timber by that snaky trail?” asked Frank.</p> - -<p>“I had fixed all that in my mind as I pedalled,” was the reply. “You -know we have to pass the Fletcher place just above here, before we strike -off the road, and I can leave the bike there till we come out this -afternoon.”</p> - -<p>“Sure thing!” commented Elephant, nodding his head sagely; -just as though when he approved of a suggestion it had the hall mark of -wisdom stamped on it.</p> - -<p>“I’ve done that more’n once when I had my wheel along,” declared Larry, -bent on showing his chums that he could have an original -idea once in a while, even though fame had not picked him out for a -favorite.</p> - -<p>“Did you bring a pole along for me, Frank?” asked Andy.</p> - -<p>“Yes, and plenty of hooks, and lines, and sinkers, and what-not,” -replied the one addressed. “Elephant, here, says he’ll cut a pole after we -get on the ground; and the chances are he’ll be the luckiest fisherman of -the lot. Nearly always turns out that way, I notice; for the fellow who -just takes things as they come along gets the biggest fish and the -greatest number. Now, you see, I’ve got a rod along, a real jointed split -bamboo rod that was given to me last Christmas by my guardian, old Colonel -Whympers. I’m going to be the toney angler, and try all sorts of stunts -while the rest of you are pulling in the fish. But to me a pound bass -caught on light tackle is better than one that weighs three times as -heavy, if I have to just yank him in with a pole, and a cord tied to the -end—no reel, no fine leader, only a hook in a bunch of wiggling worms, -and a float above the sinker.”</p> - -<p>“Huh! you’re getting big notions, Frank,” grunted Larry. “Time was when -you seemed just as well pleased with one of these long cane - poles. I’m mighty much afraid you’re getting spoiled, my -boy.”</p> - -<p>“Well, if somebody made you a present of a beautiful jointed rod like -that, now, Larry——” began Andy.</p> - -<p>“Ain’t no chance for that to happen; nobody ever thinks to remember my -birthday, ’cept you fellers; when you pound me nearly to death, and then -treat to the ice cream to make up for it,” Larry lamented, dolefully.</p> - -<p>“But supposing they did,” persisted Andy, who never liked to give up -anything on which he had started; “now, wouldn’t you want to get -acquainted with it; and if you caught a good fish that way, and felt how -he pulled, and saw the slender rod bend nearly double, wouldn’t you want -to try it again and again, honest Injun, Larry tell me?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I guess so, Andy,” answered the other, making a grimace, “but -there ain’t no such luck for me. I must a been born under an evil star, my -mom says, because I’m always bustin’ things at home. She says it’s because -I’m so clumsy; but I know better. Why, seems like some things just fall -over and smash, when I happen to look at ’em.”</p> - -<p>“Then for goodness sake quit looking at me like that, Larry!” exclaimed -Elephant. “I ain’t got no hoops around me right now, and I -tell you I don’t want to bust any—not till after we’ve had that bully old -camp dinner today, anyhow. Just turn your eyes the other way, thank -you.”</p> - -<p>Andy had meanwhile carefully placed the wonderful check inside the -envelope once more, and with a pin fastened the latter in his coat pocket. -It was Frank’s suggestion that he do this; for the latter knew from -experience that Andy could be a bit careless at times. And the thought of -losing that windfall, when so delightful a future beckoned to them through -its means, would be enough to give any boy the heart-ache.</p> - -<p>“All ready, boys?” asked Frank, presently, as he stooped and carefully -picked up the little covered case in which his fine rod lay, each joint -reposing in the groove that was made to hold it.</p> - -<p>“Yep. Let me carry the poles, Larry. You’re always getting things -caught in the bushes and trees as we go along. Why, only the last time we -came fishin’ didn’t you hook me in the ear, and make me howl like -anything? You take care of that fryingpan, and the bundle of grub. And -walk ahead, so’s we c’n kinder keep an eye on you, please, Larry.”</p> - -<p>“Huh! think you’re smart to say that, don’t you, -Elephant?” grunted the other, but in spite of the fact that these two were -usually in some sort of a “spat,” they were really great friends, and -ready to do almost anything, one for the other.</p> - -<p>So the four boys left the shelter of the fine old beech that stood -alongside the road, while its mates grew over on the other fence; for -strangely enough, Frank had noticed that beech trees like company, and are -rarely if ever, found alone.</p> - -<p>They walked briskly along the road, with their backs turned in the -direction of the not far distant town. A little ways off they would climb -the fence, pass through a field, enter the woods, and by a short-cut reach -the fishing grounds much more easily than if they had skirted the lake, -and coming to the little river, followed up its sinuous course.</p> - -<p>Just as they came to the bend a short ways above, Larry, who was ahead, -happening to turn around in order to say something was seen to stare, and -then exclaim:</p> - -<p>“Well, now, if that don’t beat anything going!”</p> - -<p>Of course his strange words, together with the look on his face, -aroused the curiosity of the other three boys. They, too, turned their - heads, thinking in this fashion to discover what had given -Larry so great a shock; but so far as they could see, there was nothing at -all in sight.</p> - -<p>“What was it?” demanded Andy.</p> - -<p>“Did you see somebody?” demanded Elephant, getting his poles in every -sort of trouble, in his eagerness to learn what it was all about back -there.</p> - -<p>“Yes, and what do you think, fellows, he just dropped down out of the -branches of that big birch tree, and hurried into the bushes like fun. -Take my word for it, he must a-been up there all the time we was sittin’ -talking; and if that’s so, he learned about Andy here getting that letter -and check from Uncle Jethro, ’way down in the cow-puncher country.”</p> - -<p>“But who in the mischief was it, Larry, did you know him?” persisted -Elephant.</p> - -<p>“I should say yes; and who but that sneak of a Sandy Hollingshead, the -shadow that hangs around after Percy Carberry, and does most of his mean -work for him. And chances are, he’s makin’ for town right now, to tell all -he’s learned. Say, won’t your old rival, Percy, be mad, though, when he -hears of the luck that has come to the Bird boys?”</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 title='Looking For Trouble' id='chIII'> -CHAPTER III—LOOKING FOR TROUBLE -</h2> - -<p>Andy looked somewhat serious when Larry said this; but Frank on his -part only laughed.</p> - -<p>“Well, what does it matter?” he remarked. “The thing will be town talk -in a little while, and those fellows would hear it that way. Let Sandy run -with his great news and give his chum a pain. You don’t think for a minute -that because we’ve got a chance to go off there to the cattle country, -that Percy Carberry would make up his mind to hike that way, with some -sort of machine he’s got coming, to take the place of that new biplane the -bank thieves wrecked for him in Lake Ontario?”</p> - -<p>“But you know how bitter he’s always been against us, Frank?” -expostulated Andy.</p> - -<p>“Many’s the time he’s tried to do us a bad turn; and even up in the air -he used to take the greatest delight in swooping past us, just as close as -he dared, and give us a scare; though he quit that when you threatened to -lick him.”</p> - -<p>“But didn’t you do Perc a great favor that time he had his machine -knocked to flinders on the table rock up yonder?” demanded Elephant, -turning to point his rods upwards to where quite a mountain -reared its head toward the clouds, and which was locally known as Old -Thunder-Top, though in the atlas it had another name.</p> - -<p>Nobody had ever been able to climb to the summit of that precipitous -height, and when the Bird boys landed there once from their aeroplane and -planted a flag above the nest of the white-headed eagles they achieved a -great triumph. The incident to which Elephant alluded had been brought -about during a sudden thunder storm that had caught the rival aeroplanes -while making a flight to the top of the mountain; and at that time the -Bird boys were indeed placed in a position to save the lives of Percy -Carberry and his comrade Sandy; but since gratitude was a foreign element -in the make-up of the jealous rival, he had never shown that he meant to -change his tactics toward Frank and Andy.</p> - -<p>“Oh! never mind about what we did,” remarked Frank. “Forget it, just as -Percy has done. Tomorrow, we’ll get as busy as beavers, packing the -machine in the cases; and how lucky we didn’t break them up as you wanted -to do, Andy, just to get rid of the stuff, you said. I guess we ought to -be able to ship on the next day, and then learn just how long it’ll be on - the way, so we can time our own going.”</p> - -<p>“Huh! seems to me you ain’t botherin’ much about whether your dad’ll -give his consent, eh, Frank?” remarked Larry, grinning.</p> - -<p>“Oh! I’m taking that for granted; because you all seemed so sure he -wouldn’t refuse me that favor,” chuckled Frank. “But come along, boys; -what do we care if Sandy did get the news first hand, by climbing that -tree when he saw us coming along the road, and keeping those big ears of -his wide open. So far as I’m concerned I’d just as soon tell them myself -all about our plans; because if we’re away down in Arizona, and they stay -here in old Bloomsbury, I don’t think Percy’s got a long enough arm to -reach that far, and do us any harm.”</p> - -<p>“He sure would if he could, and don’t you forget it,” muttered -Elephant; and at that Andy looked more or less troubled.</p> - -<p>As our story concerns the doings of the Bird boys in other fields than -that of their old stamping grounds around the home town, we need not -accompany them further on their visit to the fishing hole. Enough to state -that the finny tribes bit eagerly at times, and that besides having a fish -dinner at noon, they all carried home respectable strings to exhibit as - evidence of their prowess with hook and line.</p> - -<p>Frank doubtless felt satisfied with his sport, even though he did not -take the largest bass, nor the greatest number for that matter; and the -whole of them came home by sundown, tired, yet satisfied with the day’s -sport.</p> - -<p>During the many hours spent alongside the deep hole where the fish -loved to lie in these late summer days, there was plenty of time in which -to discuss the coming departure of Frank and Andy for the Far West. And it -can be set down as certain that the subject was threshed as dry as a bone -before the quartette separated for the night.</p> - -<p>Early the next day Elephant and Larry showed up at Frank’s house, to -find him already busily at work out there at the hangar, taking off bolts, -and dismembering the wonderful aeroplane with the confidence of one who -was familiar with every minute detail of its construction; which was only -the truth, for with his cousin he had partly built at least three “fliers” -up to now, and was continually thinking up some new arrangement that would -make the task of piloting aeroplanes through the upper air currents much -easier, or possibly add to their safety when rocked by furious gusts of -wind among the clouds. Andy soon showed up, and almost -quivering with eagerness to get busy. There did not seem to be the -slightest thing in sight to disturb the two who were planning such great -things.</p> - -<p>And that was indeed a busy morning for the four friends.</p> - -<p>Elephant and Larry were only too anxious to do all that lay in their -power, in order to assist. True, their knowledge of the mechanism -connected with these amazing air travelers was rather limited; but then -both were willing to do odd jobs of carrying, and nailing up cases; so -that altogether they made themselves very useful indeed.</p> - -<p>Larry managed to bottle up his envy on this occasion, and even seemed -quite gay. As a rule he was a good companion, cheerful, willing, and -generous to a degree. And Elephant could hardly have been any happier even -though given the opportunity to accompany the pair of adventurous voyagers -on their long trip.</p> - -<p>Then came the afternoon session, and they went at it with renewed vim. -It is astonishing what an amount of solid work four husky boys can put in -during a whole day with the tools, especially when two of them are as -expert in handling monkey wrenches and the like as Frank and -Andy were.</p> - -<p>By four o’clock the aeroplane had been completely and securely packed, -and they were waiting for the big truck which Frank had engaged at the -livery stable, to show up, in order to carry the same to the freight -station of the railroad.</p> - -<p>The man presently came along, and with the help of the four boys the -various boxes and crates were loaded. Then they started off, headed for -the railroad; and as their route lay directly through town it was not long -before quite a following of youngsters trailed along, chattering about the -mysterious way in which Frank Bird was about to ship his aeroplane, and -inventing all sorts of miraculous stories about certain races in which the -two cousins were slated to take part; until one boy more daring than his -mates, managed to climb up on the truck, and read the address which had -been plainly printed on every piece of freight.</p> - -<p>So it was known that the aeroplane was being shipped far away to -Arizona; and it may be set down as certain that this fact only served to -whet the curiosity of that crowd of half-grown lads more than ever.</p> - -<p>Frank had learned on the preceding evening how it would -have to be sent out. The express people would handle it after a certain -fashion, shipping by what they called fast freight. The agent calculated -that in this way it would take about ten or twelve days for the aeroplane -to reach the border town where Andy’s uncle was to meet them upon their -arrival.</p> - -<p>Of course that meant a long delay, and much fretting; but it was the -best that could be arranged, and Andy had to abide by it. But between them -he and Elephant and Larry had decided that they would not let the precious -freight go unguarded for a minute, until it was placed in a car on the -following morning, and had left Bloomsbury on the freight that would rush -it to the nearest city, where it could be attached to the fast train that -left daily for Western points.</p> - -<p>Frank was inclined to make fun of his cousin for his suspicions, and -declared that according to his mind they had nothing to fear, except the -possibilities of a fire sweeping down upon the ramshackle freight house, -which was the best Bloomsbury could boast until the new stone one was -completed.</p> - -<p>“Do just whatever you want to, boys,” he had remarked, after they had -received the receipt for the freight, and paid the charges all - the way through, with some of the cash that wonderful check -had been exchanged for after Andy had written his full name across the -back; “but I rather think you’ll have all your trouble for your pains. As -for me, I’ve got a few important things to work at tonight, and so, if you -don’t mind, I’ll spend the time in the shop. Good luck to you all! Let me -know the first thing in the morning if everything’s O.K.” With that Frank -swung around on his heel and strode away.</p> - -<p>“How about that, Andy,” demanded Larry, when they saw Frank vanish -beyond the open door of the freight shed; “is he really giving us the hook -because we think it best to watch the blooming freight tonight, for fear -that tricky Perc Carberry and his man Friday, I mean Sandy, swoop down -upon it, and do something to make your fine airship good only for the -scrap-heap?”</p> - -<p>Andy laughed as he replied:</p> - -<p>“You just don’t know Frank as well as I do,” he observed. “Chances are -that if we hadn’t set up that howl about being afraid something was going -to happen here, my cousin would have quietly sneaked along this way after -dark, and stood on guard the whole blessed night.”</p> - -<p>“What’s that you say, Andy, and he just laughed at us too? I didn’t -think Frank had it in him to play a joke like that,” exclaimed Elephant, -looking hurt.</p> - -<p>“Well,” went on Andy Bird, “you see he knew we were bent on keeping -guard here, and Frank does hate to see anybody disappointed; so he just -let us have our own way about it. And then when he said he had something -important to do at our shop, he spoke the truth; because he’s right now on -the heels of a discovery that may mean a whole lot to us.”</p> - -<p>“All right,” remarked Larry. “We’re only too glad to let Frank off, and -run the whole shooting match ourselves, for once. Now, how shall we fix it -so every fellow can get home to supper, and yet keep tab on what’s going -on here all the while?”</p> - -<p>This was very easily adjusted, however. They left Larry on guard, -because he said his folks had supper later than the rest; and both -Elephant and Andy promised to hurry back as soon as they could get enough -to eat; and let their folks know just why they did not expect to occupy -their beds that night.</p> - -<p>This plan worked all right.</p> - -<p>When the two boys turned up together, one having called for the other, -of course the first thing they asked Larry was whether -anything had happened; perhaps their sharp eyes detected the fact that he -looked somewhat excited, and they judged that this could hardly be unless -he had seen something suspicious.</p> - -<p>“Well,” remarked Larry, with his favorite drawl, “I kept myself hid -just as nice as you please, and I was glad I’d been so smart; because who -should walk in here talking to the agent but Perc himself. Seemed to be -asking if any freight had come along for him, and made out to be pretty -huffy over the delay of the railroad to deliver stuff. Got the agent to -hustle around, looking to see whether it could a-been overlooked, and -hidden out of sight behind other things. But say, when he was sure the -other’s back was turned, what did Perc do but step up to your stuff, Andy, -and take a quick look at the directions you marked on each package. Then I -heard him chuckle, step back, and measure distances with his eye; just -like a feller might do that expected to come back here in the dark and -prowl around and wanted to get his bearings well in his head!”</p> - -<p>“Wow! now what d’ye think of that?” exclaimed Elephant, showing his -white teeth aggressively, and doubling up his diminutive fist; for, -although unusually small in stature, he was a spirited lad; -just as the little bantam rooster seems ready to fight a big Plymouth -Rock, or a Shanghai, for that matter, if the opportunity offers, and he -feels that his dignity has been affronted.</p> - -<p>Andy nodded his head, and looked rather pleased.</p> - -<p>“Let’em come,” he said, “it won’t be the first time I’ve lain in wait, -expecting a sneaking night visit from Percy Carberry and some of his -crowd. And history has a way of repeating itself; so in that case he’s -going to be in for a mighty unpleasant experience, or my name isn’t Andy -Bird.”</p> - -<p>The boys had thought fit to approach the agent, and tell him that since -there was no way of locking up the heavy freight that lay around under -that shed; and they had reason to fear that an attempt would be made to -injure the crated aeroplane, they meant to watch throughout the night. Of -course, he had not the slightest objection to offer. The company would be -liable to damages should any occur, but that would prove but sorry -compensation to the Bird boys for the loss of their aeroplane; since such -a catastrophe was apt to prevent them from accepting the warm invitation -of Uncle Jethro in far-away Arizona. And after night set in -the three sentries arranged matters to suit the plans of Andy, who had -figured out a little scheme which he believed would cover the ground, and -not only warn them when intruders started to lay hostile hands on the -freight, but play havoc with their mean plans.</p> - -<p>The time passed slowly, and it must have been very near midnight when -they heard the first indication that prowlers were about. The hanging door -at the end of the old freight shed squeaked somewhat when moved; and this -sound came plainly to the ears of Andy and his two chums.</p> - -<p>They touched each other, as if to give warning, and to make sure that -no one of the guardians of the boxed aeroplanes could by any possibility -be asleep. Then they got themselves ready to meet the intruders with a -little surprise that was calculated to give them more or less of a -shock.</p> - -<p>And as the three friends crouched there behind the boxes which they had -moved in position for this very same purpose, they heard low faint -whispering sounds that seemed to be gradually drawing closer and closer, -as though those who groped their way in the dark might be -comparing notes, and thus deciding whether they were moving along the -right track.</p> - -<p>It looked as though the crisis might be very near; and that in perhaps -another minute they would be compelled to throw off the mask and give the -skulkers the surprise of their lives.</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 title='The Panic That Came to Pass' id='chIV'> -CHAPTER IV—THE PANIC THAT CAME TO PASS -</h2> - -<p>“H’st! flash that light a little!”</p> - -<p>These low words were plainly heard by the two concealed boys. They came -immediately after there had been some sort of head-on collision between a -couple of the prowlers, which had resulted in grunts, and a plain -unmistakable groan.</p> - -<p>Immediately a little shaft of bright light began moving this way and -that. Some one carried a very small edition of an electric flash-light. It -gave only an apology for a glow, and yet by moving this to the right and -to the left, it would be possible to discover obstructions, and thus avoid -any further collisions.</p> - -<p>Besides this, the eager searching eyes of the intruders would be apt to -discover the boxed aeroplane, for undoubtedly Percy was one of the lot, -and he must have marked the whereabouts of the freight pretty accurately -in his mind, at the time he wandered around with the agent, pretending to -search for his own stuff.</p> - -<p>“I see it!” some one said, in a satisfied tone.</p> - -<p>“Then for goodness sake show us,” grumbled another -fellow, who was possibly rubbing an injured head or arm as he spoke.</p> - -<p>“This way, everybody; and get ready to do what I say!”</p> - -<p>That must surely be Percy Carberry talking, though neither Andy nor -Elephant, nor yet Larry, could recognize the voice, which seemed strangely -muffled. But the closer they examined the three approaching figures, -slouching along in a half hearted way, as though conscious of the danger -that hung over their heads while thus entering upon the property of the -railroad, the more convinced Andy and his chums became that they had some -sort of muffler fastened across the lower part of their faces, which -interfered with their voices.</p> - -<p>Perhaps this had been done in the hope and expectation that, if by -chance they were discovered while attempting to injure the aeroplane, they -might pass for a lot of hobos attempting to pilfer something from the -railroad yards that could be sold for enough money to buy liquor.</p> - -<p>Andy gave each of his companions a nudge, for Elephant was ranged on -one side, while Larry crouched on the other. This was understood to be a -signal. It just as much as said, “get ready now, to let go when you hear -me start in!” And both of the others immediately drew in the -greatest breath they were capable of containing, according to the capacity -of their lungs.</p> - -<p>That odd little glow kept wavering around in a queer manner. If Percy -were holding the electric torch in his hand he must be trying to show his -companions just how things lay, so that they could see how to get to -work.</p> - -<p>In that moment of intense excitement none of the watchers thought of -trying to guess what sort of mischief the prowlers had in view. It was -quite enough for them to know that the precious aeroplane was the object -of their malicious scheming.</p> - -<p>“Are you all on?” demanded a hoarse whisper.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” came from two other quarters, for the three intruders seemed to -have ranged along side the heap of freight in as many different quarters, -as though it might be their prearranged plan to attack it from various -points.</p> - -<p>“Then get busy with you, fellows!”</p> - -<p>That was of course the last straw on the camel’s back. When Andy heard -these words, and realized that the attack on the boxed flying machine was -about to start in, he could hold back no longer.</p> - -<p>“Soak ’em, tigers!” The words were shouted at the top of -his voice; and both Larry and the Small boy joined in the refrain, making -all the noise they could possibly bring to bear, according to the amount -of wind they had pent up in their lungs.</p> - -<p>No doubt the outburst of sound must have struck terror to the hearts of -the trio of guilty skulkers, already very nervous on account of their -knowledge that they were doing a mean and criminal act. In that minute -they probably received one of the greatest shocks of their lives. Detected -in wrong-doing their consciences must have stabbed them like sharp-pointed -knives; and the possible shameful results of being caught in the act, and -held up as awful examples before the rest of the town, gave them a -wrench.</p> - -<p>But that was not all.</p> - -<p>Andy and his companions had made preparations for bombarding the enemy -with a shower of stones that were of no mean size. While the scantiness of -the illumination might make such a thing as taking aim a difficult task, -still, at such close quarters there were sure to be frequent collisions -between the rapidly flying missiles and some parts of the bodies of the -fleeing boys. Above the cries of the assailants could be -heard the shouts which the retreating skulkers gave vent to, as they fell -over unseen packages of freight, banged headlong against walls that seemed -strangely out of place, and doubtless accumulated a fine collection of -bumps and bruises that would remind them of the adventure for a long time -to come.</p> - -<p>Of course, as soon as the flight was fully on, Andy and his chums -ceased bombarding the panic-stricken enemy, thinking that they had enough -troubles of their own in trying to make the partly open door of the -shed.</p> - -<p>When he went home to supper Andy had secured a little hand torch of his -own, and one that possessed considerable more power than that Percy had -fetched along. This he now brought into play; and by shooting the shaft of -light ahead he was able to discover the three fleeing figures nearing the -exit, and sprawling every-which-way, as they met up with obstacles of all -sorts.</p> - -<p>“Come on, let’s capture ’em!” shouted Andy, and with his companions he -started as if in hot pursuit, though of course this was meant only as a -little additional spur, to add to the alarm of the runners.</p> - -<p>When Andy and the other two boys broke out of the end of -the freight shed they could still hear the frightened fellows banging up -against things, for the yard was not kept as neatly as it might have been. -One flying figure that they gave chase to fell into an open culvert, and -though they looked for him, he had evidently crawled far underneath, in -his great alarm, for they could not find a trace of the poor wretch, who -must have remained there, wet and shivering, for hours, before he mustered -up enough courage to crawl out and sneak home.</p> - -<p>Another made a headlong plunge over a pile of scrap iron; and though he -managed to scramble excitedly to his feet, when he went off it was hopping -on one leg a good deal of the way, and with a series of grunts that told -how it hurt.</p> - -<p>“I guess that’s enough, fellows,” wheezed Andy, for he was himself so -out of breath that he could hardly talk.</p> - -<p>The first thing they all did was to bend over, and laugh until their -sides really ached. It doubtless looked mighty humorous to the three who -had done all the chasing; but those other fellows would have a different -story to tell, if asked. But then the old fable is always true, and what -is “fun for the boys is death to the frogs;” no fellow ever -plays a practical joke that amuses him highly, but what some one has to -pay the bill and do the crying.</p> - -<p>So Andy led his army back once more to the interior of the freight -shed.</p> - -<p>“Let’s look to see if they managed to do the first bit of damage,” -suggested the leader, and quickly adding, “why, looky here what they’ve -gone and left behind ’em—a hatchet, an augur, a chisel, a screw -driver—enough tools to stock a carpenter shop. Now, if we knew who owned -these, we’d have it on him pretty strong.”</p> - -<p>But when, in the morning, Andy started an investigation, thinking that -the tools might serve to identify the three boys who had entered the -railroad freight shed bent on damaging the crated aeroplane, he found that -Percy Carberry with his customary shrewdness had looked out for this and -covered his tracks deftly.</p> - -<p>The tools upon being exhibited were soon claimed by Mr. Mallet, the -carpenter, who said that when he reached his shop that morning he found a -window had been forced, and quite a quantity of his property carried away. -And so it was rendered impossible to identify the rascals by the abandoned -tools.</p> - -<p>Of course, had Andy wished to carry the thing further he -might have drawn attention to the fact that Percy Carberry, Sandy -Hollingshead, and another boy often seen in their company were absent from -their customary haunts that morning; and if interviewed at home would be -found to have sundry patches of court plaster adorning their noses and -foreheads which would indicate that there must have been an epidemic of -falling out of bed on the preceding night. But of course Andy did not mean -to pursue the matter any further, believing that “all was well that ended -well,” and that the boys had already been sufficiently punished.</p> - -<p>What he did do immediately after leaving the shed was to call up Frank -on the phone at the drug store. Frank did not often oversleep, but being -up late on the night before, seemed to cause him to lie abed a little -later on this morning. He happened to be eating his breakfast at the time -the bell rang; and as the phone was in the diningroom of course he -answered it.</p> - -<p>“Hello! this you, Frank?” came in a voice he recognized as belonging to -Andy.</p> - -<p>“Yes, what’s all this row about?” answered Frank, humorously.</p> - -<p>“Coming down here soon; I’m at the drugstore close to the -station, you know?” the other went on to say.</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter—anything happen?” demanded the boy at the other end -of the wire as if realizing from Andy’s manner that there had something -occurred that must be out of the common.</p> - -<p>“Sure. We had company, and the greatest old time you ever heard of, -Frank. Tell you about it when you get here. We’re going to breakfast now, -and will meet you at the freight shed later to see the stuff packed in the -car.”</p> - -<p>“Hold on. Was there any damage done to our machine?” demanded the -other.</p> - -<p>“Never a scratch; but it was a close shave. So-long, Frank; see you -later!” and having accomplished his object, which was to excite his -cousin’s curiosity to fever pitch, for it was seldom he had the chance to -do such a thing as this, Andy abruptly severed connections and hurried -home to get something to eat.</p> - -<p>Frank was there all right when Andy got back to the station; and -doubtless he had managed to pick up some sort of an account of what had -happened; for he seemed to be cross-questioning one of the freight -handlers, even while examining the boxed and crated aeroplane. - Of course Andy gave him the whole story; and as both -Elephant and Larry had by this time shown up, the four of them laughed -again and again, while each of the several witnesses of the panic related -their version of the affair, adding such humorous touches as might occur -to them.</p> - -<p>The boys agreed to let the matter drop, since Percy and his cronies -must have been sufficiently punished. Besides, being boys, they were not -inclined to be hard on other fellows; even though they felt more or less -indignation at the mean way in which Percy Carberry always tried to even -his scores.</p> - -<p>One thing sure, they meant to hang around that station until the -precious aeroplane was not only securely placed in a car, but the train -pulled out that was to start it on its long western journey to the -far-away Arizona cattle ranch where Uncle Jethro waited to receive them -with open arms.</p> - -<p>And there they did remain until the train pulled out and they had the -last glimpse of the precious air wonder, safely stowed in its car and -headed toward the Land of Promise.</p> - -<p>After that the boys were content to walk home, where Frank and Andy -soon got busy again in their shop; for they had many things - in process of building, on which they could always spend a -spare hour; while Larry and Elephant hung around, ready and willing to -assist if only told how to do things.</p> - -<p>Of course much of the conversation concerned the new and strange sights -that were likely to be the portion of the Bird boys while spending the -coming weeks upon a real Southwestern cattle ranch. They brushed up their -knowledge of things supposed to be associated with cowboy life; but which -of course had been for the most part gleaned from books and the -newspapers.</p> - -<p>“Ten days, and perhaps our aeroplane will be there,” Andy was saying -that evening, as he and Frank locked up, preparatory to going home; and he -had been yawning for the last hour, on account of having had so little -sleep on the preceding night. “That ought to mean we must start from here -by another week, don’t you think, Frank?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, a week from tomorrow morning would be about the right time,” -replied the other, as he turned the key in the lock and tried the -door.</p> - -<p>Andy chuckled.</p> - -<p>“Mighty careful about that door, I see, Frank; don’t mean to take any -chances of somebody getting in our shop, like they did once -before when we had that old lock on it. But I know just three fellows who -are not thinking of trying any caper like that tonight. If you mentioned -it to them, like as not they’d shiver all over and look sick. Because they -got the scare of their lives last night. I just reckon they won’t feel -like creeping in any old dark place for a long time after this.”</p> - -<p>The two cousins walked along until they came to Frank’s house when Andy -prepared to stalk off alone.</p> - -<p>“Goodnight, Frank,” he said, “and here’s hoping that we get as good a -start as we gave the airship today. A week from tomorrow, you say? Well, -in the morning—” another big yawn—“we’ll have to get busy, and send -Uncle Jethro a long message, telling him when he can look for us, and to -have the agent out there keep a watch for our freight. Wow! but I’m that -sleepy I can hardly see straight. No, can’t stop over with you, because I -was away last night, you know, and mom might be worried. So-long, Frank! -See you again after breakfast, when we’ll get busy with that new drag -brake you’re working on, and which ought to work like a charm.”</p> - -<p>“Call me up on the wire when you get home, Andy,” said Frank, after -him.</p> - -<p>“Hey! d’ye think somebody’s going to try and kidnap me on the road?” -demanded the other.</p> - -<p>“No; but I’m afraid you may go to sleep on the way, and keep on walking -everlastingly,” called out Frank, laughingly, and then closed the door.</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 title='What They Found at Witherspoon' id='chV'> -CHAPTER V—WHAT THEY FOUND AT WITHERSPOON -</h2> - -<p>“We’re almost there, Frank!”</p> - -<p>“Yes, the next station is Witherspoon, the brakesman said. Got all your -traps ready, Andy?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I’ve had them gathered up this half hour and more. Whee! ain’t it -hot down here, though; and won’t I be glad to get out of this stuffy -sleeper?”</p> - -<p>The two cousins had made the long journey at a pretty rapid pace, and -at the time these words passed between them, were nearing the end. They -had for some time skirted deserts and mountains that looked very strange -to their Northern eyes. And when occasionally they caught fugitive -glimpses of distant herds of cattle grazing on some miles of grass lands -bordering the course of a hidden stream, naturally their thoughts went out -to what they expected to see when they had arrived at the cattle ranch of -Andy’s uncle.</p> - -<p>“Uncle Jethro must be a man of some importance down this way,” Andy -went on to say, “when they go so far as to even name the station after -him.” At that Frank chuckled.</p> - -<p>“Well,” he remarked, drily, “if it looks like some we’ve seen, that -isn’t paying your relative a very great honor; because they were the most -terrible tumbledown places I ever did set eyes on. But let’s hope -Witherspoon will turn out to be something different.”</p> - -<p>“Frank, I do believe the train’s beginning to slacken up right now!” -cried Andy, all of a tremble with eagerness.</p> - -<p>“You’re right it is and here comes our friend the brakesman to help us -off with all our truck,” observed the other Bird boy, who did not show his -excitement as much, although no doubt he too was quivering with the -anticipation of the coming introduction to Western ways.</p> - -<p>Presently the train came to a stop, and the boys having reached the -platform of the sleeper stepped off.</p> - -<p>As they did so there was a loud whoop from a dozen lusty throats. -Looking in the direction from whence these vociferous sounds proceeded -they saw a collection of rough and ready picturesque cowboys, just like -those who had appeared in the moving picture plays which Frank and Andy -had enjoyed from time to time in the little playhouse in Bloomsbury.</p> - -<p>They were on foot, but their horses could be seen hitched -along a rail close by, and exhibiting more or less of spirit because of -the hissing engine, to which they were evidently not accustomed.</p> - -<p>Frank had just shaken hands with the accommodating brakesman, and tipped -the colored porter of the sleeper, when he discovered Andy caught in the -arms of a tall man, whose snow-white mustache and goatee gave him a -distinguished appearance.</p> - -<p>Of course this could be no other than Uncle Jethro. Frank knew he would -like the ranchman from the start, and that nearly everybody must. While -his word was law in that section, at the same time the owner of the ranch -was a genial gentleman, whom most of his cowboy hands thought so much of, -that they would be willing to go through fire and flood at any time to -serve him.</p> - -<p>Frank at first sight thought Uncle Jethro looked like a Kentucky -Colonel; and that impression never left him.</p> - -<p>“So, this is Frank Bird, is it?” exclaimed the cattleman, hurrying over -with extended hand which closed on that of the boy with a vim that made -him wince. “Well, it does my heart good to see you both. We’re going to -try and give you the time of your lives down here. Yes, your - freight is in the house yonder, and we’re prepared to haul -it to the ranch right away. I must say I’m pleased to find you both such a -hearty looking lot. And a spell out in this free air will do you a world -of good. But won’t you come over and shake hands with my boys; they’re -just wild to meet you. For ten days, now, all the talk around here has -been of flying machines. Most of us have never seen such a thing; and -you’d laugh yourselves sick to hear the guesses that have been made about -what they look like. Most of the boys are of the opinion it’s only a big -gas balloon. Here you are, and now let me do the honors.”</p> - -<p>The train had already pulled out, so that they had the little Arizona -station to themselves. One by one the cow punchers stepped up, and were -properly introduced to each of the Bird boys in turn; generally with some -little side remarks that might apply to their appearance or the name they -went by.</p> - -<p>In this way the newcomers felt that they already knew considerable -about their new friends, even before they had met them five minutes. -Cowboys as a rule are not a hard lot to get acquainted with; they are -blunt and open and full of questions.</p> - -<p>It could be seen that the two boys from the Far East were -objects of intense curiosity to every one of the bunch. They watched them -closely, just as though some were secretly of the opinion that Frank and -Andy might at any moment suddenly develop a pair of wings that they had up -to then kept hidden about their persons, call out a hasty goodbye, and bob -up in the air as easy as the ordinary cowpuncher would hurl himself on his -pony.</p> - -<p>“Now, let’s see about getting your freight started, boys,” called out -Uncle Jethro, after this ceremony had been completed, and the newcomers -had been duly welcomed with hearty handshakes by the grinning punchers. -“You see, we fetched a big wagon along, with four horses; and likely -enough that will get the stuff out home by night. If it looks hard, I’ll -send back another lot of horses to help pull. And your trunk can go along -with you on the back of the carryall. The boys wanted to fetch mounts for -you both, but I reckoned that you might not be wholly as much at home on -the back of a pony as in your flying machine, so I drove in myself.”</p> - -<p>Frank thought that was very kind and considerate of Uncle Jethro; who -must have known that the wild spirits among the cowboys would be apt to -make it a bit unpleasant for greenhorns who were unused to -their harum-scarum ways when in the saddle. Wait until they had been there -a week, and he believed that he and Andy might be able to hold their own -fairly well; for both of them had done more or less horseback riding, such -as is practiced on Eastern roads, and which must be pretty tame compared -with the dash of these reckless riders of the range.</p> - -<p>The whole lot trooped after them when they accompanied the cattleman to -the little freight house. Here their precious aeroplane was found, and so -far as they were able to tell from a quick survey of the outside, not the -slightest injury had been done during its long journey. This was doubtless -due at least to the care the boys had shown in crating and boxing the -various parts; and which experience had taught them just how to go -about.</p> - -<p>Amid more or less excitement and shouting the big wagon was backed up -to the door of the freight shed; and then, under the directions of Frank, -the loading began. No lack of willing hands, when every one of those -sturdy fellows seemed just wild for a chance to just touch the wonderful -flying machine, of which they had heard so many stories, most of which -they did not believe, of course; for it seemed like a yarn -from the Arabian Nights or Baron Munchausen, this idea of mere boys going -up in the air thousands of feet, in a shell of a machine, with a little -buzzing motor attached to it; or flying hundreds of miles over the wild -forests away down in South America, where they were said to have found the -long-lost father of Frank.</p> - -<p>All the same, they handled the crates with more or less tenderness. -Although no doubt most of them had already decided that it was pretty much -of a fake, and that they would be a sold lot by another day, still they -were as eager as a parcel of eight year old lads to see what was coming. -Talk about the excitement that strikes an Eastern country town when the -circus arrives, it could not bear any comparison with the feverish spirit -that possessed those jostling cow punchers as they heaved and tugged and -loaded up the wagon just as Frank wanted.</p> - -<p>When the last crate had been placed on top, the heavier engine being -away under all the rest, Frank saw to it that stout ropes secured the -whole. And watching just how the boy directed these things, Uncle Jethro -nodded his head toward his foreman, Waldo Kline, and winked one eye, just -as if to say, “He’ll do!”</p> - -<p>Finally all seemed ready, and the horses were apparently -anxious to start on the return journey; for quite a number of miles lay -between the station where cattle were shipped, and the ranch buildings -proper.</p> - -<p>Uncle Jethro last of all cautioned the driver to take his time, no -matter how long the trip seemed. Not for worlds would he have any upset -occur, or a runaway take place. If any injury were done the precious -flying machine at this stage of its long journey he would never forgive -the one responsible for the trouble. They had waited so long to see the -wonderful contraption really sail through the air that he would not answer -for what the rest of the boys would do, should they find themselves -disappointed.</p> - -<p>After that it might be set down for granted that the driver would -exercise more than ordinary care in transporting the freight. If an -accident should happen the chances were he would feel like mounting a -horse immediately and putting for the railroad, to board a train, fearful -for his life.</p> - -<p>Having strapped the trunk on behind the carryall in which Frank and -Andy were already seated, the joyous bunch of punchers made a rush for -their horses. The two Easterners watched eagerly to see whether the -pictures did them full justice in mounting; and on the whole -they were not in the least disappointed; for every fellow seemed to have -his own odd way of flinging himself into the saddle; and the instant the -pony felt his weight there would be an upheaval and some tall jumping -about, until the rider found his seat, and thrust his toes into the -stirrups, and from that instant he seemed to become a part of the animal -itself.</p> - -<p>“Great, isn’t it, Frank? I’ve pictured that lots of times, but never -thought I’d see it with my own eyes. And they seem to be a bully bunch of -fellows, warm-hearted as the day is long; and I guess we’re going to like -it down here, all right!”</p> - -<p>Frank thought just the same as Andy seemed to, even though he had not -as yet expressed himself that way. Among the dozen cow punchers they would -doubtless find a number who would become fast friends; others they might -not happen to fancy as well, perhaps on account of some peculiarities, or -it might be a retiring disposition on the part of the nomads. But first -impressions count for a lot; and it must be confessed that both of the -Bird boys were mighty well pleased with their hearty reception by the -outfit connected with the Double X Ranch. “All ready?” -called out Mr. Witherspoon; and as no one said anything to the contrary he -waved his hand to the circling boys.</p> - -<p>Immediately a series of shrill “yip-yips” broke out, as the riders went -tearing off at a furious pace, to wheel presently and come charging -headlong down toward the carryall, waving their hats, and carrying on as -though possessed.</p> - -<p>“Don’t mind ’em, boys,” remarked Uncle Jethro, complacently. “They’ve -just got to work off some of the surplus energy that this free life seems -to stow up in a man. You’ll be doing the same before you’re here a week, -mark my words. But I have got as fine a bunch of boys as ever threw leg -over a bucking broncho; and you’ll say as much when you get to know the -most of them. Not that they haven’t got their faults, but we overlook -small things out in this big country, you know, where the sky seems to -bend down and touch the earth all around you. Now, step lively along -there, Dexter and Silas, you ornery mules, hit up a pace!”</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 title='At the Double X Ranch' id='chVI'> -CHAPTER VI—AT THE DOUBLE X RANCH -</h2> - -<p>The Bird Boys would not soon forget that invigorating ride. On all -sides they saw a thousand things that excited their wonder; and which they -did not hesitate to ask about. And Uncle Jethro was only too willing to -explain; he wanted these bright-faced boys who had come to visit him, to -learn all about the things with which they would come in daily contact, -and the sooner the better.</p> - -<p>From this time on there would be a complete change in the air around -Frank and Andy. The talk of the cowboys was along the line of ranch life; -and by degrees many of the phrases that went to describe such things -entering into the daily life of these wild plains riders, would become -familiar to the “tenderfeet.”</p> - -<p>They saw the cactus that grew along the border of the desert; the tufts -of what Uncle Jethro called “buffalo grass,” possibly because the bison -that formerly covered these same plains in countless tens of thousands -used to feed upon it; watched the queer antics of a village of prairie -dogs they passed on the way to the ranch; and heard the boys speak of a - muddy hole as a “buffalo wallow,” though the chances were it -had been half a century since such an animal had lain down to rid himself -of the flies, by wallowing in the mud and water that came from a -rainfall.</p> - -<p>Here were a few stray cattle which the rancher termed “Mavericks;” and -called to the foreman to mark down, so they could be rounded-up and -branded on the morrow; there they overtook an Indian family on the move, -with a calico horse harnessed to a couple of long drag-poles, upon which -were piled all their worldly possessions, including the squaw herself and -a dusky papoose; and once in the distance they saw a line of white-topped -wagons that gave the boys a thrill, thinking of those old days when -emigrants were in the habit of crossing the plains in such vehicles; until -Uncle Jethro kindly explained that this was a freighter’s caravan, the -prairie schooners being loaded with supplies for the mines that were -located away up in the mountains, where it was difficult to get such -material, the smelting being done on the ground, and only the pure copper -shipped out to the market.</p> - -<p>It was altogether too short a ride, Andy loudly declared, when his -uncle announced that the ranch buildings were in sight ahead. He - had seen so many new and interesting sights that he thought -he could never drink in enough of this air, heated though it might be.</p> - -<p>All the same, both lads looked eagerly ahead, anxious to know what the -Double X Ranch would turn out to be like.</p> - -<p>They saw a cluster of white buildings, none of them over one story in -height; and partly surrounded by green trees, that had doubtless -influenced the owner to make his headquarters in this particular spot, -where good water was to be had in abundance.</p> - -<p>Already the boys had started on a gallop for the house, whooping as -usual. A genuine happy-go-lucky cow puncher is probably about the noisiest -creature on the face of the earth; he never seems to be fully satisfied -unless he is making some sort of a racket, either chasing cattle, -cavorting on his pony amidst his comrades, or shooting up a border town -when on one of his “pay-day” outings.</p> - -<p>Before they reached the buildings they had drawn close enough to the -passing freight caravan for the boys to even hear the vicious crack of the -teamster’s long blacksnake whips, and to hear a choice collection of words -when some little accident happened to delay the creaking wagons a brief -time. Uncle Jethro was an old bachelor. He had a very -efficient housekeeper in a Mrs. Ogden, a middle-aged widow, whose husband -had been some sort of cousin to the owner of the ranch, and connected with -him slightly in the business, at the time he died.</p> - -<p>A beaming Celestial cook, who sailed under the name of Charley Woo, -looked after the kitchen, and seemed to satisfy the demands of the -vigorous punchers. When he was out with the boys in charge of the “grub -wagon,” during their round-ups, those left at home were well taken care of -by the housekeeper herself.</p> - -<p>Everything was so fine that both Andy and Frank knew they were going to -have the time of their lives; and would begrudge the days that slipped -past. They meant to soak in all the information possible, as well as show -these dashing riders that if they were greenhorns in all that was -connected with cattle punching, at least they occupied a high standard -when it came to bold exploits away up in the clouds.</p> - -<p>During the remainder of the day they went here and there, making fresh -discoveries at every turn, and fairly saturating themselves with the -multitude of things that were associated with this new life.</p> - -<p>One of the cowboys in particular had attracted the -attention of Andy; and Frank also admitted having taken an immediate -liking for the same fellow. He was a lively boy, full of vim and go, and -yet with something winning about his ways. They called him “Buckskin,” and -it was quite a long time before either of the newcomers learned that he -had another name, Oliver Cromwell Jones.</p> - -<p>He seemed more eager to hear about the exploits of the young aviators -than any of the rest; though for that matter they were every one of them -hanging around every minute they could spare from their duties, showing -the newcomers their bunkhouse, the big stables, the enclosure where the -saddle band of horses was usually kept when not in use, and everything -else they could think of, until both Andy and Frank felt that they were -growing confused under so much attention.</p> - -<p>And what pleased Frank most of all was a rude building or shed which -Uncle Jethro had had built to serve as a hangar for the biplane. Where he -got his ideas from they did not know; but it must have been some magazine -article; because the affair seemed to answer all requirements; though of -course it was a mere shed, and not intended to be locked up.</p> - -<p>But such a thing as injury coming to the precious -aeroplane in this isolated place never once occurred to the boys. Surely -there was no malicious Percy Carberry, and his shadow Sandy Hollingshead, -away down here to want to render the biplane worthless for use; and every -one of the punchers acted as though he believed the greatest treat of his -whole life would arrive when he actually saw with his own eyes those -daring young aviators mount upward toward the sky, until they seemed like -a mere speck in the blue vault.</p> - -<p>There was one occupant of the ranch building whom the boys were pleased -indeed to meet. This was a little fairy of five, named Becky, a blue-eyed -child, daughter of a niece of Mr. Witherspoon, who had departed this life. -She was a winsome little thing, and the cow punchers seemed to fairly -worship her.</p> - -<p>Frank guessed that there was a little mystery attached to her, but he -did not mean to seem curious, and ask any questions. In due time they -learned from Buckskin that this niece had run away with a dashing Mexican -named Jose Sandero; and after being cruelly treated by him, had fled once -more across the border, arriving with her tiny baby at the Double X Ranch -so worn out with fatigue that she had soon passed away. Her -child had been left to Uncle Jethro; but not wanting to risk any chances, -he had taken legal means to make himself the guardian of little Becky. And -ever since she had been the sunlight of the whole ranch. The boys would -stop in the midst of any wordy war, or wild singing, just to listen to the -music of her sweet childish voice, that seemed capable of arousing all the -best emotions in their natures.</p> - -<p>Nothing had ever been seen of the father, and it was taken for granted -that he must either be dead, or never wanted to attempt to claim his -child. And, Buckskin declared that if ever he did show up round that -region, he stood the finest possible chance of pulling hemp that any man -ever knew.</p> - -<p>That supper was one never to be forgotten. With the smiling Chinaman -waiting on the noisy crowd, and appeasing every demand, Andy thought he -had never enjoyed anything half so much in all his life. He had often -camped out, and eaten the fare that is so greatly relished by every -healthy lad with red blood in his veins, but there were so many things -connected with this meal at the long table, where some ten ranch riders -sat, and exchanged comments characteristic of their occupation, with -everything so strange to the tenderfoot, that it made a deep -impression on both the newcomers, never to be eradicated.</p> - -<p>Then the punchers trooped off to their bunkhouse, to leave the -travelers alone, for they felt that they needed considerable of a rest to -make up for the fatigues of their long journey.</p> - -<p>The man who drove the double team connected with the wagon must have -coaxed considerable speed out of them after all without meeting with any -accident on the road, for the freight had shown up an hour before sunset, -and ere the call came for supper it had all been safely stowed away in the -rude hangar, where Frank and his cousin could work at it on the -morrow.</p> - -<p>It was rather early when the boys sought their comfortable little room, -where the white sheets invited them to sound slumber; and the soft night -breeze fanned their cheeks, coming through the many windows that were -always open.</p> - -<p>They sat at the window some time, talking in low tones about many of -the strange things they had already seen, and speculating on how this dry -air of the desert border would affect them, when they made their first -ascension.</p> - -<p>Far away the mysterious lowing of herds came faintly to their ears; -they could also catch the whinnying of horses in the -stockade; and now and then the sound of music in the shape of a deftly -manipulated accordion; or it might be the soft twanging of a Mexican -mandolin, while one of the boys warbled softly about some black-eyed -senorita he had left behind him in the country of the dons.</p> - -<p>After a while the cousins decided that they ought to be in bed, and -getting rested for the labors that awaited them in the morning. And once -they threw themselves down, they were lost to the world in a few -minutes.</p> - -<p>Of course they dreamed as every boy does pretty much all the time. And -it was only natural that Andy’s mind should go back while he slept to -other days, when he and Frank were engaged in the hottest of races with -their rival, Percy Carberry, who was just as deeply interested in all -matters connected with aviation as they had been.</p> - -<p>Many a time had they found themselves compelled to sit up and guard -their property when they had by some successful exploit aroused the worse -elements in the jealous nature of this rival. And even now, though removed -from the home town and Percy by several thousand miles, Andy had to dream -that once again a dark cloud was hovering over their -fortunes, and all caused by the hatred of this boy who for more than two -years had been the one thorn in their flesh.</p> - -<p>So vivid had been his dream that Andy actually suddenly awoke with a -low cry, and sat up in bed, trembling all over.</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter?” demanded Frank, also springing up.</p> - -<p>Before Andy could frame any sort of answer, owing to the confusion of -ideas that seemed to be tumbling pell mell through his brain, both of them -were thrilled to hear a voice from somewhere outside shouting:</p> - -<p>“Wake up! help! help! fire! Whoop! get busy there, fellows!”</p> - -<p>As though governed by a couple of springs the cousins leaped from their -comfortable bed, and rushing over to one of the windows that looked toward -where the new shed covering the precious aeroplane stood, they saw a sight -that thrilled as well as alarmed them.</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 title='A Pretty Close Call' id='chVII'> -CHAPTER VII—A PRETTY CLOSE CALL -</h2> - -<p>“Oh! it’s our hangar on fire!” gasped Andy.</p> - -<p>“Quick, get into something then, and out we go!” cried Frank, always -the prompt one to act in an emergency.</p> - -<p>Andy hardly knew how he ever did manage to drag on a pair of trousers, -and his shoes. His hands were shaking so he could hardly do what he aimed -to accomplish; and all the while the shouts were increasing in violence, -as well as that terrible light growing brighter.</p> - -<p>By the time he had managed to get the second shoe on, Frank was already -outside; and having seen how easily the other jumped through the window to -the ground, Andy hastened to follow his example.</p> - -<p>Already there was a group of the punchers at work; and the clear -commanding tones of Mr. Witherspoon’s voice could be heard telling them -just what to do. Fortunately it had always been a set principle of the -rancher to prepare for war in time of peace, and he had a drilled fire -department, with the hose and extinguisher handy.</p> - -<p>Every fellow knew just where he fitted in; and perhaps it -was this very system that prevented much damage being done. Instead of -great confusion, with each eager fire-fighter getting in the way of the -others, and nothing worth while being accomplished, the genius at the head -of the combination saw that every man occupied the place that had been -laid out for him.</p> - -<p>And when several chemical fire extinguishers started to get busy, it -was a losing fight with that conflagration; though possibly had it been -given another quarter of an hour in which to get a firm grip on the -contents of the shed, there must have been a far different story to -tell.</p> - -<p>All this while the boys seemed to feel their hearts choking them with -burning anxiety. What if after all their precious aeroplane should be -injured after so successfully passing through the perils of that long -journey! It was like a slap in the face, as Andy termed it.</p> - -<p>And it may be readily understood that, when the water with which that -end of the long shed had thoroughly drenched the last spark of fire, so -that it was safe to enter, they hurried in alongside Uncle Jethro, who was -breathing all sorts of bitterness toward the one whose carelessness had -brought about this accident, both Frank and his cousin were -in a feverish state of suspense.</p> - -<p>Eagerly they made the rounds escorted by the equally anxious Buckskin -and the other range riders. It was almost pitiful to see how these usually -loud voiced fellows now had not a whisper to spare; but just watched the -faces of the young aviators, and waited to hear the verdict.</p> - -<p>And then, when finally the rounds had been made, and Frank gave it as -his opinion that no damage worth mentioning had come about, it seemed as -though the very roof of that shed would be fairly lifted from its supports -by the volume of the lusty shouts that soared upwards from the -leather-lined throats of Buckskin and his companions.</p> - -<p>Those who had been slightly burned in fighting the blaze went around -showing the red marks with the pride that a warrior might in his scars of -battle; and the forlorn chaps who had come off unscathed felt sorry -because they had not seen to it that they secured their share of the hall -marks of fame when they had the chance.</p> - -<p>Each cowboy had to line up and shake hands with Frank and Andy, while -he offered congratulations on the lucky outcome of what at -one time had threatened to be a national misfortune. And they looked as -happy over it as though some rich uncle had suddenly stepped off, leaving -them a fortune; or a big cattle ranch, which is the cowboy conception of -great good luck.</p> - -<p>But Mr. Witherspoon was not so easily satisfied. That fire had not -started of its own account. Either some one had been exceedingly careless, -criminally so, or else there was a mystery back of its happening; and he -meant to know which of the two possibilities was the truth.</p> - -<p>So he started an investigation right on the spot, with the half-clad -punchers brought up before him one after the other. It was easily proven -who had been last at the shed; but this was one of the oldest and most -reliable of the force, a man by the name of Steady Matt; and he declared -that when he left the new building it was perfectly safe, nor had he seen -a single match struck by a cowboy while there—this being one of the -little fads of the rancher, who was next door to a crank concerning the -careless use of matches about the place.</p> - -<p>“Now, the boys, they seem to reckon, Mr. Witherspoon, that it might -a-been the work of an outside party; leastwise, that’s what they - say,” remarked Buckskin, when the examination seemed about -to end, without any one being a bit the wiser.</p> - -<p>“Oh! is that so, Buckskin?” ejaculated the rancher, looking immediately -interested. “Suppose you tell me, then, what they are talking about. We’ve -had our little differences with Major Cloud and his Circle Ranch crowd; -but I wouldn’t want to think any man who ever threw a leg over a pony’s -back, or snapped a quirt as he rounded up cattle, could be guilty of such -a nasty job as trying to burn a neighbor’s buildings.”</p> - -<p>“’Tain’t them, Mr. Witherspoon,” the puncher went on to say, earnestly, -as he slapped his leather chaps with the stick he held; “p’raps Rustler -Carlos’d fill the bill more like, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I wouldn’t put such a job past that sneak one minute,” declared -the rancher, promptly, “and he certainly has plenty of cause to hate me, -after the way we took that bunch of stolen long-horns away from him last -spring, and gave him a close call before he could cross the border into -Mexico. But he hasn’t been heard of around here since then; so it must be -only a wide guess you boys are making. But I’d a thousand times rather -think that, than have a man in my employ be careless, or -ready to play a low-down trick like that.”</p> - -<p>“If we thought it was done a purpose, Mr. Witherspoon, and could find -out the feller that done it, there’d be some queer fruit a-growin’ on one -of them telegraph poles along the Santa Fe railroad; ain’t it so, boys?” -and the indignant Buckskin turned around upon the cluster of listening -hustlers.</p> - -<p>The instantaneous shout of wild approval that greeted these words would -have convinced any listener of the evident sincerity of the group. If -there was one among them who had yielded to any sort of temptation, it was -evident that he could not be easily persuaded to make a second attempt. -But after all, it seemed silly to think such a thing could be true; when -the Bird boys did not have an enemy down here in this new country, where -every one had been an utter stranger until now.</p> - -<p>“But let’s forget all about it,” said Frank, at this juncture. “Not a -speck of harm has been done, and we’re as sure that no one here would -dream of trying to injure our machine as we are that we draw breath.”</p> - -<p>“Bully for you, Frank!” shouted one of the punchers; and of course -another wild cheer had to allow some of the pent-up -enthusiasm to break loose.</p> - -<p>Had any one been passing along the trail that led to the mines, and -which ran about a mile from the ranch buildings, and heard all this clamor -at dead of night, he must have been greatly puzzled to account for the -racket; and possibly think that the Double X outfit were making a night of -it with good cheer.</p> - -<p>“There’s one thing sure,” said Uncle Jethro, positively, “after this -we’re not going to let this flying machine of yours, boys, lie unguarded. -I leave it to my foreman, Waldo Kline, here, to see that it holds safe; -and he’ll be accountable to me for it.”</p> - -<p>“Wow! we’ll all camp around it, if so be he says the word!” cried -Buckskin, with a look toward his chums, which brought out encouraging -comments.</p> - -<p>“Come on back to the house, Frank and Andy,” remarked the rancher, “and -you can just as well make up your minds that after this no piece of -property was ever so jealously guarded as your machine will be. I’m sorry -for the wretch that tried to do it any injury after this. He’ll sure -believe he’s run up against the biggest hurricane ever, the way those boys -will rustle him.” And Frank believed him.</p> - -<p>He went back deeply thankful that no harm had befallen the aeroplane -before it made its maiden trip in those Arizona hot airs; and yet puzzled -to account for the fire.</p> - -<p>“Do you really think it was an accident, Frank?” asked Andy, when they -found themselves once more alone in their little room.</p> - -<p>“Ask me something easy, won’t you?” replied the other, as he prepared -to crawl into bed again. “I wish I did know the truth, because I don’t -like this thing of suspecting any fellow, when he may be as innocent as -you and me. But honest now, I can’t bring myself to believe that it was an -accident.”</p> - -<p>“Well, there may be something in that story about the Mexican they call -Rustler Carlos,” Andy went on to say. “Buckskin was telling me some things -about his doings around this region some years back. He cut a pretty wide -swathe, they say; and in his many ‘drives’ carried off hundreds of fat -cattle across the border into Mexico, where it wasn’t safe for Americans -to go, because they sort of hate Gringoes down there, you know.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I understand,” Frank added, “and just as Uncle Jethro said, he -was the first to really break up this fine and profitable rustler - business of the cattle thieves. This Carlos must hate him -with all the fury his breed can show. And if he ever did have nerve enough -to run up this way again, I guess he’d be glad to try and do the Double X -Ranch people a rough turn, if he saw the chance. But perhaps we’ll know -more about this thing some time later.”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” Andy went on to say, a little vindictively, for he had been much -worked up over the threatened destruction of the planes and woodwork of -the aeroplane; “and if this Rustler Carlos should happen around again, I -reckon it’ll be hardly worth mentioning what they won’t do to him. I never -saw fellows madder than these boys seem to be right now. And Frank, I kind -of think they’ve taken a great liking to you, on so short an -acquaintance.”</p> - -<p>“Better say yourself, Andy,” retorted the other immediately; “because -everybody nearly does, that meets you. Now roll over, and quit thinking -about the thing. It’s all right, and no damage done, so go to sleep like a -good fellow. You won’t get a single word out of me, I warn you.”</p> - -<p>And Andy knowing that his cousin meant it did proceed to chase all -thoughts of the recent excitement from his mind, so that he might - settle down again into a sound sleep, for it seemed that -midnight had no more than passed, so that a long period still remained -before the coming of dawn awoke them.</p> - -<p>There was no further alarm.</p> - -<p>Doubtless that cordon of slumbering cowboys lying around the new shed -formed so close a protection, that even a wandering rattlesnake could -hardly have passed the line without being challenged.</p> - -<p>And when Frank opened his eyes again, the light of day was shining in -through the two windows facing the east; so that, hearing sounds that told -of breakfast being made ready, he gave Andy a kick, telling him to bestir -himself, if he hoped to start the day rightly by appearing at early -breakfast with the rest of the Double X outfit.</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 title='The Broncho Buster Meets His Match' id='chVIII'> -CHAPTER VIII—THE BRONCHO BUSTER MEETS HIS MATCH -</h2> - -<p>Such a busy day as they put in.</p> - -<p>It was hard for the foreman to influence the cow-punchers to look after -their customary avocations, for they wanted to be hanging around that -hangar all the time, watching Frank and Andy assemble the various queer -parts of the delicate contraption that, when completed would be called a -biplane.</p> - -<p>The idea that any one would dare trust himself in such a little -contrivance, and soar like the white-headed eagle away up above the -clouds, staggered the belief of these fellows; all of whom wanted to be -“shown” before they would be willing to admit that such a wonderful thing -could ever come to pass.</p> - -<p>They looked on the Bird boys with almost reverence. Such pluck and -daring outdistanced their own reckless horseback plunging as far as the -sun outshines the yellow moon.</p> - -<p>Some of them tried their very best to make themselves useful, and even -pleaded with the boys to think up some way in which they could “run and -fetch,” so that the foreman would excuse them from going out on the range -after stray mavericks, or rounding up bunches of cattle that -may have strayed toward the dangerous coulies of the mountains, where all -sorts of danger would await them.</p> - -<p>But as they needed no assistance whatever, Frank had to shake his head, -even to the persistent Buckskin, for he knew that if he favored one it -would create bad feeling among the rest and this was something to be -avoided, so early in their acquaintance with these warm-hearted but -impulsive cattle punchers.</p> - -<p>When noon came the aeroplane was taking shape, and beginning to look -like something. A little help was needed when it came to installing the -motive power; but there was plenty to be had; in a pinch even the grinning -Charley Woo would have been willing to lend a hand; although he had -privately announced it as his opinion that if this wonderful affair, that -looked so much like the big box-kites flown in his native country, could -sail away above the clouds, they would never set eyes on the two bold -young navigators again; and he also said that Mr. Witherspoon ought to -keep control of the flying machine by means of a rope, so that he could -pull it down when he thought best.</p> - -<p>It was really wonderful how quickly all the boys got through with their -jobs on this particular day. Where under ordinary conditions -they would not have shown up at the ranch house until evening, they now -came galloping in like mad by two o’clock, and before three had arrived -not a single puncher was out on the range.</p> - -<p>Mr. Witherspoon smiled and nodded his head good-naturedly when he -noticed this significant fact.</p> - -<p>“Already your coming has borne fruit, you see,” he remarked to Frank; -“and if it keeps up we’re going to have the greatest lot of hustlers here -at the Double X Ranch you ever heard tell of. They can do things like -lightning these days. And look at the way they hang around, just devouring -both of you boys with stares. I guess you’ve got them locoed for a fact,” -and when Frank, who wanted to know what everything meant, stopped him -right there to ask for an explanation, the obliging rancher told how there -was a certain weed known as the loco, which, when cattle indulged in it, -made them crazy for a time, so that they were apt to rush into streams and -be drowned, or pitch pell mell over precipices in their blindness and -excitement.</p> - -<p>About four o’clock Frank announced that everything was ready for the -first ascent and the feverish punchers could hardly contain -themselves. It needed only a word to get them to do anything that was -required; for the time being they were ready to act as slaves, if by so -doing they could hasten developments.</p> - -<p>There was a splendid level stretch upon which the first run could be -made; indeed, that was one beauty of aeroplaning on the plains, where -difficulties would not be met with in landing, or making an ascent.</p> - -<p>Frank gave the signal, and willing hands assisted in starting the -strange affair with its box-like wings. Charley Woo hid behind a pile of -crate material as though really fearing that the spirits of the air might -be offended by this bold invasion, and start to visit their vengeance on -the whole lot who had assisted in the work.</p> - -<p>But the cowboys jumped for their horses, and mounting like a flash, -started to gallop after the young aviators, fully expecting that they -would have the mournful office of gathering up their remains, and -transporting them back to the ranch house.</p> - -<p>Judge of their astonishment and wild delight when they saw the -aeroplane leave the earth, take a turn upward when the forward plane was -elevated, and start in the direction of the few fleecy, -floating white clouds that hovered overhead.</p> - -<p>How they yelled and shrieked and pranced about as though they had -really and truly lost their heads. And then, gathering in a bunch they -watched the wonderful evolutions which those skilful air pilots put their -willing steed through, as thoroughly entranced as though they had been put -under the magic power of a wizard.</p> - -<p>Frank was not taking unnecessary chances. He wanted to know the -conditions of this new country before attempting any of the more difficult -maneuvers which he and Andy were accustomed to carrying out in their home -circles, where they understood the wind and its peculiarities to a -dot.</p> - -<p>But the most simple trick was greeted with hoarse shouts by that -cluster of eager watchers below. And when the young aviators began to bore -up and up in circle until they were fully six thousand feet high, the -amazed and delighted spectators almost broke their necks staring after -them, afraid lest they miss a part of the spectacle if they so much as -turned away for a single instant.</p> - -<p>Then again they came circling down in great loops, while the little -gathering near the ranch house stood and gaped and wondered -if they were really awake, or passing through a vivid dream of -enchantment.</p> - -<p>The conditions being favorable, Frank gave his companion due warning as -to what he was about to do, and then started to volplane downward. -Immediately cries of horror broke out from those intrepid range riders, -who naturally believed something must have broken aboard the aeroplane, -and that the Bird Boys were now being hurled to earth, from which they -would later on be picked up lifeless.</p> - -<p>When they saw the flying machine suddenly recover a level position, and -with the merry hum of the motor start again to spin along, about two -hundred feet above their heads, the punchers fell into each others’ arms, -as though too weak to stand up any longer.</p> - -<p>Shortly afterwards Frank brought his aerial steed to a landing just at -the very point where he had taken his departure half an hour before; and -so lightly did the heavier-than-air machine settle that it seemed as -though an egg could hardly have been broken by the impact, had it come -between.</p> - -<p>They were immediately overwhelmed with warm congratulations because of -the marvelous work they had done while aloft. It had been - only the common, every-day experience of Frank and Andy; but -in the eyes of these untamed Western spirits was wonderful beyond -compare.</p> - -<p>“Here’s Buckskin been boasting that if you boys could go up, he guessed -he could too. Take him for a little airing, Frank. Let him make good, or -shut up!” one of the cowboys exclaimed.</p> - -<p>“Would you like to try a little spin, Buckskin; Andy here will make way -for you if you say the word?” Frank asked.</p> - -<p>Now, the aforesaid Buckskin would have instantly declined but they had -him in a hole, where he must take water, or else put on a bold front. And -as a cowboy invariably hates to back down, once he has made his boast, he -tried to look quite indifferent as he replied:</p> - -<p>“Sure I’d like to take a little turn of a dozen miles or two with you, -Frank, if you’ll ask me. I ain’t had no experience in ridin’ one of them -cantankerous mounts; but they can’t find a broncho able to throw me; and -who’s afraid, anyhow? Tell me what to do, and show me how to do it, and -I’m there all to the good, and wool a yard wide.”</p> - -<p>So Andy climbed down, and the cowboy, sheepskin chaps and all, took his -place. He made out to be utterly at his ease; and it was -only Frank who knew from personal contact just how Buckskin was trembling -all the while.</p> - -<p>“All you have to do is to sit perfectly still; and don’t offer to do -anything to help me. If I want any assistance I’ll sing out for it,” was -the way the pilot of the biplane laid down the law; and Buckskin promised -faithfully that he would adhere to the rules of the game to the -letter.</p> - -<p>The start was made just as perfectly as before, and then Frank began to -perform a number of simple evolutions before making a try for -altitude.</p> - -<p>The dazed cowboy may have had a smile on his face all the while, but it -was of the kind that won’t come off, virtually frozen there. He clutched -the seat with rigid fingers, and stared out straight to where in the -distance he could see the summit of Mount Baker, said to be seven thousand -feet high, but which he believed was far below his lofty eyrie.</p> - -<p>Once, when he did catch faint yells from the crowd so far below him, -Buckskin mustered up assurance enough to take off his hat, and wave it -several times; but never once would he look straight down toward where the -others were cheering him to the echo. When finally, after a -whole lot of turning, until his senses fairly reeled, he heard Frank say -that they were nearly through, the scared cowboy regained courage enough -to send a sickly grin down at his comrades. Of course Frank would not -think of volplaning with a greenhorn aboard, as the chances were, he would -take fright and either leap out under the impression that they were bound -to have a smash-up anyhow, or else make some frantic move that would -endanger the very lives of both occupants of the biplane.</p> - -<p>And so they landed as neatly as any pilot of an air craft could -possibly do. The relieved Buckskin almost dazed, managed to drop from his -perch, his hands to be warmly shaken by his chums, while they assured him -that he had done the whole outfit proud by his recent gallant act.</p> - -<p>But it might have been noticed that Buckskin never again ventured to -accompany either one of the Bird boys aloft. He vowed that it was the -finest experience he had ever known, and one that he would not have missed -for a fortune; but all the same, he knew when he had had enough; and the -other fellows could try their hands at copying the old eagle, if they -wished; the land was good enough for him, all right. After -the business of the day had been completed the aeroplane was once more -successfully stowed away in its handy hangar, which was amply large enough -to accommodate it even when the planes were extended.</p> - -<p>It was just at this time Mr. Witherspoon beckoned Frank and Andy to -cross over to where he was standing, having come out of the house.</p> - -<p>“Please give me a few minutes of your time, boys,” he said gravely, -“something has happened since you went up that seems to possibly throw a -light on what happened last night,” and a minute later, as the three sat -down in his little office or den, the genial rancher went on to remark, -“tell me, was the name of that evil genius of yours, who tried all he -could to injure you two, Percy Carberry, or something like that?”</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 title='Figuring It All Out' id='chIX'> -CHAPTER IX—FIGURING IT ALL OUT -</h2> - -<p>“What’s that you say, Uncle Jethro?” exclaimed Andy, his face wreathed -in an expression of sheer astonishment; for it gave him a tremendous shock -to hear that nightmare of a name, Percy, mentioned away out here in -Arizona.</p> - -<p>“I’m sure,” the rancher went on, “you said something to me about a -scamp who was forever trying to do you both an ill turn up around home; -and unless I’m mistaken, you also told me he was the only son of a wealthy -but foolish widow, who supplied him with all the money he asked for. The -first name was Percy, that I’d swear; and the last one began with the -letters C-a-r, now didn’t it, boys?”</p> - -<p>“Carberry, that’s it, uncle,” burst out Andy.</p> - -<p>“But what makes you ask that, sir?” demanded Frank, looking curiously -at what seemed to be a scrap of paper in the fingers of the gentleman.</p> - -<p>“This is what made me mention it; it is apparently a small part of a -letter that some one at this place must have received not a great while -back, and which he thought best to destroy; but one of the -fragments lodged in a bush; and when my foreman chanced to notice it, and -idly picked it up, he was interested in the few words he could make out, -so he brought it to me. Here, take a look for yourselves, boys, and tell -me what you think.”</p> - -<p>On the piece of paper with the ragged edges there could only be made -out some dozen or two words; a portion of these being incomplete, though -easily guessed.</p> - -<p>These ran irregularly, and might be set down in something like the -following order: “Fifty dolla—good job of it—anyway you like—burn it to -cinde—hear how it—ld friend, Percy Car——”</p> - -<p>Andy nearly had a fit when he read this; Frank, on his part, felt the -blood boil within him, though better able to conceal the state of his -feelings, or rather control his temper, than his impulsive cousin.</p> - -<p>“Why, just think of that, would you?” exclaimed Andy, “not satisfied -with doing everything in his power to injure the Bird Boys while they were -up there, this contemptible ingrate actually has the nerve to write to -some fellow who, he happened to know, was working on or near this ranch, -and sent him fifty dollars, which was to pay him for doing something - to make all our journey down here useless—he even put it in -his head to burn our aeroplane, and all that! Oh! he is certainly the -meanest fellow that ever came down the pike. I almost wish we’d left him -up there on the summit of Old Thunder-Top, Frank, to get what he -deserved.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I wouldn’t say that, Andy,” remarked his cousin, “it’s a rough -deal, I know, but when we could save those fellows it was our duty to do -it, no matter whether they were of any use in the world or not. You never -can tell how things are going to turn out.”</p> - -<p>“You nearly always can when Percy Carberry has got to do with it,” -grumbled Andy.</p> - -<p>“Now, suppose you enlighten me as to what all this talk is about,” -demanded the rancher. “Am I to understand that you once saved the very -life of this boy, who is right now doing his level best to play you a mean -trick?”</p> - -<p>And so between them the boys had to relate the story, which has been -given in an earlier volume of this series, how they started in a desperate -race with Andy for the crown of the rocky height not many miles away from -Bloomsbury, away up in New York State; and a storm of wind coming up, the -aeroplane of Andy was wrecked, so that he might have even lost his - life, only that the Bird Boys managed to hold on to him; and -afterwards get the two boys, one at a time, safely to the ground.</p> - -<p>“Of all the cases of base ingratitude, that beats everything,” declared -the indignant rancher; and he forthwith set out to call every puncher and -employee on the place around him; after which he told the story and while -they listened in breathless wonder he went on to say, angrily:</p> - -<p>“If there chances to be any one within the sound of my voice who -received that letter, which I can hardly believe, I want to give him fair -warning right now, that if the slightest harm comes to either of these -brave boys while they are visiting at Double X Ranch, or if any further -attempt is made to injure their airship, the punchers of this outfit have -my hearty consent to carry out their own sweet will; yes, and by thunder! -under certain conditions, I’d be willing to help pull on the rope!”</p> - -<p>A salvo of cheers interrupted his words. Apparently they had found an -echo in every heart. But then Frank knew very well that if the guilty one -were present, it would be only good policy on his part to shout just as -loud as the rest, for fear lest suspicion be directed in his quarter. - A short time later he saw Buckskin beckoning to him. -Several of the other boys seemed to be clustered around him, as though -they had been comparing notes.</p> - -<p>“You see, Frank,” began Buckskin, when the other joined the group, -“none of us boys feel quite right on ’count of the way Mr. Witherspoon -said that same. It kinder made us feel oneasy like. We kept a-lookin’ at -each other, just like we was a wonderin’ whether it could be this one, or -that other night wrangler. Why, all of us feel meaner nor a mule skinner -about the same. And we’ve got together in a bunch to talk it over, so’s to -larn who it was got a letter from the East lately; and we struck pay dirt -right away.”</p> - -<p>“I’m glad of that,” said Frank, “though I hope it isn’t going to make -trouble for any fellow on the pay roll of Double X Ranch.”</p> - -<p>Buckskin grinned.</p> - -<p>“That’s where he played it fine,” he said. “Member the slim chap you -met yesterday when you landed, and who went by the name of Parsons? Well, -he gave notice as he’d been called back home, and had to quit here last -night; so off he goes late in the afternoon, bag and baggage. None of us -seemed to cotton to him much, though, as a puncher he knew his - business all right, and was fair spoken enough. But there -always seemed to be something slick about him that stood us off. Now, -several of us, on comparing notes, chances to remember that the Parson he -had a letter from East somewhere only a few days back. Looky here, Frank, -did you ever know anybody up in your town by the name of Edmondson; -because that was his real name, Collins Edmondson it was, though we always -called him Parson because he was so solemn like.”</p> - -<p>Frank looked at his cousin, who was also of the group.</p> - -<p>“That is certainty the name of his uncle; over in Rahway,” declared -Andy, “yes, and I remember hearing that name Collins before. I guess -you’ve struck pay dirt this time, Buckskin. And I’m glad, for one, that -now we know no man on this ranch would be guilty of such a mean game as -setting our machine on fire.”</p> - -<p>Buckskin was immensely pleased with the remarkable results of his -figuring, and detective work. He hastened over to tell Mr. Witherspoon all -about it; and soon afterward the rancher was seen to wring his hand until -he undoubtedly made the tears come in to the stunted cow-puncher’s -eyes.</p> - -<p>Great was the indignation among the rest of the boys when -they learned what appeared to be the probable truth. Some of them were -making hurriedly for their horses, muttering under their breath; and Mr. -Witherspoon had to do some quick hustling in order to cut the threatening -mutiny off.</p> - -<p>“Let the snake go, boys,” he said. “He didn’t carry out his -contemptible scheme, after all, thanks to your promptness and bravery. I -give you permission that if ever he shows his head around these diggings -again, which isn’t likely, you can treat him to a nice warm coat, even if -you have to borrow my tar kettle, and steal one of my best down pillows. -That goes, boys; so just turn back now.”</p> - -<p>Which the impulsive ones did, knowing that the rancher was a man of his -word, and evidently did not want the affair carried any further. But -doubtless they would manage to get word to the Parson, if so be he had -found employment anywhere in the country, that unless he felt cold, and -wanted a splendid down coat applied, regardless of cost, he would be wise -to keep away from Double X Ranch.</p> - -<p>Andy begged that scrap of paper from his uncle. He declared he meant to -keep it carefully and compare the writing with some of Percy Carberry’s -later on; and if this convicted him, he would throw the -matter up to him right on the school campus in the presence of a score of -the higher scholars, and spread his proofs before them, so that they could -let the cur know what they thought of his mean actions.</p> - -<p>Andy could be a good hater when he had occasion for it; he always -declared that he had a strain of good old Scotch blood in him that rose to -the surface every now and then.</p> - -<p>“Seems to me that lets Rustler Carlos out of it,” remarked Buckskin, -turning to some of the others with a wide grin, a little later, when he -came back feeling tenderly of his digits, that had a pinched look, where -they had lain in the tremendous grip of the rancher.</p> - -<p>“Well,” said another puncher, an old fellow called “Shorty,” though he -was six feet in height, “he’d be guilty of anything just as bad, if so be -he happened around; and for one I’m a-goin’ to keep my eyes skinned for -signs of him. Some say he crossed the line again below here fifty miles, -and made a swoop through the Underwood section; but that report has been -denied, and none of us know what to believe. So it stands to reason we -ought to keep on guard, and remember that Carlos, he don’t hold our crowd -in high esteem.”</p> - -<p>The boys felt in splendid spirits as night came on again. -Apparently, now, all clouds had rolled by, and they ought to have clear -sailing after this. There were dozens of other thrills they were holding -back in store for future exhibitions; for the Bird Boys had already -learned that secret of exhibitors to always keep the best in reserve.</p> - -<p>On special invitation from the boys they went over to the bunk house -that night and spent the time with them, listening to stories of thrilling -interest connected with the wild life of the desert trails, and the -valleys among the mountains in that strip of Arizona, most singular of all -the States in the Union in its many sharp contrasts with regard to the -rock strata and mineral formations.</p> - -<p>In return, Frank and Andy told in a modest way something of the many -exploits in which they had been concerned as air voyagers. Most of all, -the punchers wanted to hear about how they had gone down to South America, -and found Frank’s missing father a prisoner in a cliff-enclosed valley, -into which he had fallen at the time his runaway balloon drifted far to -the south from the Panama Peninsula, when he was conducting a series of -experiments, and explorations in the interest of the great - Northern college with which his name had long been connected -as a scientist.</p> - -<p>Andy was not so backward as his cousin about telling of what wonderful -things they had seen, and how close to death they had been on numerous -occasions; he even took advantage of the opportunity to describe how often -Frank’s splendid nerve had been the only thing that had kept them from -instant destruction; and although the other tried to make light of the -facts, those hardy cow-punchers realized that in this slender stripling, -who was so modest, and yet so self-possessed, they saw as true a hero as -ever had his name recorded in the annals of history.</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 title='Learning the Ropes on a Ranch' id='chX'> -CHAPTER X—LEARNING THE ROPES ON A RANCH -</h2> - -<p>The days began to just glide away, and every one saw Frank and Andy -finding new sources of keen enjoyment.</p> - -<p>They seldom lost a day for a while but that they went up for a short -time, at least, in the aeroplane that was the marvel and admiration of the -whole ranch. Those who worked on other cattle ranges were no longer -startled when they saw a strange object not unlike a monstrous bird come -spinning overhead, and disappearing in the distance. Though they never -failed to stop their work, no matter what that might be, and gape upwards, -as long as the aeroplane remained in sight, still, they no longer fired at -it, as happened at first.</p> - -<p>The boys had been warned by Uncle Jethro in the beginning that in -making their flights miles away from home they would be wise to keep a -pretty considerable distance aloft. There was never any telling what -cowboys would do; and they were so apt to empty their guns at what they -fancied must be some queer bird belonging to the supposed to be extinct -class. At any rate, the warning was heeded, and on numerous -occasions Frank and Andy believed that they profited from it. Indeed, it -seemed to be the usual thing, whenever they passed over a cowboy in some -strange section of the country, for him to whip out his gun and empty it; -after which he would sometimes dodge, and try to conceal himself under a -tree, or a clump of sage brush, or it might be a sentinel cactus ten feet -high, growing on the border of the desert.</p> - -<p>But by degrees the news was circulating around that this was one of the -new fangled aeroplanes, and the shooting began to grow less frequent, -though the young aviators did not take more chances than they could -help.</p> - -<p>Frequently, now, there would be company at the ranch and bunk house. In -fact, these days Double X Ranch was fast becoming the Mecca for the entire -neighborhood. Whenever a party of punchers got a holiday, instead of going -off to town to indulge in a booze, they would start over to see the -“wonder of the air,” and hope that the young pilots of the upper currents -would perform for them.</p> - -<p>This got to be such a nuisance that finally Frank had to announce that -they were only going up on certain days, when the exhibition would be -free. And at such times there was sure to be quite a crowd -present, all wild to see how this queer steed that flew through the air at -the rate of from forty to eighty miles an hour, or even a full hundred on -occasion, was managed.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the two boys had been singularly fortunate, in that they -did not meet with a single serious accident. Outside of the intense heat -they had little of a disagreeable nature to contend with in this Arizona -climate, where winds did not often visit the lowlands in great force, and -a dead calm usually prevailed. And as soon as they were aloft, they found -the atmosphere decidedly cool, even cold, since they were quickly free -from the earth’s radiation.</p> - -<p>Of course, they had scoured the immediate country, and even ventured a -short way out over the desert, dropping low enough to observe the strange -formation of the billows of sand that reminded them of the sea, note the -peculiarities that marked the tall cactus plants; and make up their minds -that there could be a great many more pleasant things happen to them than -getting lost on this burning stretch, with little or no water to quench -their raging thirst.</p> - -<p>After the first glimpse of that waste stretch, the boys always made -sure to carry a big bottle of water along with them when starting out. And -Uncle Jethro declared that it was a wise precaution, as they -could never tell when such a thing might prove to be a life preserver, if -not for themselves, then possibly in the case of another who had -unfortunately lost himself on the desert, and whose plight they might -discover from aloft.</p> - -<p>But while they scoured the level in this fashion, the boys were -cautious about trying to fly over the rugged elevations to the north, -where the mines were being operated, to which the trains of wagons -containing supplies headed so frequently.</p> - -<p>They found just as they expected, that the winds were apt to be -contrary in this region, and that it was more or less dangerous to attempt -to fly where at any minute a furious gust would suddenly strike the -aeroplane on the right quarter; which was hardly guarded against, when a -second rush of air would swoop down from still another angle, threatening -to overturn the sprawling flier with its violence.</p> - -<p>One visit in this direction was enough for them, and on this occasion -they saw the mouth of one of the mines, with a curious group standing as -usual gazing upward in open-mouthed wonder.</p> - -<p>Those mountains presented a grim aspect that impressed both the boys -exceedingly, and they would never forget the sight. Andy had -brought a new kodak, which his father had purchased in order that they -might carry back something to show the folks at home. It was small in -size, but with an expensive lens; and capable of producing very fine -pictures; so that they hoped to have a display worth looking at by the -time these were all developed and prints made later on.</p> - -<p>Nothing that was interesting escaped Andy, and he had developed quite a -liking for his new occupation, being constantly on the lookout for scenes -that he thought would make good prints.</p> - -<p>But it must not be supposed that all this time the Bird Boys were so -much occupied with scouring the regions of the upper air for fifty or a -hundred miles in every direction, that they neglected to take advantage of -the opportunities presented to observe what life on a great cattle ranch -was like, for this was not so.</p> - -<p>As time passed they limited their flights more and more, having -discovered other sources of amusement that held their interest; because by -this time flying no longer possessed the novelty for them that it had in -the beginning; and once they had exhausted the new sights of the region, -they were not so anxious to go up as they were to mount -ponies, and see something of life with the cow punchers.</p> - -<p>By degrees they were learning a great many things that they had never -dreamed would ever fall to their lot. Being young, and quick to pick up -new “stunts,” both of them gave promise of soon making average riders, at -least, though they might not hope to equal some of the punchers who were -more reckless by nature, and handled their mounts as though a cayuse were -a machine, governed by their sole whim.</p> - -<p>Both Frank and Andy had their own ponies, and could dash like mad over -the level, plying both voice and quirt in the endeavor to come in ahead; -for cowboys spend much of their time in this sort of racing.</p> - -<p>They had adopted something of the dress of the others, and even wore -the customary “chaps” made of leather and handsomely decorated, and to -which they soon became accustomed in spite of the first awkward -feeling.</p> - -<p>And so, daily they were seeing more and more of life on the range. They -visited the prairie dog village and shot rattlers that were dozing outside -the holes in which they lived at peace with the queer little animals that -amused Andy so, and which he stalked on the sly, so as to -take home some pictures of them.</p> - -<p>They learned to throw a rope with a fair degree of skill, although this -takes long practice, if one wishes to become an expert. Neither of them -ever actually threw a cow, though they believed they would be able to do -so in time, if they kept this thing up long enough.</p> - -<p>They did like to watch the regular punchers do the trick and get the -rope around the snubbing post like lightning every time. Both Frank and -Andy could hobble a broncho equal to the next one; and on one occasion had -spent a night on the range “wrangling” horses, which meant that they kept -company with the guard whose duty was to watch the precious saddle band, -and prevent them from straying, which catastrophe would be apt to leave -the party without mounts for their morrow’s work; and this is really the -worst thing that could happen to cowboys, who seldom walk if they can help -it.</p> - -<p>Later on there was to be the regular fall round-up, and the boys -expected to be able to accompany the outfit, and see the youngsters -branded after the most approved fashion, with Andy capturing numerous -pictures that would show just how the entire operation were carried out. - One evening while the two boys were sitting with Mr. -Witherspoon on the big verandah which was kept screened to prevent an -onslaught from insect pests, the genial rancher surprised Frank and Andy -by casually remarking:</p> - -<p>“I rather think, now, that we’ll have a decent day for our little -expedition tomorrow; and that the heat will be somewhat less pronounced -than usual.”</p> - -<p>Andy looked at his cousin. Uncle Jethro had already sprung several -little surprises on them and seemed to enjoy it immensely so that they -immediately scented something new.</p> - -<p>“What sort of trip is that, Uncle?” asked Andy, seeing that the rancher -was waiting to be questioned.</p> - -<p>He pretended to be surprised, and raised his eyebrows as he -remarked:</p> - -<p>“Oh! is it possible that I forgot to mention to you that I’ve arranged -to take you on a little shooting trip tomorrow, just to break the monotony -of your existence here, and perhaps give you a chance to carry home a -memento of life down in Arizona, that every time you scrape your feet upon -it, will call up a few of the things that have happened here.”</p> - -<p>“Please go on, and tell us more about it, Uncle; do we get a chance to -snap off a picture of a bunch of antelopes this time; that -wolf scene is going to turn out a jim-dandy, I reckon; and I’m anxious to -try another,” Andy went on to say.</p> - -<p>“Well, you boys have sure locoed the whole community with that wonder -of an aeroplane, and perhaps, if the ranchers hope to get any decent work -out of their punchers, we’d better give them a little rest along that -line. But we’ve been troubled of late with losing some of our best -heifers; and the boys declare they’ve found tracks of a grizzly that comes -down out of the hills and gets his supper every once in so often. So -Buckskin is going along to show us where he thinks the old fellow lives; -and perhaps you can get a snapshot of him before we start in to puncture -his tough old hide with our lead. How about that, boys; think you’d like -to see how we rid the country of a pest that plays havoc with our -herds?”</p> - -<p>Frank smiled and nodded as if pleased, but Andy as usual broke out into -a series of exclamations that told how delighted he would be at the -chance.</p> - -<p>“Then it’s a go,” remarked Mr. Witherspoon, carelessly, as though such -things as bagging a ferocious grizzly bear were, after all - of every day occurrence in the life of a cattle raiser; and -to be looked up, as Andy, for instance might consider an ordinary flight -over the level plain, “I’ll see to it that you both have guns, and we’ll -start shortly after breakfast, so as to do most of our riding before it -gets too hot. Then, if we want, after we’ve bagged our game we might hang -round in the foothills and try to keep cool until near sunset, when we’ll -start back,” and he went on talking of other things as though this were -but a small matter.</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 title='Out for Bear' id='chXI'> -CHAPTER XI—OUT FOR BEAR -</h2> - -<p>“What do you think of this for a place to rout out a bear, eh, boys?” -and as Mr. Witherspoon asked this question he drew in his sweating pony, -and jumped to the ground.</p> - -<p>The Bird Boys glanced around them. It was a wild prospect that greeted -their gaze. They had left the level plains and entered among the rocky -foothills that stretched out from the spur of the great Rockies reaching -far down into Arizona.</p> - -<p>In all probability this State has a greater range of extremes in the -way of geographic features than any other in the Union. It possesses arid -deserts, fertile plains; and the whole upper part is a mass of rugged -mountain ranges, some of them as yet really never fully explored, and in -which many valuable minerals have been found that yield fortunes to the -capitalists whose money has made the mines possible.</p> - -<p>These contrasts are often sharply defined, the desert touching the very -border of a fertile tract, or running to the edge of the uplifts where, -among the rocks, some rippling little stream dashes down, to -mysteriously disappear under the burning sands as though swallowed up.</p> - -<p>After a rather long and exhausting gallop that covered many miles the -little hunting party of four had now arrived among the rocky spurs, and -entered what was to all appearances a pass, though Buckskin called it a -coulie, which might stand for a deep ravine, or a gulch, differing from -the dry bed of a former stream which is known as a barranca.</p> - -<p>“Do we leave the ponies here, Uncle?” asked Frank, who had come to call -Mr. Witherspoon thus familiarly, though of course the gentleman was no -relation, being connected on the side of Andy’s mother.</p> - -<p>“Yes, staking them out where they can get a bite to eat from that grass -yonder, while we’re gone. We gave them all the water they could drink a -short time back; and that’ll have to do until we start home. Going to snap -us off again while we stand here beside our mounts, are you, Andy?” and -the rancher, who by this, had found himself taken in a dozen different -attitudes, and was getting used to it, laughed good-naturedly as he struck -a natural pose, with one hand stroking the neck of his cayuse.</p> - -<p>“Oh! it’s all over with,” replied Andy, coolly, “I saw my chance, and -just pressed the bulb when nobody was looking. And I bet you -I got a good one, too. That’s always the best way to do. When people think -they’re getting in a picture they make all sorts of queer faces trying to -look nice, and it spoils things. But the next one I hope will be of Mr. -Grizzly, and say, Uncle, we won’t have to tell him to look pleasant, will -we?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I’ve no doubt but that when he knows what you’re after he’ll just -rear up on his hind legs, and grin like a booby,” chuckled Frank. “I guess -these grizzlies don’t often get a chance to have their pictures taken, and -he’ll be obliged to you for the opening. I hope you get a good one, that’s -all, Andy.”</p> - -<p>They threw themselves down to rest.</p> - -<p>“No hurry about getting to work,” said Mr. Witherspoon, as he lighted -his pipe, from which he seemed capable of sucking considerable enjoyment. -“We might as well take it easy for a little, while Buckskin is skirmishing -around, to see if he can locate signs of our four-footed friend up yonder -among the rocks. An hour at this time of day won’t matter much anyhow, -because chances are the old rascal is sleeping off the effects of the big -dinner he made last night off another of my heifers, so the foreman -reported.” The boys were not unwilling, because the ride -had been hot and dusty; and just there the air seemed stirring a little, -which made the shade very agreeable, after the open glare of the bright -sun.</p> - -<p>“But suppose the bear should happen along here after we’ve gone, and -take a notion to tackle one of your ponies, Uncle, wouldn’t that be a -pretty tough joke on us, if we had to go back double?” remarked Andy, as -he pottered with his camera, to make sure that it was in the very best of -condition for the work he expected to put it to presently, if they were -lucky enough to come across Bruin.</p> - -<p>“Well, you are the greatest hand to think up trouble I ever saw, my -lad,” declared the free and easy-going rancher, “that never occurred to me -at all, and I don’t believe there’s one chance in ten of it coming to -pass, because all respectable bears should be asleep in their dens at this -hot time of day. I reckon then we’ll have to risk it, unless one of you -boys choose to sit here and stand guard.”</p> - -<p>Of course this was said in the light of a joke, because he knew full -well neither of them could be induced to lose this glorious chance to see -a real grizzly of the Rockies at home.</p> - -<p>Frank wanted to do a little of the shooting, if possible; -and as for Andy, he had become so thoroughly infatuated with the business -of picture taking that if he were compelled to choose between snapping off -the bear’s likeness, or putting a chunk of lead between his ribs, Frank -believed he would take the former, and lose all opportunity for securing -the trophy of the chase for a rug.</p> - -<p>They were still lounging there some time later when a rattling of small -stones announced that somebody or some thing was approaching from up the -side of the coulie. Mr. Witherspoon just allowed his hand to creep out to -where his repeating Marlin lay. Not that he suspected any danger might be -hanging over their heads; but then one wants to be on the foothills of the -Rockies, where grizzlies have their dens and sometimes cattle rustlers -hide out waiting for a chance to descend on the unprotected herds, which -may be driven away to a secret cache, where their marks can be altered, -and then the animals sold, or shipped on the railroad to a distant -point.</p> - -<p>But it turned out to be Buckskin, and with a wide grin decorating his -bronzed face, which Frank rightly interpreted to signify that he had found -the den he was so positive must be near by. “Hit her the -first thing, boys,” he chirped cheerfully, as he threw himself down -alongside the others, to cool off a little. “And believe me, things look -good for findin’ our chap at home. He dragged that heifer all the way up -here, consarn his old hide. I could see marks of blood on his doorsill. -Reckons as how we ketched him next door to in the act, Mr. Witherspoon; -got him with the goods on, we have. And here’s hopin’ that’ll be the last -young beef he’ll steal from the Double X Ranch.”</p> - -<p>After a short time the rancher got up, and threw his rifle in the -hollow of his arm. While lying there he had told the boys about all that -he could remember concerning the habits and peculiarities of grizzlies, -and also warned them not to be sparing of their lead when once they -commenced to throw it; because there is not another living wild beast, -hunters declare, that can stand up under and carry off more bullets than -one of these monsters.</p> - -<p>The four of them commenced to climb the rocky slope. It was no easy -task, but they took their time about it, Mr. Witherspoon pointing out how -Buckskin had undoubtedly followed the occasional traces left by the bear -in his many pilgrimages along the same route—scratches from his terribly -long claws; or it might be occasional tiny stains of blood -from the carcass of the heifer he had dragged all the way from the grass -country, and along these ragged rocks, just as though it was the easiest -proposition that had ever been put up to him.</p> - -<p>“Thar she is!” said Buckskin, suddenly, pointing with his rifle.</p> - -<p>Following the direction of his outstretched weapon, the boys saw what -seemed to be a seam in the face of the rocky wall a little distance away. -As they advanced still further they realized that it widened near the -base, and afforded quite an opening, through which even the bulky figure -of a grizzly could pass with ease.</p> - -<p>And upon looking, they found innumerable evidences of the fact that -some animal had long been in the habit of passing in and out of this -fissure.</p> - -<p>“Why, here’s a bunch of brown hairs sticking to this sharp point of -rock, rubbed off when he scraped past!” declared the keen-eyed Frank -immediately after taking a look around.</p> - -<p>“Good for you, my boy!” exclaimed the rancher, evidently well pleased -at this evidence of alertness on the part of his charge. “Yes, that came -from the hide of a Mountain Charlie, as they call them out in California. -You can see how coarse it is. Keep it as a memento; but I -certain sure hope you’ll get the real thing before we gallop back for our -supper late tonight.”</p> - -<p>“How about him rushing out and surprising us, Uncle?” asked Andy. -“Perhaps the old fellow mightn’t like to have company dropping in on him -without an invite. And then, you see, I wouldn’t have any focus at all, -which would spoil my picture.”</p> - -<p>“No need of worrying about that, my lad,” said the rancher. “He’s lying -in there as snug as you please, with his stomach full of that juicy -heifer; and it’ll be a hard proposition for us to coax him to consent to -an interview at all. Chances are, Buckskin’ll have to smoke the old -villain out. That sometimes happens. But we might as well begin to make -all our arrangements, looking to getting that picture at the right focus; -and also placing that little defile between us and the bear when he does -come out, mad as hops at being treated to a smoke.”</p> - -<p>He had apparently already figured it all out in his own mind and made -the necessary arrangements; for he led them across a deep little defile -that happened to lie between the bear’s den and a flat stretch of rock, -just fifty paces away.</p> - -<p>From this spot a splendid view could be had of the -yawning crevice at the base of the cliff. And Andy was delighted to see -that for the next hour the sun would be favorable to his work of securing -a good exposure, given the subject.</p> - -<p>“Got your focus all right, have you?” asked the rancher, when he heard -Andy give a grunt as of satisfaction.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” Andy went on to say, smilingly, “everything stands out as clear -as a bell; and I think I ought to make a boss picture of this; that is, if -I don’t go and foozle, because of stage fright, when the old rascal comes -roaring out to ask what we want. You won’t shoot in too big a hurry, I -hope; give me time to snap off a couple, for fear one might be spoiled. -These sort of chances come only once in a life time you know; and ought to -be doubled up, to make sure.”</p> - -<p>“Well, if we’re all ready here, perhaps you’d better get busy, -Buckskin, and see if you can bring him out with a few cowboy yells. If -that fails, then there’s some wood over yonder you can use; and I notice -that you grabbed up some stink-weed as you came along, which will fetch -him dead sure, when it gets to smouldering. Sometimes I even think it -would bring a dead man to life, it’s that powerful. We’ll leave this -little log across the gully, just as we used it to cross on; -when you jump over for keeps give the same a kick; and that’ll put a gap -between, the old man can’t cross in a hurry, if so be he fails to drop -under our fire.”</p> - -<p>Accordingly Buckskin trailing his gun along after him, crossed on the -aforesaid log that served as a bridge over the gully, and went about his -business of trying to coax the occupant of the rocky bear’s den to come -out, with just as much indifference as though he were obeying the call of -the range to dinner, when the cook pounded on a big frying pan with a -basting spoon.</p> - -<p>And standing there, the boys and Mr. Witherspoon awaited developments -with varied emotions.</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 title='The Defense of the Log Bridge' id='chXII'> -CHAPTER XII—THE DEFENSE OF THE LOG BRIDGE -</h2> - -<p>“Listen to Buckskin calling him all sorts of names, would you?” -exclaimed Andy, a few minutes later.</p> - -<p>“If that bear only understood half he’s been called, he just couldn’t -stand it a minute longer,” declared Mr. Witherspoon, chuckling, “but the -poor old chap’s education has been neglected, so he doesn’t know cowboy -lingo. I reckon he never even opens one eye, but keeps dozing right along. -He hasn’t lost any cowboy, and so he doesn’t want to be bothered. No good, -is it, Buckskin?”</p> - -<p>“Don’t look that way, sir,” replied the other, disconsolately, “that’s -the trouble with not having the gift of gab. Now, if I was as good a hand -at callin’ names, and rattling off the lingo as Puffer Pete, chances are -he’d just have to show a leg. Well, here’s to open up a little smoke spell -with the boss.”</p> - -<p>Accordingly, he bent over, and seemed to be fixing the small tinder he -had carried across with him. Now and then he would turn his head and call -out something or other to the boys, as though explaining to -the boys what he was doing.</p> - -<p>“Now she’s all ready for biz,” he finally declared, “watch my smoke, -fellers. Hi! here’s looking to you, old man; you’ve just got to wake up, -and let us take a look at your mug, you know. There she goes! -Whoop-la!”</p> - -<p>The watchers saw a wisp of smoke creep up lazily. There did not seem to -be any wind to carry it away; and presently it met a back draught, for it -appeared to be sucked directly into the yawning crevice at the base of the -cliff.</p> - -<p>Larger grew the volume of smoke, until quite a good-sized column was -oozing out of the brush Buckskin had piled up.</p> - -<p>“Now for the scent weed!” he called out.</p> - -<p>They saw him carefully place some of this on top of the pile, and -toward the back where its odor would be sure to be wafted into the den, -with the smoke from the burning wood.</p> - -<p>“Wow! that’s fierce!” Buckskin whooped, grabbing hold of his nose with -the fingers of his free hand, for he was holding fast to his gun all this -time, not knowing when he might have to use it.</p> - -<p>Now he was bending down as though listening to catch the first low -growl to indicate that Bruin had awakened, and was sniffing at the smoke. - Buckskin’s attitude told how he was holding himself in -readiness for a lively sprint, just as soon as the signs warned him that -the bear was rushing for the exit of the den in a terrible rage at being -interrupted in his nap. No sensible cowboy ever wants to come to close -grips with an enraged grizzly; he knows too much to risk a terrible death -in that way.</p> - -<p>It was a period of most intense suspense to both the boys.</p> - -<p>All at once they saw the crouching cowboy galvanized into life. He -leaped to his feet, and made a lively streak for the little log crossing -the gap. No need to ask what induced his haste, for actions spoke louder -than words in that case.</p> - -<p>“Ready, Andy!” Mr. Witherspoon was heard to say, hoarsely.</p> - -<p>This thing of attacking a full-grown grizzly in his native haunts was -no child’s play; and even so old a hunter as the owner of Double X Ranch -doubtless felt more than a little thrill as he watched to see the head of -the monster thrust out of the hole in the wall.</p> - -<p>Andy had his kodak on a line with that opening and was crouching there -ready to get in some good work. Let Frank have the glory of shooting the -bear if he wanted; as for him, he found more solid -satisfaction nowadays in getting snapshots of game, than in trying to lay -them low.</p> - -<p>“Oh!”</p> - -<p>It was Andy who gave utterance to this cry. A great dun-colored bulk -had rushed directly across the heap of smoking fire-stuff, scattering it -to the right, and to the left, as he gave a fearful roar that made the -echoes ring.</p> - -<p>And right then and there Andy pressed the bulb. He believed he had -caught the bear just in the act of throwing the fire every-which-way, as -Andy himself expressed it later on.</p> - -<p>Immediately he started to turn the film so as to bring around a new and -unexposed section. His fingers were quivering with eagerness and -nervousness, so that he could hardly hold the camera.</p> - -<p>“Steady, Andy; brace up, and take your time!” said Frank, who gave his -chum one quick glance to see how near he was to getting in a second -snapshot before he and Mr. Witherspoon started to firing.</p> - -<p>That seemed to bring Andy to his senses, and the next moment he managed -to get his second shot at the bear.</p> - -<p>By this time the animal had discovered the running Buckskin, and -immediately started in hot pursuit, as if recognizing the -human agency that had made his eyes smart so with that pungent smoke; -there was now no longer any trouble about arousing the bear’s fury; and -Frank realized just why Buckskin, wise fellow that he was, had lost not a -second about getting started, when he knew the bear was coming.</p> - -<p>He cast one glance over his shoulder as he reached the end of the -little log. Discovering the grizzly shuffling along swiftly in his wake, -snorting with anger, the cowboy immediately started across the rude -bridge. Once he slipped, and for a second or two it looked as though he -would drop down twenty feet or more into the gully; but by a desperate -effort Buckskin managed to climb up again, and mostly on hands and knees -completed the passage.</p> - -<p>The bear was still coming on, apparently in no wise daunted by the hot -fire that was being poured into him by Frank and Mr. Witherspoon. Every -shot Frank took he fully expected to see the huge beast go tumbling over; -but in spite of all, the bear kept rushing after Buckskin. Andy was still -working his kodak and taking more pictures.</p> - -<p>Just as soon as the cowboy managed to crawl upon solid rock he started -to dislodge the log. It proved a little more difficult than had been - expected. Three times did Buckskin make the effort, and only -succeeded in moving the end a few inches on every occasion.</p> - -<p>With the bear still coming on, as though capable of standing a -hurricane of lead, it began to look serious enough. Should he ever succeed -in crossing that log what might not happen to the hunters? Frank felt a -cold chill creep over him as he contemplated such a possibility, and -realized that the magazine in his Marlin heavy-bore was getting low.</p> - -<p>Well, Andy came to the rescue just in time. Dropping his kodak, he -sprang to the side of the panting Buckskin.</p> - -<p>“Now, together!” he exclaimed, as he took hold of the end of the -log.</p> - -<p>It slipped from its anchorage just as the grizzly reached the opposite -bank. Had they been three seconds later they must have hurled the shaggy -monster down with the queer log bridge.</p> - -<p>Bruin stopped in his mad advance just in time. He sniffed at the spot -where the end of the log had rested, as though wondering how the human -enemy could have apparently flown across.</p> - -<p>This gave the marksmen a better chance to place their bullets where -they were more apt to count. Frank took deliberate aim back -of the foreleg. At the same time he was conscious of a feeling of great -respect for this brave old fellow, whom nothing could apparently daunt. -But they had put their hand to the plow, and there could be no turning -back at this late hour. Besides, this beast was bound to be a constant -menace to ranchman’s herds from this time on, now that he had learned the -secret of securing an easy breakfast from the weaker elements of the -cattle drove; and it was of the greatest importance that he be -exterminated.</p> - -<p>This time when Frank pulled the trigger of his Marlin he saw that he -had at last reached a vital organ. The big bear actually weakened and fell -over, though still struggling hard to keep on his feet and show a grim -front.</p> - -<p>“That did for him, Frank; no use to waste any more ammunition!” -declared Mr. Witherspoon.</p> - -<p>“Well, that was my last shot, anyway, so I couldn’t do anything more -until I’d recharged the magazine of my gun,” remarked Frank.</p> - -<p>“And unless I’m mistaken, my weapon is in just the same fix,” chuckled -the other, “so you can understand what a lot of lead a grizzly can digest -before knuckling under.”</p> - -<p>“There, the old critter has keeled over, and that’s his -last kick,” remarked Buckskin, who was still panting from his recent -exertions. “Say, Andy, d’ye want me to snap one off with you and Frank -standing by the game? Seems to me you had ought to be seen in some of -these here pictures. Reckon I know enough to aim, after you do the focus -act, and squeeze that rubber thing.”</p> - -<p>“But we’ve got to cross over first, and our bully old bridge is down at -the bottom of the hole,” expostulated Andy.</p> - -<p>“Oh! here’s another log that will answer just as well,” remarked the -ranger, “just looks like these trees once grew here to accommodate anyone -who wanted to use a log for a bridge. Everybody take hold, and we’ll soon -have it across.”</p> - -<p>After some trying they managed to get the log on end near the edge of -the gap. It was no trouble, then, to let it fall directly across, and as -they had calculated rightly, there was another means of spanning the -gulf.</p> - -<p>So, one after another, they walked across; in fact Andy and Buckskin -were so anxious to see what the grizzly looked like, that they neglected -to go back and pick up their guns, which they had carelessly dropped at -the time their help was needed in order to move the log. -Andy insisted that Uncle Jethro also line up alongside the dead -grizzly.</p> - -<p>“You helped knock him out, and ought to be here more than me,” he -declared, when the rancher showed signs of holding back; and so finally -the three were grouped in a manner to allow of the game being shown, while -the hunters also appeared in the picture.</p> - -<p>After Andy had arranged this to suit him, he gave the camera into the -charge of Buckskin, and then went over to take his place alongside Frank -and the ranchman.</p> - -<p>“Now, look in the finder, and see that you’ve got the bear in the -middle of the picture,” Andy sang out. “How about it, Buckskin?”</p> - -<p>“She’s all right, Andy; tell me when to give the punch,” came the -reply.</p> - -<p>“Be sure and hold the camera steady as a rock when you’re going to -squeeze the bulb. Now, let her go, Gallagher!” and Andy assumed a pose as -he spoke.</p> - -<p>Immediately after there was a whoop.</p> - -<p>“Right there with the goods, and a regular bull’s-eye at that!” shouted -Buckskin. “I’m the boss boy with the picture machine, let me tell you. You -see if that ain’t a family group to do you proud! Want any more took, -Andy? Just you warble the word and Buckskin, he’ll try to -accommerdate you all that’s a-goin’; sure he will. How about standin’ the -bar up on his hind legs and take him that way! Wow! holy smoke! look -what’s comin’ in on us, would you? Another bar, and bigger nor this un at -that? Must be the mate o’ our game, and lookin’ kinder mad at us. Whar’s -my gun? What in creation did I do with that six-shot pepper box? Run boys, -he’s chargin’ us!”</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 title='Never-to-be-Forgotten Days' id='chXIII'> -CHAPTER XIII—NEVER-TO-BE-FORGOTTEN DAYS -</h2> - -<p>Things started in happening about that time.</p> - -<p>And conditions could hardly have been much worse; for while Frank and -Mr. Witherspoon had their rifles along, the magazines had been exhausted -in their recent shooting affair; while the only two serviceable guns lay -on the other side of the little gulf that was spanned by the log.</p> - -<p>“Get to the bridge as fast as you can!” called out the ranchman, with a -ring of authority in his voice.</p> - -<p>It might have been noticed that Andy did not wait this time to complain -about the “focus,” and all that sort of thing; in fact, he simply ran for -the avenue of escape without once looking around him. And both Frank and -Mr. Witherspoon kept him pretty close company.</p> - -<p>Buckskin had been close to the bridge himself at the time of his making -that astonishing discovery; and hence he was already passing over. As a -cowboy is not so sure-footed as a good many people accustomed to walking, -there were times when it began to look as though he might lose - his grip again, and be compelled to resort to the original -method of using his hands and knees.</p> - -<p>“Don’t let my kodak drop, Buckskin!” shrieked Andy, really more -concerned about the safety of his little camera just then than his own -safety.</p> - -<p>Perhaps his outcry did have some steadying effect upon the other, for -he managed to get to the opposite side without having to descend to any -humiliating experience, but it was a close shave.</p> - -<p>And now the boys understood just why Buckskin had made such mad haste. -It was not because he meant to forsake them, or was so tremendously -alarmed regarding his own condition. He had suddenly remembered that the -guns that were charged had been left across on the other side, and -somebody must charge that bridge in order to lay hands on them.</p> - -<p>It was doubtless very fortunate for all concerned that the second -grizzly did not see fit to charge as ferociously as had its dead mate; for -in such a case the chances were they must have been mixed up with those -long, cruel claws before the lot of them could cross over.</p> - -<p>The newcomer stopped to sniff at the body of the other animal too, and -this delayed things for a few seconds; just enough for them to get - safely over, and for history to repeat itself in so far as -hurling the log into the hole was concerned.</p> - -<p>Already Buckskin was getting busy with his repeater; and Andy, not to -be left in the lurch, also scrambled over to where his gun lay.</p> - -<p>Once more the battle was resumed, with all the odds on the side of -those who, safe from the claws of the monster could at the same time send -their little leaden messengers of death across the gulf, and into the body -of the grizzly.</p> - -<p>It hardly seemed fair, and yet what else can be done when dealing with -such a terrible beast? Three men, yes, half a dozen, would not be too many -to meet so ferocious a fighter at close quarters; and in order to win out, -it is necessary to take advantage of every opening.</p> - -<p>Rendered furious because of his wounds, and his inability to get at the -objects of his hatred, the bear finally rushed straight at them, and of -course toppled over the edge into the gap.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile Mr. Witherspoon and Frank were getting fresh cartridges into -the magazines of their guns as fast as their trembling hands could -accomplish the feat. No one could tell how many shots might be found -necessary before the tenacious life of the monster was snuffed out. - “He’s dropped in!” shouted Andy, who had managed to -discharge his gun twice, and seemed to feel that he had had something more -or less to do with this last queer action on the part of the charging -bear.</p> - -<p>“Look out for him climbing up the side!” cried the rancher, doing his -level best to get his weapon in serviceable condition.</p> - -<p>“No danger, boss!” whooped Buckskin, who, down on hands and knees -beside the edge of the gully, was trying to figure out what the condition -of the bear might be, “he’s gone and cashed his checks in this time, and -we done it all by ourselves, sure we did, Andy. Say, wasn’t he a whopper, -now? And let’s get ready in case there happens to be a whole menagerie of -the varmints around these diggings.”</p> - -<p>After their guns had been placed in serviceable condition they crept to -the edge of the little gulch and surveyed the huddled-up mass of hair, -each declaring it to be his positive belief that the bear must be -dead.</p> - -<p>“Let’s some of us go down to him!” cried Frank.</p> - -<p>“You bet we will,” echoed Andy; “I want that bearskin the worst kind, -because, unless I’m greatly off my guess, there are just three holes in -the same that my bullets made. How can we do it, Uncle -Jethro. Please put us wise.”</p> - -<p>The rancher knew easily enough how it could be done. He even -volunteered to be the one who should drop down and secure the pelt of the -dead bear. It was finally arranged, however, that Buckskin should do this -business while Mr. Witherspoon performed the same kind of operation in -connection with the first victim.</p> - -<p>“Just to think of bagging two bears on the same afternoon!” exclaimed -the proud Andy, as he danced around, trying the best he knew how to get -some sort of picture of his own prize, for the cowboy loudly declared that -it must have been a bullet from Andy’s gun that did the business.</p> - -<p>“It’s so dark and gloomy down there, you see,” he complained, as -Buckskin hunted for a way to clamber down. “If only I had thought to fetch -along one of my flash-light cartridges now, I could do it; or have him -take me standing with my foot on the prize, and my trusty gun in my hands. -But that’s all off.”</p> - -<p>“What’s to hinder me taking you in that position with the other bear?” -ventured Frank; “we could slew it around a little, so that it wouldn’t -look the same as in the first picture; and having two skins would prove -that we got that many bears.” So Andy finally consented to -pose, and accordingly had his picture taken in the conventional attitude -of saying: “Look what a big hunter I am?”</p> - -<p>It required considerable time to remove the two hides; but then cowboys -know how to go about it, and Mr. Witherspoon was also handy with the -hunting knife; so that in the end it was accomplished.</p> - -<p>As the afternoon was still pretty warm, they decided to rest again. At -the request of Andy the puncher got several pieces of wood that might be -made to serve in lieu of torches; and with these they explored the -interior of the bear’s den. There was quite a heap of bones inside the -hole, and once more Andy deplored his want of forethought in not providing -himself with a number of those convenient flash-light affairs, by means of -which interiors may be photographed so well.</p> - -<p>“You don’t find me ever going anywhere with my old kodak, without -thinking about having a light along,” he complained. “Just when you think -you won’t need such a thing, the greatest chance you ever saw happens -along and makes you feel sick. Why, I don’t know what I wouldn’t give to -have a chance to take a picture of a real bear’s den like that.” - Buckskin thereupon consoled him with the promise to ride -over another day, amply provided with all the necessaries, if it so be Mr. -Witherspoon allowed to let him off, which the generous ranchman readily -agreed to do, because he would have consented to almost anything if it -would add to the pleasure of this nephew in whom he was taking such -unusual interest.</p> - -<p>When the sun had dropped low enough so that its heat was not -depressing, they started back home, taking things easily by the way.</p> - -<p>Their mounts had been rested, and besides, knew which way they were now -heading, and could be depended on to keep doggedly at work, without any -“sojering,” or trying to “play lame,” as some smart cow ponies have been -known to do when not in the humor for work.</p> - -<p>The moon gave them light when night came on, and by ten o’clock they -reached the ranch buildings. Expecting them at about this time, Charley -Woo had a splendid supper all ready, to which the tired boys did ample -justice.</p> - -<p>But the story of the hunt was reserved for the morrow; because Mr. -Witherspoon saw that the others were ready to drop after all those hours -in the saddle, added to the nervous excitement of that thrilling bear -hunt. It was now drawing close to the time when the regular -fall round-up was scheduled to come off; for Mr. Witherspoon was one of -those careful ranchmen who did not let things get too far ahead of him; -and he wanted to know what his herds had been doing for him during the -summer season, so that all youngsters might be given the brand that would -stamp them as his property.</p> - -<p>Although both Frank and Andy had witnessed the operation on smaller -scales several times, so that the novelty had in a measure worn off, still -they laid out to accompany the band when they went forth in full strength -to cover the range, and be away several days and nights at least.</p> - -<p>Andy, of course, wanted to secure a few more striking pictures that -would illustrate the stories they wished to tell upon reaching home again. -The only thing he deplored was the fact that his stock of films was -running very low; he had been too lavish in the beginning, not leaving -enough for the more important subjects apt to crowd up later.</p> - -<p>But he had developed the roll containing the bear scenes, and was as he -admitted “tickled nearly to death” with the splendid results. Why, it -looked just as if that fierce old denizen of the cleft in the rock was -roaring out his anger and defiance as he threw the fire -sticks in every direction; and as for the other one, with Buckskin -crawling along the log bridge, and the grizzly galloping down toward the -end of the same, the cowboy declared that he could almost hear himself -saying bad words because of his dizzy head, that always played him false -in an emergency like this.</p> - -<p>Why, a whole month had slipped away since their arrival at the ranch; -and in a few more weeks they would have to be thinking of getting ready to -travel back to Bloomsbury and school! Every time they talked of it the -boys felt blue; not that Frank and Andy did not want to see the dear ones -at home; but they were certainly having the time of their lives down here -in Arizona, and hated to leave until they had utterly exhausted the mine -of pleasures that awaited their attention on every hand.</p> - -<p>Uncle Jethro was kindness itself. He never wearied of thinking up all -sorts of things that he believed the two Bird boys would enjoy; and when -he could not accompany them in person, he sent Buckskin instead; so that -they came to have a decided fancy for the odd little “sawed off” of a -cowboy, as he himself described his lack of stature.</p> - -<p>And so it came about that one night the ranchman remarked -that all preparations had been made to start on the following day on the -round-up; the various herds would be ready for their inspection; and -before they came back doubtless every part of the wide-spreading territory -contained in Double X Ranch would have been raked over as with a -fine-tooth comb, looking for mavericks and stray bunches.</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 title='Off For the Round-Up' id='chXIV'> -CHAPTER XIV—OFF FOR THE ROUND-UP -</h2> - -<p>“Phew! it looks like another hot day, Frank!”</p> - -<p>Andy had just dressed, and gone to the window to look out. The sun was -already up, and had that queer, dark red glow that betokens an unusual -display of heat. It would be a hard day for the long ride across the -treeless level stretching out between the ranch buildings and the grassy -valleys where the cattle generally bunched at this time of year.</p> - -<p>Frank had been strangely silent while dressing; and as he now joined -his cousin at the window, Andy noticed for the first time that he was -looking rather “peaked.”</p> - -<p>“Here, what’s the matter with you, old fellow?” he asked, with his -customary breezy impulsiveness. “You don’t seem a bit tickled over the -idea of spending a whole day in the saddle, and that’s a fact.”</p> - -<p>“Well,” replied the other, with a little smile, “the fact is, Andy, I’m -afraid I’m going to disappoint you.”</p> - -<p>“How’s that?” demanded his cousin, aggressively. “I -don’t think I’d better try going today, and that’s a fact,” Frank went -on.</p> - -<p>“Are you sick? Is that what ails you? Seemed to me you kicked around a -whole lot last night, now I come to think of it. Why, didn’t you call me -up, Frank? What’s the matter? I just bet the heat was too much for you -yesterday. We shouldn’t have done that long ride on so nasty a day; felt -like I was drawn through a straw myself, though I’m all right now. But do -you really mean that you won’t ride out today with the boys?”</p> - -<p>“The way I feel now, it would be silly for me to try it,” Frank -continued, with a little shake of his head. “I seem to be dizzy, and to -sit on the back of a lively pony for even an hour would upset me like -everything.”</p> - -<p>“That’s a shame now, ain’t it, Frank?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I don’t mind it so very much. You’ll only be gone a couple or -three days at the most; and I’ll have Mrs. Ogden, Charley Woo, and little -Becky to keep me company. And then, if I’m feeling myself by tomorrow, why -I might take a notion to look you boys up by the air route. Don’t worry -about me, Andy.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t mean to, because I expect to stay with you and see that you -get the right kind of care,” said Andy, with his positive -face in evidence.</p> - -<p>“You’ll do nothing of the kind,” retorted Frank. “I’ll be in good -hands, and the chances are will be all right by noon. So you’re just going -along with Uncle and the rest.”</p> - -<p>“I’d like to see anybody make me when I put my foot down,” Andy went on -to say. “The fact of the matter is, Frank, between you and me and the -lamp-post, when I found out what sort of a scorcher we were in for today, -I began to lose some of my own enthusiasm. Sure I’d have gone along if you -were all right, and taken my medicine as well as I could; but this alkali -dust don’t please me a whit; and on a red hot day it’s a lot of a nuisance -to have to keep on riding in a saddle on such a slow thing as a -cayuse.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! you’re spoiled by this mile-a-minute gait of your air steed, -that’s plain,” chuckled Frank, “but your uncle will be disappointed if you -don’t go along, Andy.”</p> - -<p>“He’ll have to be, then,” returned the other steadily, as though his -mind was made up, and nothing could change it. “I don’t pretend to be able -to keep up with Buckskin, Shorty and all that lot of hard riders. They can -wear me to a frazzle in the long run. My place, where I -shine, is with you in a biplane. There you don’t have to work your way, -but just sit and enjoy the grandest view any fellow ever had spread out -before him, while’s he spinning along at much more than a mile-a-minute -speed. The air route for mine, every time.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I see there’s no use trying to force you to go; but I’m sorry -that this has happened, Andy.”</p> - -<p>“Shucks! don’t you bother your head about me,” his cousin said, with a -chuckle. “Fact is, I’m rather tickled at finding an excuse for backing -down without its looking that I’m showing the white feather. That thought -of three days in the saddle, with the heat and dust gave me a bad feeling. -And Frank, perhaps we might look the boys and their chuck wagon up -tomorrow in our biplane. That’s a heap sight more to my fancy, let me tell -you, now.”</p> - -<p>“All right, Andy. But there’s your uncle outside, looking after things. -We’d better see him, and let him know, before he gets ponies ready for -us.”</p> - -<p>Both boys went outside, and when Mr. Witherspoon heard about Frank’s -sickness he expressed the greatest concern. After hearing the symptoms he -agreed with Andy that it must have been the extreme heat of the - preceding day that had knocked his cousin out.</p> - -<p>“Nothing serious at all,” announced the ranchman, “I’ve felt the same -way myself more than a few times, after unusual heat, and hard riding. No -use trying to keep in the saddle when you’ve got that dizzy spell; just -lie down, and Mrs. Ogden ’ll give you a dose of the same medicine that -always brings me around. Chances are you’ll be feeling all right by noon, -or before night, anyway.”</p> - -<p>“We feel sorry not to be able to go along with you on the round-up, -Uncle,” remarked Andy.</p> - -<p>“I’d put off starting until tomorrow, boys, only all preparations have -been made and it would interfere with our work more or less,” the ranchman -went on to say with a tinge of regret in his voice, as though he were -tempted to do this at any cost.</p> - -<p>“We wouldn’t think of letting you do such a thing, sir!” exclaimed -Frank.</p> - -<p>“And besides,” added his cousin, “if Frank is all right tomorrow, you -may see us sailing along to hunt you up, and with a map of the whole ranch -spread out before us.”</p> - -<p>“You mean you’ll take a spin in your biplane, is that it, boys?” Mr. -Witherspoon went on, “Good! Nothing would please us better. - I can imagine the antics of the cattle when they see a great -bird settling down over them.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! we’ll be careful, and try and not start a stampede, Uncle; if we -do come, after we’ve located where you’re working at the time, we’ll drop -down some distance away, and walk over; or you can send mounts for us. But -I don’t care to go without Frank, you see. And to tell the honest truth, -I’m a bit leery about riding through such a scorching hot day as this -promises to be.”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps you’re wise, my boy,” said the ranchman, reflectively, “it’s -hard enough on us old shellbacks, used to breathing this alkali dust from -one end of the year to the other, and must be rough on tenderfeet. Make -yourselves at home; the best is none too good for you. Charley Woo thinks -you are a couple of little tin gods on wheels, and he’ll do anything in -the wide world for the wizards who can mount up to the clouds, and play -tag there with the winds.”</p> - -<p>Frank, though looking badly, would not go in and lie down while the -outfit was getting in readiness to start. He wanted to see all that went -on, for the chance might never come to him again.</p> - -<p>And Andy was busy snapping off several pictures of the -scene, as the bunch of active cow punchers galloped around on their -ponies, making the animals do all sorts of wonderful feats as they -curvetted and pranced, and snorted with the excitement.</p> - -<p>“I’ve just got another film of a dozen exposures,” he complained to -Frank, after he had taken several views of the chuck wagon, and the string -of led ponies that had to be taken along for service when the hard riding -boys wore out their first mounts, “and with that I want to get my pictures -of the round-up; also one of the dinner hour, when the entire crowd -gathers around the chuck wagon.”</p> - -<p>“But how is it that Charley Woo doesn’t go along this time; I thought -he always did the cooking for the crowd when they went off like this?” -Frank remarked.</p> - -<p>“I asked Uncle about that, and he said that the boys had been -complaining somewhat lately about the Chinaman’s way of cooking. He -thought they were just spoiled by having things too good; and to show them -the difference he has arranged to let Shorty do the cooking on this trip. -He used to, long ago, before Charley came along, and got the job.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! that’s it; and the boys are in for a lesson, I can see. When they -get a dose of the old style of slinging hash together -they’ll never have another word to say about Charley. That’s the way -things go, sometimes; you never miss the water until the well runs -dry.”</p> - -<p>“Looks like they might be going to start right away, Frank. Here come -the boys on the jump, to say goodbye, and hope you’ll be feeling better -soon.”</p> - -<p>“I hope they won’t think I’m faking this headache, just to get out of -riding on the round-up with them?” remarked Frank, uneasily.</p> - -<p>“They know you better than that,” returned his cousin. “Any fellow who -has got the nerve to ride in an aeroplane would be equal to anything, so -Buckskin and every one else swears. Try as we can, you know there isn’t -one of them dares go up. What Buckskin told them about his sensations has -given the whole bunch cold feet so far as wanting to try a ride among the -clouds. The earth, alkali dust and all, is good enough for them, they say. -Hello! boys, hope you have a grand good time. And if Frank’s feeling O. K., -look for us along some time tomorrow. I want to get some cracker-jack -pictures of how you round up the cattle, and brand the same, those that -need the Double X mark.”</p> - -<p>Every puncher insisted on gripping the hand of each of -the Bird boys, while his restless pony danced, and snorted, and acted as -though just wild to start off like a comet.</p> - -<p>Then came Uncle Jethro and the foreman, Waldo Kline, to also shake -hands, and say how sorry they felt at not having the visitors at the ranch -along; but the boys again repeated their intention of looking in on the -workers later on.</p> - -<p>With a tremendous racket and waving of hats, the string started off, -and Andy could not resist aiming his kodak after them, for the scene was -an inspiring one, which he and Frank would never forget.</p> - -<p>Further and further away drew the caravan, the mules hitched to the -chuck wagon being kept on the trot by old Shorty, who had once again come -into his own as cook for the outfit; yet wore a troubled look on his face, -as though he felt uneasy concerning the outcome. For cow punchers are no -respecters of persons when they feel that they have good cause for -complaint concerning the quality of the grub with which they are being -served; and Shorty had before then known of cooks being actually tarred -and feathered just because they failed to come up to the expectations of -the clamorous bunch of reckless cow men. When they had -vanished from sight far away over the plain, in a cloud of dust, Frank -went in to lie down again; while Andy started to amuse himself developing -some of the films he had just exposed.</p> - -<p>And as the morning advanced it proved even a hotter day than the -preceding one had been, so that Frank felt he had acted wisely in -declining to take chances on so hard a gallop, with his head in such a -whirl.</p> - -<p>It was just before noon that Andy came into the room in somewhat of a -state of excitement.</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 title='The One Who Came Back' id='chXV'> -CHAPTER XV—THE ONE WHO CAME BACK -</h2> - -<p>“Frank, do you remember what I did with the glasses?” asked Andy, -after he had been looking all around for a minute or two, with a puzzled -expression on his face.</p> - -<p>Now, Andy was not quite so methodical as his cousin. He had on occasion -been known to seem a bit careless, to confess the actual truth. And Frank, -knowing how such a habit is apt to grow on anyone unless severely checked, -sometimes played a little trick on his chum with the sole idea of -impressing things upon his mind, and correcting this fault.</p> - -<p>He raised his head at Andy’s question.</p> - -<p>“Stop and think, where did you have them last?” he remarked, -quietly.</p> - -<p>“Oh! say, didn’t I fetch them in last night when we were all looking at -the man in the moon, and those stars that Uncle Jethro said were the Belt -of Orion the Hunter? I’m dead sure I did, Frank; but they don’t seem to be -around here. Do you know where they are? Has anybody borrowed our glasses, -Frank? I want them right now, and I want them bad.”</p> - -<p>“Look on the table in the living room, and I think you’ll -find them,” returned Frank, sitting up. “I saw you drop them there last -night, and just wanted to see if you’d remember to fetch them to our room. -But what’s up, Andy?”</p> - -<p>“You seem to be, just now, old fellow; which I take it is a good sign -you’re feeling a whole lot better. Glad to know it, and that’s straight. -But about the glasses—why, there’s a lone horseman coming along at a slow -lope, as if he didn’t care to hurry one little bit; and I’m wondering who -it can be.”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps some neighboring rancher coming to ask a lot more fool -questions about the cost of biplanes, and whether any puncher who has -broken bronchos all his life could learn to herd cattle with one of these -up-to-date fliers;” and Frank, getting up from the cot, started to -stretch, as though he might indeed be feeling more like himself again, the -dizzy feeling gone.</p> - -<p>Andy chuckled at what his cousin said; then, being really curious to -learn the identity of the approaching horseman, he hurried out of the -room.</p> - -<p>Frank followed leisurely, and on getting outside found the other with -his eyes glued to the small end of the fine glasses, which had come in so -useful dozens of times when the Bird boys were whirring -through the upper currents, and looking for a place below to land.</p> - -<p>“Well, have you made him out?” asked Frank, coming up behind the -other.</p> - -<p>Andy took the glasses down as he replied:</p> - -<p>“That’s as easy as falling off a log, Frank; but I’m wondering what -under the sun brings Alkali Joe back home again.”</p> - -<p>“Alkali Joe, you say, Andy; why, he went with the bunch this -morning!”</p> - -<p>“That’s just what he did,” the other went on to say, a little -excitedly, “but all the same, that’s Joe, as big as life. And if you -notice, Frank, you’ll think it queer that he doesn’t act like they all do -when in the saddle, making his pony go like the wind, and whirling his hat -around his head.”</p> - -<p>“That’s so, Andy, he doesn’t,” remarked Frank, when he had clapped the -glasses to his eyes; “fact is, Joe acts like he might be going to a -funeral. I never saw a cow puncher come jogging along like that, taking -things as easy as he can.”</p> - -<p>“Gee! I hope he isn’t bringing us any bad news!” exclaimed Andy.</p> - -<p>“Well, now,” Frank remarked, “I never thought of that; but what sort of -bad news could Uncle Jethro be sending back; and even that -wouldn’t be apt to keep down the bubbling spirits of an average -cowboy.”</p> - -<p>“Then what do you think can be the matter?” went on the other.</p> - -<p>“I rather believe that Joe has had some sort of attack, just like I -did; and your uncle has sent him home to be dosed and to lie down, knowing -that he’d never be able to keep his seat in the saddle during the wild -dash of the round-up.”</p> - -<p>“Frank, I wonder if that could be so?” Andy observed, seriously. -“P’raps it’s going to be an epidemic and the whole of us may be down with -the same, yet. Couldn’t have been locoed by any of that weed they tell us -about, could we? If the cows they use for milkers gobbled any of the same, -would it affect us, do you think?”</p> - -<p>That idea tickled Frank, for he laughed.</p> - -<p>“I don’t think we stand in any danger that way, Andy,” he went on to -remark, “but anyhow, you’ll know about Joe pretty soon, for he’s coming -along on a steady lope, and will be here inside of ten minutes, at -most.”</p> - -<p>They stood and watched the cow puncher swinging along at that easy -gait; it seemed as though the man in the sheepskin chaps might be part and -parcel with his pony they moved with such a steady rhythm. -And before the time limit which Frank had set expired he had come to a -full stop before them.</p> - -<p>But Frank had already made a discovery. This was to the effect that one -of Joe’s lower limbs seemed to be bound up with a rough bandage.</p> - -<p>“What happened, Joe?” he asked, stepping forward to the side of the -other, who seemed to have what might be called a sheepish grin on his -sunburned face.</p> - -<p>“I made a fool play, and got pitched over the head of my pony, when he -stepped into a gopher hole. Broke a leg, that’s all; reckons as how I -orter broke my fool neck to even her up. Have to get you boys to help me -off the hoss. Never knew that to happen before to a feller my size. Mr. -Witherspoon, he did her up in fust class shape, and sez he, ‘You get back -to the ranch the best way you can, and the boys’ll do what’s needed, with -the help of Mrs. Ogden.’ So if you’ll jest give me a hand, mebbe I might -hop inside the bunk house.”</p> - -<p>“No you don’t,” said impulsive Andy, instantly, “you’ll go right in the -main house. Guess I know what Uncle Jethro’d do if he was here. That bunk -house may be all right for a well puncher, but with its noisy crowd it’s -no place for a man with a broken leg. Now, rest your whole -weight on us, Joe; we can stand it, all right. That’s the way; hope it -didn’t hurt much when you dropped out of the saddle. Now, use us like you -would a pair of crutches, and we’ll get there, step by step.”</p> - -<p>The housekeeper and little Becky came running out just then, alarmed by -seeing Alkali Joe, who was something of a favorite on the ranch, in dire -straits. Even Charley Woo was solicitous about the comfort of the injured -man, and hurried in with Mrs. Ogden to get a bed ready in the spare -room.</p> - -<p>After the boys had gotten the cow puncher in bed, Frank took a look at -the way Mr. Witherspoon had bound up the broken leg.</p> - -<p>“Why, your uncle must be a regular surgeon, Andy!” he declared, “that’s -as neat a job as I ever saw; and done while on the gallop, too, you might -say. I take off my hat to Uncle Jethro, let me tell you right now.”</p> - -<p>“We all do that, Frank,” said Joe, emphatically. “He’s the most -wonderful man in the whole country. There ain’t a puncher that ever worked -for him as wouldn’t go through fire and flood for Mr. Witherspoon; well, I -take that back, ’cause I reckon they has been one or two as he had to -fire, and for mighty good reasons, that’d like to see him -lose all his stock through a norther, or else that Mexican cattle -rustler.”</p> - -<p>Inside half an hour the injured man had been made as comfortable as -possible; he himself said it was the greatest snap that had ever befallen -him, and that he hadn’t lain between soft white sheets since he was a kid -at home in the East. Frank thought that old memories were being stirred in -Joe’s mind; perhaps, after all, his accident might work for his good, in -that it would cause him to recollect that there was an old mother or -father somewhere east of the Mississippi, whom he had almost forgotten, -and who would be wild with joy if only a letter came from the boy who had -gone away from home so many years ago, and in the excitement of his life -in the Southwest shut out all thoughts of the past from his heart.</p> - -<p>Frank and Andy after having lunch sat outside where the shadows were -thickest at this sweltering time of day. There could always be found a -gentle puff of air at this favorite place; and lounging in a hammock, -while Andy worked at some of his prints, Frank watched a lone white cloud -that was drifting across the azure sky above.</p> - -<p>Perhaps his thoughts too were turning back to other -scenes as he lay there. It might be that the sight of that single fleecy -fog-like vapor caused him to remember events that were connected with -other scenes in the lively experiences which had come to the Bird boys -while harnessing their chariot to the clouds.</p> - -<p>“What you thinking about, Frank?” Andy asked, suddenly, after he had -been watching the face of his cousin for a full minute without the other -knowing it.</p> - -<p>“Why, I was trying to picture rough Alkali Joe in the past,” replied -Frank. “What he said about not having slept between sheets since he was a -kid, made me think. Did you see that picture that fell out of his pocket -when we took off his Mexican jacket, the one he won at the raffle they -told us about?”</p> - -<p>“Sure I did; but that wasn’t Joe’s best girl, Frank; when I picked it -up and put it back I saw that it was the face of an elderly woman.”</p> - -<p>“All the same it ought to be Joe’s best girl; because I reckon it’s his -mother. And I remember him saying one day that he didn’t know whether -there was anybody alive in his family or not, because he hadn’t written a -letter home for six whole years. And Andy, I was just thinking, that while -he’s on his back there, it might be a good time to get talking to Joe, - and see if he wouldn’t think to write. If his mother’s alive -still, I reckon she’d be happy to hear from him again.”</p> - -<p>“Frank, that’s just like you for all the world; always wanting to do -somebody a good turn. Now, that wouldn’t have struck me at all; but since -you’ve mentioned it, I’m going to watch my chance to get talking about -home and all such things, and see if I can’t wake Joe up. He’s a -good-hearted fellow, if he is tough. But by the way you’re getting back to -your old self, I think the chances look good for our making that start -tomorrow in the biplane.”</p> - -<p>“It does look that way, if nothing happens between now and then to -break up our plans,” replied the other. “Doctor Witherspoon has certainly -knocked that dizziness out of my system, and I’m as well as ever now. Fact -is, there’s a little job connected with the motor that ought to be -attended to, to put it in first-class condition, and when the sun gets -lower down, so that a fellow can breathe better, why I think I’ll get -busy.”</p> - -<p>“And me to help you,” chirped Andy, promptly, “I’m about done with this -printing business anyway. Say, what d’ye think of this lot of pictures? -Don’t it give you a cold chill just to look at that old grizzly scattering -things around at the mouth of his den? And every time I -glimpse Buckskin hanging on to that log bridge with his fingers and teeth, -trying to climb back again after losing his balance, it makes me shake all -over, I want to laugh so hard. A pretty good lot all told, Frank.”</p> - -<p>“That’s what they are; Andy, and the folks at home will have a fine -time looking them over. You’ll be able to illustrate nearly every big yarn -you have to tell; and the round-up tomorrow ought to just fill out the -bill. But I can make use of you, if you care to come over with me to the -hangar. An air has started up, you notice, and it doesn’t feel quite so -hot,” and accompanied by his cousin, after Andy had put his prints and -trays away in the house, Frank sauntered leisurely over to where stood the -new shed, which had been built to shelter the precious aeroplane wonder.</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 title='An Alarming Discovery' id='chXVI'> -CHAPTER XVI—AN ALARMING DISCOVERY -</h2> - -<p>Long before evening came on Frank had completed his work, and -pronounced the aeroplane in as near perfect condition as it could be -placed.</p> - -<p>Andy had some more prints to worry over after supper, but it was a -labor of love with him, and he never wearied of it. There was such a -fascination about seeing the many well remembered scenes flash up before -him, after he had dropped the paper in the tray holding his developing -solution, and then carefully manipulating them so as to bring out the best -possible results, that Frank declared he would have to drag him to bed -later on.</p> - -<p>They spent a very pleasant evening. Mrs. Ogden played the piano, and -Frank was able to do some little execution with the violin which Mr. -Witherspoon himself could manipulate so cleverly. Andy thumped on a banjo, -and even sang a few college songs, such as the boys of Bloomsbury High -delighted to learn in anticipation of the time when they would go away to -Yale, Harvard, Cornell, or possibly Princeton, according to the mood that -influenced them in making a choice. When Charley Woo was -discovered by little Becky crouching in the doorway and evidently enjoying -the music, he was induced to bring a native Chinese instrument, fashioned -after the manner of a mandolin from which he managed to extract some weird -kind of music almost barbaric in its way, which added more or less to the -enjoyment of the evening, and made the player superlatively happy.</p> - -<p>As the door of the room where Alkali Joe lay upon his bed was kept -open, so that he could enjoy the music, they heard him clapping his hands -for some time after each air.</p> - -<p>Purposely Frank influenced Mrs. Ogden to sing “Home, Sweet Home,” with -himself and Andy coming in on the chorus, as well as the sweet, bird-like -tones of little Becky’s voice. She gave promise of quite some talent in -the line of music, and would carol half the day in her childish way.</p> - -<p>And Frank listening heard no applause after they were through; instead, -there was a dense silence beyond that open door, as though something about -the song had touched the hardened heart of the cow puncher, and started -him to thinking of things that had long banished from his mind.</p> - -<p>Even Andy noticed the suggestive silence, and catching -the eye of his cousin, nodded his head in the direction of the room where -the injured man lay, while he smiled, as much as to say:</p> - -<p>“That was a center-shot, Frank; you hit the bull’s-eye that time, old -fellow, and chances are that now he’s got to thinking, Joe isn’t going to -be able to forget again in a hurry. You mark my words, there’ll be a call -for paper and pen inside of a day or two.”</p> - -<p>And sure enough, though there may be no further opportunity to mention -the matter again, on account of other stirring scenes that await our -attention, it can be stated right here and now that Alkali Joe did write a -letter home before another forty-eight hours had expired. So that the -little accident of his being pitched over the head of his pony when the -animal stepped into a gopher hole, while going at a round pace, was the -means of bringing joy to the heart of a grieving old mother in a far-away -Eastern State.</p> - -<p>Strange that not one of them noticed a face that was pressed close to -the corner of the open sash of the window in the back of the room, from -time to time, a dark scowling face that was marked by glittering eyes, -which seemed to be fastened on the little sprite of a girl -whenever she danced across the floor.</p> - -<p>No one dreamed of anything like danger, when the atmosphere seemed so -calm and delightful. But then, that is the way things often go; and many -times the gathering storm steals up unobserved, until there is a savage -burst of thunder, accompanied by a vivid flash of lightning, startling -every one by its sudden coming.</p> - -<p>Finally Mrs. Ogden declared that the hour had grown late for little -Becky to be up; and as was her custom, the winsome child went to each of -the boys to kiss him goodnight.</p> - -<p>After that Frank picked up a book, and interested himself in the story; -while Andy, unable to tear himself away from his beloved camera work, -started to print again, having another batch of proofs from which he had -not as yet taken pictures.</p> - -<p>The face at the window did not appear again after the housekeeper and -little Becky left the living-room. It might be assumed from this that the -spy without had lost all interest in the occupants when the child vanished -from view.</p> - -<p>Frank read on until he found his eyes growing heavy. Then with a yawn -he tossed the book on the table. “Ten o’clock, Andy,” he -remarked, as a gentle reminder.</p> - -<p>“Oh! that isn’t late,” said the other, “you know, we go to bed at all -hours at our house at home. A doctor never knows when he can get a night’s -sleep; and that breaks up things in his family more or less. But I’m on -the home stretch with this batch of prints, Frank. Give me a little more -time, won’t you? When I get started with my trays and chemicals I like to -clean up a lot of stuff.”</p> - -<p>“Ten minutes more,” remarked Frank, grimly.</p> - -<p>“Oh! well p’raps I can get through then; but even if I don’t you might -sneak off, and leave me to put out the glim when I am through,” the other -went on to say.</p> - -<p>“Not if I know myself and I think I do, likewise you,” chuckled Frank. -“Why, you never would come to bed till long after midnight. It’d be just -one more batch, and then another after that, to the wind-up. I’ll wait for -you, my boy. Ten minutes, and then we’ll close up shop.”</p> - -<p>Andy knew that his cousin would stick to his word; he had been up -against it more than a few times in the past, and so he hurried matters as -much as he could. When the ten minutes had expired he begged -for five more, as grace, saying that he would just spoil the few prints -that had to be finished if they were left in the washing water until -morning; and so Frank gave in that far.</p> - -<p>When they were undressing, later on, Frank thrust his head out of the -window to look at the glory of the moonlight night, and wonder what the -boys were doing in the round-up camp, just then.</p> - -<p>The night was now cool and pleasant, as they frequently are after a hot -day in Arizona, especially about the Fall season. Stars shone softly -above, and there the moon hung like a big lantern, lighting up the earth -below.</p> - -<p>How many memories did it not recall to the Bird boys, every time they -looked up and saw that great yellow shield! Had they not looked upon it -under various periods of stress and peril in their own lives; sometimes -near the home town, and again it might be far away in the mysterious -country bordering the Magdalena river, down in Colombia, where the -tropical sun shone far hotter than it did here in the Arizona regions.</p> - -<p>Often the Bird boys were influenced to talk of these past experiences, -when the mood came upon them; but Andy usually became more - or less excited whenever he was reminded of these stirring -events; and tonight Frank wisely refrained from starting him going by -mentioning the memories that were awakened by that lovely round orb.</p> - -<p>The last thing he remembered Andy saying was that it promised to be a -good day for the little air voyage they contemplated taking on the morrow; -which caused Frank to chuckle, because in this arid country, where it -seldom rained, all days were good ones, save as the heat or blowing alkali -dust might bring discomfort in their train.</p> - -<p>When Frank awoke again it was broad day. He no longer was troubled with -that dizzy feeling; and yet it seemed to him as though a weight might be -pressing down upon him. The air was unusually bracing on this particular -morning, too, so that Frank did not know what to make of it.</p> - -<p>Not being a boy given to such a things as the “blues,” he shook himself -with the intention of getting rid of this feeling and sternly put it out -of his mind.</p> - -<p>They went outdoors to take a look around, while waiting for Charley Woo -to call them to breakfast. He was already up and doing, as the smoke from -the kitchen chimney told. Indeed, there was an unmistakable -smell of cooking in the air that caused Andy to sniff eagerly, and -remark:</p> - -<p>“Tell me, don’t that coffee smell fine; and as sure as you live, -Charley Woo is going to give us a mess of his famous flapjacks, too. When -we go away from here, Frank, we’ll have to send that Chink something nice, -to pay him for all he’s done to make us happy while on the ranch. I really -think Charlie’d lie awake all night hatching up some new mess to tickle us -with. Uncle struck a treasure when that moon-eyed Celestial came wandering -along here looking for a berth, when the tough punchers of the M-bar-M -outfit chased him off because he let a hair from his queue get in the -soup.”</p> - -<p>Presently the call came for breakfast, and the boys hurried in to -attack the eggs and bacon and pancakes that were spread before them; -together with butter, rolls, coffee, and genuine maple syrup, of which -latter article the ranchman was very fond.</p> - -<p>They wondered a little that Mrs. Ogden was not with them, but all the -same proceeded to do full justice to Charley Woo’s cooking. The grinning -Chinaman waited on them with his customary agility, almost anticipating -their wants, and insisting on piling more flapjacks on their -plates as fast as they were emptied, until both boys had to hold their -hands over them and vow that they could not devour another one for love or -money.</p> - -<p>“Suppose you go and knock on Mrs. Ogden’s door at the other end of the -house, and tell her the cakes will get cold is she doesn’t come quick,” -suggested Andy.</p> - -<p>“Yes, I never knew her to be sleeping in so, since we’ve been here,” -added Frank, and yet as Charley Woo, who could make himself handy about -the house in the capacity of a man of all work as well as chef, hurried -off to carry out the suggestion, neither of the boys had the slightest -suspicion that anything out of the way was the matter.</p> - -<p>The first thing they knew about trouble was when they heard the -Chinaman shouting in a wild fashion; and jumping up, regardless of the -heavy meal they had just devoured, they ran through the passage to where -the sound came from, their hearts almost standing still with sudden -apprehension, they knew not what of.</p> - -<p>The outer door of the two rooms which were occupied by the housekeeper -and little blue-eyed Becky was open, and as Frank and Andy burst through -impetuously, they saw Charley Woo, trying to unwind some -pieces of rope which had evidently been used to bind Mrs. Ogden to the bed -posts. A towel with which she had possibly been gagged lay on the floor. -The poor woman was in her wrapper, and so completely exhausted that she -could hardly make a sound. But evidently she wanted to tell them something -important, for her lips kept on moving; and Frank, bending down managed to -catch the sense of the whispered sounds.</p> - -<p>No wonder his face was white as he turned his head, and looked at his -cousin.</p> - -<p>“She says little Becky has been kidnapped!” was what he flung at Andy.</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 title='The Carrying Off of Little Becky' id='chXVII'> -CHAPTER XVII—THE CARRYING OFF OF LITTLE BECKY -</h2> - -<p>Andy fell back and stared at his cousin helplessly when he heard this -startling announcement.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile Frank had started in to assist Charley Woo cut the rope which -had been so cruelly used to make the housekeeper a prisoner. Then he -helped her to regain her feet, for she had sank down utterly exhausted as -soon as released.</p> - -<p>But Mrs. Ogden was a sensible woman, and she was trying the best she -knew how to recover her speech; so that presently Frank thought it time to -ask her something about what had happened.</p> - -<p>“He must have crept in through the open window!” she gasped. “I thought -the night wind had started blowing the blind, and got up to fix it, when -he caught hold of me, and that was the last I knew until I came to my -senses and found myself bound, and with a towel fastened across my face so -that I could not cry out, when he was just passing out of the window. In -the moonlight I could see that he held a bundle in his arms, and I knew -what it must be. Oh! what will Mr. Witherspoon say when he -learns how I have let that sweet child be taken away from under my -eyes.”</p> - -<p>That seemed to be the main cause for her distress; she thought nothing -at all about her own sufferings, but was only concerned about what her -employer would think because she had not been able to prevent the -kidnapping of the child.</p> - -<p>Though Andy had not yet recovered his voice, and was groping in the -dark with regard to what it all meant, Frank, clearer visioned, had -already made a pretty straight guess. He immediately started to ask a few -questions, and each one of them went straight to the point.</p> - -<p>“Did you see the man clearly, Mrs. Ogden?” he demanded; and somehow the -housekeeper seemed to feel something of the same confidence in Frank that -his manner nearly always produced in those who were in distress.</p> - -<p>“No, because the moon was on the other side of the house,” she replied; -“and besides, he seemed to have some sort of bandanna handkerchief -fastened around the lower part of his face as a disguise.”</p> - -<p>“And did he say anything that you heard, anything that would give you a -clue with regard to who he was?” Frank went on to ask. “I -remember that when he first caught me by the throat he did utter a low -word, and it was a Mexican word, too,” she answered, slowly, as though her -mind might not yet be working as clearly as usual.</p> - -<p>“That is a point, then, to be remembered,” the boy insisted, “and -here’s something that might give us another clue.”</p> - -<p>He picked an object up from the floor, and held it aloft.</p> - -<p>“A Mexican sombrero!” exclaimed Andy, recovering his speech at -last.</p> - -<p>“Just what it is,” said Frank, steadily, “and as is the habit with -these men from over the border, this one is decorated heavily with silver -beads, and gold buttons, as well as filigree work. One of these hats is -worth a lot of money, and the owner is as proud of it as a lady would be -of her magnificent diamonds at the opera. Please try and think, Mrs. -Ogden, did you ever see this sombrero before?”</p> - -<p>He held it up in front of her eyes, slowly turning it around, so that -she might observe every part in turn.</p> - -<p>The housekeeper uttered a low bubbling cry. Evidently the truth had -flashed into her mind, and she was no longer groping in the dark. “Yes, -yes, I do remember seeing that hat, Frank, Andy!” she exclaimed.</p> - -<p>“On the head of a certain gentleman who went by the name of Jose -Sandero?” pursued the boy, as if trying to aid her memory.</p> - -<p>“No other, though it was some years ago!” she cried. “They always -decorate each new hat in the same way as the last. And when he was here -that time to demand his child, only to hear that the court had given her -into the keeping of Mr. Witherspoon, Jose Sandero wore just such a -sombrero. Oh! it was him, all right; and the poor little darling has been -carried off by her own unworthy father. He will make for the border as -fast as horses can carry him, hoping to be safe beyond the line before the -return of Mr. Witherspoon.”</p> - -<p>Frank had already guessed this much. It looked like a serious -proposition; but then he was a boy not easily daunted. The more difficult -the task the greater was Frank Bird’s resolution apt to be aroused.</p> - -<p>First of all it seemed essential that the ranchman must be notified of -what had happened and that as quickly as possible. They were many miles -away, and doubtless much valuable time would be lost, even after the -messenger reached the round-up camp, since the boys would be -off here and there engaged in their work of gathering the cattle for the -purpose of picking out unbranded stock, and driving it in to be marked, -after it had been roped and thrown.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, it was necessary that they find out if possible which way -the kidnapper had gone; though the chances were ten to one the -direction would be south. There were several reasons for believing this. -In the first place Mexico lay in that quarter; and doubtless across the -border Jose Sandero had prepared a hiding place where he could defy the -United States courts to summon him. Perhaps he also had friends and -comrades awaiting him there, who would defend him against any pursuit of -the Double X Ranch cow punchers, bent on recovering the child and -punishing the bold abductor.</p> - -<p>Frank stepped over to the window, and looked out.</p> - -<p>It happened that just below the earth was soft, for Mr. Witherspoon had -made a brave effort to have certain flowering shrubs bloom near the house, -and several pink oleanders and scarlet hibiscus did manage to survive the -heat, being carefully watered each morning and evening by Charley Woo with -his hose. And looking closely Frank could see the mark of -footprints. He climbed out of the window and began to follow them, Andy -being quickly at his side, bubbling over with indignation and breathing -all sorts of dire threats against the bad man who had for some reason -other than affection chosen to steal the child to whom he no longer had -any claim, selecting the very time when the punchers would be far away -from the ranch house, which he had expected would be practically left -unprotected.</p> - -<p>Frank kept on following the tracks until finally he came to the now -almost empty corral, where the riding horses were kept when the boys were -at home.</p> - -<p>“See,” Frank observed, “here is where he had his pony tied—there were -two of them, Andy, showing that he came here with the intention of -carrying little Becky off.”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” added Andy, “and now we ought to learn which way he went. But -Frank, there’s hardly a pony fit to ride except Alkali Joe’s mount in the -corral. They took every one along for use in the rough work of the -round-up. Uncle says he will have to break in a lot more right away. -They’ve been losing a large number lately, you remember. Heads into the -south, don’t it, Frank?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, just as I thought it would,” muttered the other coming to a -stand, and looking away off over the level stretch of plain, as though he -wished he had eyes strong enough to discover the fleeing marauder, miles -and miles away though he must be before now.</p> - -<p>“Poor little Becky, how frightened she must be to find herself being -carried off by that man,” remarked Andy, his voice trembling with feeling; -and he had to stop speaking to grit his teeth, as anger almost overwhelmed -him. “Of course he’s told her before now that he is her father; but that -won’t make her feel any better, because she has heard enough from the boys -to know that Jose is a bad man, who deserted her mother, and was in one -way the cause of her death. Whatever do you suppose he did it for, Frank; -not that he could care about Becky, who looks too much like her mother did -to ever make him love her? More’n likely now, he’s gone to all this -trouble, and risked his neck in the bargain, just to get even with Uncle -Jethro.”</p> - -<p>“I wouldn’t be much surprised if you’ve hit the nail on the head, -Andy,” observed the other soberly. “But the question is, what are we going -to do about it, for it seems to me it’s up to us pretty much -to start something moving.”</p> - -<p>Andy suddenly looked up eagerly.</p> - -<p>“Tell you what, Frank!” he exclaimed, “we’ve got something better than -ponies to take us over the ground to where Uncle Jethro and the boys are -at work. What’s going to hinder us from making use of the biplane to cover -these miles of space? Why, we can just whizz down there, and carry the -news!”</p> - -<p>Frank appeared to be thinking, for he did not make any remark in answer -to this bright suggestion on the part of his chum.</p> - -<p>“Look,” Andy went on to remark, “if there isn’t Alkali Joe hobbling -around on one foot with a cane to support him. Chances are, he’ll be -asking us to let him ride for help, while we try and overtake the -kidnapper; but that would be a terrible thing to let him do. Better send -Charley Woo, if somebody has to go, and you don’t want to waste time by -using the machine.”</p> - -<p>“I was thinking why shouldn’t we set out straight on the track of Jose, -using the biplane instead of ponies?” Frank suddenly broke out with.</p> - -<p>“Good! Great stunt! It does take you to think up things, Frank. There I -kept on beating about the bush, and saying we might carry -the news to the boys, when all the time we had the opening before us to -chase right after the skunk, hot-footed. And say, there’s those fine -Marlin guns we used on the bear hunt; couldn’t we make out to carry a -couple of that sort along with us, Frank? Oh! the way I feel right now, it -wouldn’t take much to tempt me to put a chunk of lead in that Mexican, I -tell you. How about that, Frank; ain’t we going armed, if we have to try -and get our little ranch butterfly back again?”</p> - -<p>“Of course, Andy; it would be silly to think of going without some sort -of gun along. When you’re meaning to arrest a bad man you had ought to -make sure you’re heeled so as to enforce your demands. We’ll take -shooting-irons along in numbers enough to riddle him if it comes to a -question of a stand-up fight. And now’s let’s hurry back to the house. -Before we can get off there are a few things we must see to, you -understand.”</p> - -<p>“Then you don’t think we had better run over to where the boys are, -first of all, and let them know?” Andy went on to ask, loth to let his -suggestion be wholly thrown into the discard.</p> - -<p>“A waste of time, when everything is going to depend on -how fast we can overtake Jose and little Becky,” Frank asserted, firmly. -“We can start Charley Woo off; or if necessary, Mrs. Ogden, who can ride -nearly as well as a man, will go. Come, the sooner we start in the quicker -we’ll be able to do something worth while.”</p> - -<p>And Andy, duly impressed once more with the fact that Frank was able to -handle the situation, if any one could, only too gladly hurried after his -cousin when the latter headed for the house.</p> - -<p>No one paid the least attention to the fact that it was a fine airy -morning, for the catastrophe which had come upon Double X Ranch so -suddenly had by this time filled their minds to the exclusion of -everything else.</p> - -<p>And it was an excited group that gathered by the horse block in front -of the door—the housekeeper wringing her hands in anguish; Frank and Andy -looking very determined; Charley Woo in a flutter; and Alkali Joe furious -because of his crippled condition.</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 title='The Aeroplane Pursuit' id='chXVIII'> -CHAPTER XVIII—THE AEROPLANE PURSUIT -</h2> - -<p>“But ain’t you a-goin’ to let me ride over and tell the boss what’s -happened?” complained Alkali Joe, after Frank had in as few words as -possible explained just what he and Andy meant to do; and while this was -taking place his cousin had slipped into the house to secure the coveted -guns, the value of which they knew only too well after that excitement -over the bear hunt.</p> - -<p>“You never could make it, Joe,” said Mrs. Ogden decisively, “chances -are you’d give that leg a wrench on the way, and just faint from the pain. -Besides, it would be a crying shame to let a wounded man gallop all day -long nearly, or even for a few hours. I’d sooner ride myself than let you -try it.”</p> - -<p>“How about you, Charley Woo; can you ride a pony, and follow as plain a -trail as the bunch left behind them?” asked Frank, turning to the -Chinaman.</p> - -<p>Charley Woo nodded his head so violently that his dangling queue looked -like an animated rope hanging down his back. He removed his - hands with their long fingernails, from the wide sleeves of -the jacket he wore.</p> - -<p>“Sure tling, Flank!” he exclaimed eagerly, delighted it seemed to have -such confidence reposed in him; “him know where Mistah Withasploon camp -las’ night; been samee place much many tlimes ’long with him. Go there -light away, fast as Joe, he pony run. Tell when, that all.”</p> - -<p>Alkali opened his mouth to object to his favorite cayuse being ridden -by another than himself, and a miserable “Chink” at that; then he shut his -teeth hard together as he remembered what it all meant, and how foolish he -would be to throw any obstacle in the way of the rescue of the little -sunbeam that had been the idol of the ranch for some years now.</p> - -<p>Frank himself hurried off to rope the pony in the corral. He had -learned how to do this almost as well as any of the cow punchers -themselves; and quickly made his reappearance leading the mount that had -played havoc with his master’s limb when he failed to detect the gopher -hole in the trail. The little animal was showing all the signs of anger at -being caught by anyone other than the master he acknowledged, but Frank -had no time to waste, and had handled him without gloves. -Charley Woo did not seem to be one whit afraid because the pony snorted -and tried to bite him when he approached. Watching his chance, when all -was ready, the nimble Chinaman made a flying leap for the saddle that -would have done credit to Alkali Joe himself. He had a quirt in his hand, -secured by a stout buckskin thong to his wrist; and no sooner did he -clutch the bridle than he brought this leather torment down upon the -horse’s heaving flank with a vicious smack.</p> - -<p>At the same instant Frank released his grip, and away the pony flew, -the huddled figure of the Chinaman dressed in his white, flapping -garments, on his back, with his long queue flying out behind like a -rope.</p> - -<p>“He’s headed straight to begin with,” said Andy, with a sigh of -relief.</p> - -<p>“Charley Woo is all right,” declared Frank, “and sooner or later he’ll -get to where Mr. Witherspoon is camped, to carry him the news.”</p> - -<p>“He will if that pony don’t play some smart trick on him,” muttered -Alkali Joe, frowning. “You orter let me try it, Frank; I’m tough as knots, -and I reckon I’d a-stood it.”</p> - -<p>“You get back to your bed as fast as you can, Joe,” returned Frank. -“Right now, perhaps you’ve put back the knitting of that bone, - and it may have to be set all over again when Mr. -Witherspoon gets a chance to look at it. Come along, Andy, we’ve got our -job laid out for us.”</p> - -<p>Joe still leaned against the hitching rail, and looked longingly after -the Bird boys. From the gloom on his dark face, and the twitching of the -muscles around his mouth, it could be plainly seen that the puncher was -taking his misfortune with a bad grace; and that he thought himself the -most badly used fellow inside of fifty miles; all because he had not been -allowed to make that mad dash of twenty or more miles in a broiling sun, -with a broken leg dangling uselessly at his side; and had to suffer the -mortification of seeing a “heathen Chinee” gallop away on his pony. It -must have been a cruel experience for Alkali Joe, and one that he would -not soon forget either.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the two young aviators hurried over to the frame building -that Mr. Witherspoon had had erected before their coming, and which was to -be used as a hangar for their precious biplane.</p> - -<p>“How lucky, Frank that you overhauled the motor only yesterday,” -remarked Andy, as they reached the wide doors of the shed which, upon -being thrown open would allow of the aeroplane being -wheeled out to where they usually started off.</p> - -<p>“I was just thinking that myself,” replied the other.</p> - -<p>“Just like you seemed to believe we might have a sudden call for -service,” went on Andy.</p> - -<p>“Hardly that,” Frank sent back over his shoulder, as he dove inside the -building, “you know my maxim is to be ready always, for you never know -when the emergency is going to jump out at you. These things nearly always -drop down like a bolt of lightning from a clear sky.”</p> - -<p>“That’s right, Frank. But there’s nothing wrong here, is there?”</p> - -<p>“Doesn’t seem to be,” and Frank, who had hurriedly moved about from one -side of the aeroplane to the other, sighed with relief, and so loud that -Andy heard him.</p> - -<p>“But you were afraid there might be, own up now, Frank?” he exclaimed, -quickly.</p> - -<p>“Well, I didn’t know but that Jose might have made his way in here last -night and damaged the biplane. He sure would if he’d known how we could -use it to chase after him, five times as fast as he could go on his pony. -You know how easy it is to put such a thing out of commission, Andy. And -Jose must have been prowling about here while we were -asleep.”</p> - -<p>“Wonder how it was Tige didn’t scent him, and give him a chase?” -remarked Andy, referring to the faithful watch dog that as a usual thing, -played the part of sentinel over the ranch house, when the night grew old, -and every inmate slept.</p> - -<p>“Which reminds me that we haven’t seen the old fellow this morning, -Andy.”</p> - -<p>“Great governor! that’s a fact!” exclaimed the other, excitedly. “Say, -I wouldn’t put it past that yellow-faced Mexican kidnapper to poison poor -old Tige. When they come to look, chances are they’ll find him lying stiff -in his kennel.”</p> - -<p>“But we’ve got no time to talk that over now, Andy,” said the other. -“Lend a hand and we’ll trundle the thing out to the starting place. Plenty -of gasolene aboard, you know, because I filled the reserve tank yesterday, -thank goodness. Here comes Mrs. Ogden with a package in her hand.”</p> - -<p>“Bet you I know what she’s got!” exclaimed Andy; “thinks we might get -lost somewhere out on the desert, and she’s made us up a lot of grub to -carry along. Wait till I look and see if there’s plenty of water in that -jug I fixed to the back of the seat. Yes, brimful, I’ll tie -the guns here. Wait for me just three minutes, won’t you, Frank? I’m going -back to the house.”</p> - -<p>“What notion have you got in your head now, Andy?” demanded the other a -little impatiently.</p> - -<p>“We ought to have the glasses, you know,” came back to him.</p> - -<p>“You’re right, and it was a good thing you thought of them,” called -Frank, only too well pleased to commend his chum for a thing of this -kind.</p> - -<p>Andy fairly ran at top speed toward the house, and plunged in through -the open door, not wanting to waste a second more than could be helped. He -was back again at the hangar before the time allowance he had given -himself had expired; and so on arriving found that Frank had made all -other preparation necessary, so that there was now nothing to prevent -their immediate start.</p> - -<p>“Oh! how I will pray that you get back our little darling safe and -unharmed!” the housekeeper called out to them, as they were taking their -places.</p> - -<p>“Tell Mr. Witherspoon when you see him that we mean to do everything we -can to bring little Becky back home,” Frank said, as his -last words.</p> - -<p>“And look up poor old Tige,” called Andy, “just as like as not you’ll -have to bury him, because he must be dead; or else chased after the boys -last night.”</p> - -<p>Frank gave the word; each of them had a part to do in the successful -starting of the aeroplane; as the little motor burst into a merry song -they found themselves commencing to move slowly along the level ground. -Faster and faster grew the pace until Frank, deeming that the time had -come to mount upward, changed the planes, and immediately the clever flier -left the ground, rising gradually until he felt able to increase the -speed, and climb upward in spirals.</p> - -<p>The first thing that seemed advisable in Frank’s mind was to get some -sort of bird’s-eye view of the surrounding country.</p> - -<p>Of course he and Andy had done considerable moving about in all -directions since first coming to Arizona, so that Frank already had a -pretty fair knowledge of the vicinity. But with the glasses to help out, -he hoped to be in a position to discover several things.</p> - -<p>“Get busy, Andy, and see what you can glimpse,” he remarked, after they -had succeeded in mounting upward to a considerable -distance.</p> - -<p>“I’ve already sighted Charley Woo,” replied the other.</p> - -<p>“I hope then he’s going right along,” remarked Frank, anxiously, for -his attention had to be confined almost exclusively to the working of the -aeroplane, and on this account he must depend on his chum to tell him what -was happening.</p> - -<p>“Oh!” Andy hastened to reply, “he’s still hanging to Joe’s cayuse like -a flea, and as far as I can see, whooping it up at the liveliest pace -ever. But I’m looking away beyond him to find out if I can see the -boys.”</p> - -<p>“Well, how about it?” asked the other.</p> - -<p>“Wait till we swing around again, and I’ll tell you.”</p> - -<p>They were by now high enough to afford quite an extended view in every -direction. Frank’s eyes had sought the south whenever he had a chance to -take them for a second or two from his work; but Andy was leveling the -glasses in almost an opposite quarter.</p> - -<p>“There! I’ve just glimpsed a lot of small objects moving this way and -that,” he announced suddenly, “which I take it are cattle, with the -punchers rushing them wherever they want. But they’re a -whole heap of miles away, Frank. Guess they see us by now, and expect -we’re going to sail up that way. Perhaps they’ll wonder to watch us turn -right around and go off to the south. Is it really necessary, Frank? -Couldn’t we run up there and let them know?”</p> - -<p>“What would be the use?” returned his cousin. “They could never catch -Jose, mounted on their ponies, and him with all that start. Why, I’m only -afraid he’ll be able to cross over into Mexico before we get up with him, -for all our swiftness with our humming motor. And minutes are apt to count -big in this game, Andy, so I say we’d better not lose any time running -over there, and then going down to let them know what’s happened. Charley -Woo is on the job, and he’ll get there sooner or later with the news.”</p> - -<p>And so Andy said nothing more along those lines.</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 title='Over Plain and Desert' id='chXIX'> -CHAPTER XIX—OVER PLAIN AND DESERT -</h2> - -<p>“I think we’re high enough up now!” observed Frank, presently.</p> - -<p>He no longer sent the biplane in widening circles, boring steadily -upwards; but turned toward the south and pushed for speed, as far as was -compatible with safety, which was always Frank’s way.</p> - -<p>And Andy seemed to have now lost all interest in what lay behind, for -he was looking ahead through the glasses, as though in the hope of -discovering the kidnapper of little Becky somewhere in the hazy -distance.</p> - -<p>It was still comparatively early in the morning, and in places there -lay an odd sort of mist that may have been a mirage, obscuring the view, -since the earth was hidden in its whitish folds.</p> - -<p>Away beyond these spots did Andy turn his marine glasses. Now he saw -something moving that at first gave him a little shock; but on second -inspection it turned out to be a sailing buzzard, evidently scenting some -carrion in a bunch of sage brush, that gave promise of - dinner, since it was close to the earth at the time.</p> - -<p>A minute later and Andy had another start, as once more he believed he -had discovered an object that certainly crawled over the ground. Could it -be some wounded man, or one who was perishing for a drink of water, in -that arid land bordering the desert?</p> - -<p>But hardly had this thought occurred to Andy than he realized his -mistake; for he now saw that it was only a cowardly coyote, shuffling -along as though ashamed to be caught returning to his den at such an hour -of the morning, after an all night feast, perhaps.</p> - -<p>Down below them they could see the plain which formed a part of Double -X Ranch. It looked like a great checkerboard, on account of the different -colors of the soil, which stood out in relief when one was directly above. -Had there been any water there they could have seen to the very bottom, -even though it were twenty feet deep, such is the advantage which this -lofty position gives. No wonder, thought Andy, that the hawk is able to -pick out just the fish he wants for his dinner, and then finds it so easy -to pounce down upon the unfortunate thus selected.</p> - -<p>Frank was listening to the buzz of the motor. Whenever -they were thus humming along through space this was his favorite -occupation. And indeed, when one stops to consider how much depended on -the successful operation of that same industrious engine, he could be -easily excused for taking such intense interest in its labors. Let it -suddenly get out of condition and it would bring the daring young aviators -face to face with a crisis that might threaten even their lives. Deprived -of the means of making progress would necessitate a volplane toward the -ground, always a dangerous performance and one that should only be -attempted when the conditions are all favorable, or some desperate need -arises.</p> - -<p>Turn whichever way Andy would nothing but disappointment seemed to meet -him; and being pretty much an impulsive boy, perhaps it was only natural -that he should voice his disgust.</p> - -<p>“Oh! I wouldn’t give that any worry,” Frank told him. “If Jose has had -as much time as we think, he must be away ahead of the line of your -observation just now, especially on account of all that haze along the -horizon.”</p> - -<p>“But if we can’t see him, how are we to know that we’re keeping in a -direct line after him?” demanded the one who wielded the glasses. - “We can only take our chances,” Frank answered, steadily, -as though he did not mean to be ruffled so early in the game, when so many -things remained untried, any one of which might sooner or later prove to -be the magic key, fated to unlock the treasure chest.</p> - -<p>“And just keep on heading south, is that it, Frank?”</p> - -<p>“Exactly so, Andy. We’re about dead sure that it’s Jose who carried -away Little Sunbeam; and knowing that, we can figure he’s sure to make a -bee line for the nearest place where the border comes. So I’m shaping our -course for that same region myself. And when we get there, perhaps we’ll -find we’ve been left in the lurch and that his fast ponies have won the -day.”</p> - -<p>“And what then, Frank; would we have to turn around and come back like -a dog with his tail between his legs, just because the kidnapper managed -to quit American soil, and get on that belonging to Mexico? As for me, I’d -be willing to give him the merry chase right down along the line till we -landed in Mexico City, or else in a Black Hole in some town on the -way.”</p> - -<p>“I feel pretty much the same way, Andy; but first of all, you see, -we’ve just got to find out where the man and child are. So -keep on looking while I drive her along a little faster. I think we can -stand another turn, with this light and favorable breeze carrying us with -it.”</p> - -<p>For several minutes no one said a single word. Frank was busy with his -motor, while Andy had his eyes fairly glued to the small end of the -glasses, as though he kept hoping that he would make a pleasing discovery -the very next minute.</p> - -<p>Now even the ranch building would be found to look very small and far -to their rear, did they bother glancing back that way, which, to tell the -truth, neither of them did.</p> - -<p>And at the same time the rough country came closer, until one could see -where the fertile plain really ended, and the sandy desert began.</p> - -<p>Unless one made a very wide detour it was absolutely necessary to cross -over this arid waste in order to reach the Mexican border. Frank had been -figuring it all out. He believed that Jose, being a bold and audacious -man, would not think of taking the longer route. In the first place that -course was apt to keep him exposed to the hot pursuit which he knew he -could count on as the result of his audacious exploit. And doubtless Jose -was fully aware of the reputation those hard riding cow punchers connected -with the Double X Ranch had as trackers and fighters too, on -occasion. What they had done to the Mexican cattle rustlers must have made -a reputation for them across the border; so that Jose knew what chances he -was taking when he started in to steal his daughter, which the court had -given over into the keeping of her relative, Mr. Witherspoon.</p> - -<p>And Andy was not a great while in making the discovery that they were -now approaching the confines of that sandy region where the sun beat -pitilessly down all through the livelong hours of the day, and the heat -must be terrific.</p> - -<p>Up where they were they could feel nothing of the earth’s radiation, -and doubtless it would be delightfully cool.</p> - -<p>Beyond as far as the eye could reach, it held, that same glaring -stretch of glistening sand, on the surface of which toward noon it would -be easily possible to fry an egg; indeed Andy had actually done the same -on a previous visit, when they dropped down to discover how it felt to be -adrift in the midst of a desert, he having been put up to the game through -words spoken by Buckskin.</p> - -<p>Far away to the west he saw the tops of high mountains, but they must -have been scores of miles off. Between doubtless lay the desert, with -perhaps a stretch of the plain where the grass grew, and -even flowers could be found in their season, all the difference being -brought about by the presence of earth in the one case and nothing but -sand in the other.</p> - -<p>On this waste nothing seemed to grow save the cactus that stood up like -giant sentinels guarding the cemetery of centuries. Here and there one -could find the skulls and bones of unfortunate animals that had become -lost in the sand storms occasionally blowing over this heated stretch, to -perish miserably from suffocation or else subsequent thirst.</p> - -<p>Straining his eyes Andy kept on looking, always hoping that the very -next minute might result in a pleasing discovery. If the glare caused his -eyes to burn he paid little attention to that discomfort. All the while he -was thinking how terrible it would be if they had, after all, made a -mistake in figuring out the probable way Jose would take in trying to -escape the penalty of his cruel deed. Should he have turned aside, and -continued to avoid the desert, all their work would go for nothing.</p> - -<p>Still, Andy had the utmost confidence in his chum’s ability to grapple -with a question like this. He felt that Frank must know just about what -would be passing in the mind of the man they were hunting. Frank had a -faculty for putting himself in another’s place, and figuring -things out from that standpoint.</p> - -<p>And then there was another comforting thought that came to Andy. -Supposing the fugitive had done this same thing, he could not reach the -border under several days, since the desert was extensive; and surely -there would be a good chance of the hard-riding cowboys coming up on him -meanwhile.</p> - -<p>They would of course follow directly on his trail, their practiced eyes -picking it out of the many that crossed the level stretch to the south of -the ranch buildings. And like bloodhounds on the scent, once they had -started, they would keep it up to the end.</p> - -<p>As the aeroplane pushed on, and neared the border of the desert, so -plainly marked below, Andy gave an ejaculation that caused Frank to look -expectant.</p> - -<p>“A pony, Frank, yes, two of them feeding there, and without saddle or -bridle to show that they have been ridden. Whatever can that mean?” he -called out, so as to be heard above the humming of the motor.</p> - -<p>“I think I can guess,” replied the other, quickly. “This has been a -deep-laid scheme, and no sudden fancy. Jose has made all sorts of -preparations for carrying it out with success. He knows that -perhaps his life would pay the penalty for any failure. So, you see, Andy, -chances are, he left two fresh ponies staked out here and ready for use -when he came along after riding the others for these twenty or more miles. -A quick change of saddles and bridles, and then he and the little girl -were away again, this time striking out straight across the sand, and -headed for the nearest point of the Mexican border.”</p> - -<p>“That sounds like you had guessed it first pop out of the bottle, -Frank,” the other went on to say, “and if it’s so, then we’re bound to -come up on him before long.”</p> - -<p>Andy once more started to glue his eyes to the end of the field -glasses. Carefully did he scrutinize every object he could pick out along -the horizon ahead. If he had any idea that it moved, he would stop in his -shifting movement to concentrate his gaze long and earnestly upon that one -spot; but only to give a grunt of bitter disappointment, and once more -continue to scan the waste of sand beyond.</p> - -<p>So it went on for some time. The minutes must have seemed unduly long -to the ever anxious lad. Frank, more inclined to take things as they came, -always hoping for the best, was better able to control his emotions. - It had perhaps been twenty minutes since they reached the -border of the desert, and now on all sides they could see actually nothing -but that same dead glare of the burning sun beating on the absorbing -sand.</p> - -<p>Frank was himself thinking that they must have reached the limit of -distance which the fugitive could have covered, even though he had a fresh -relay of ponies to help him along; when once again he heard his cousin -give utterance to that bubbling little cry that seemed to announce a fresh -discovery.</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 title='What Andy Saw From Aloft' id='chXX'> -CHAPTER XX—WHAT ANDY SAW FROM ALOFT -</h2> - -<p>“No false alarm this time, eh, Andy?” asked Frank, quickly.</p> - -<p>“I think not,” came the ready response.</p> - -<p>“Ponies again?” queried the pilot, as he steadied the quivering biplane -by a little movement that had become second nature with both young -aviators; just as a boy rider on a bicycle unconsciously bends his body at -just the proper angle when about to whirl around a curve in the road.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” the other replied.</p> - -<p>“And riders too, this time, I hope?” Frank went on.</p> - -<p>“I’m dead sure of it, because there are two horses, and they’re running -along side by side, Frank.”</p> - -<p>“That looks more like it; and I want to say it’s about time we struck -some good warm scent about now. That Jose had been going at a mad pace -ever since the start, and the poor little girl, how I pity her, Andy.”</p> - -<p>“But however in the wide world d’ye suppose she could stick on a pony -through it all?” the boy with the glasses asked, wonder in his - voice, as he continued to keep watch upon the far distant -moving objects which he had discovered, thanks to the magnifying qualities -of the powerful lens.</p> - -<p>“Oh! there’s only one answer to that, my boy,” answered Frank. “Jose -must have tied her to the pony. And even at that I feel mighty sorry for -the little thing, for it must have been a terrible run, all these -hours.”</p> - -<p>“The inhuman scoundrel!” growled Andy, almost savagely. “I’d just like -to see him get what’s coming to him, if the boys ever lay hands on -him.”</p> - -<p>“Well,” observed Frank, “I wouldn’t say that, until we find out how -Becky’s stood the long ride. If he’s been cruel to her besides, then I’d -be inclined to say what you did; but there’s always the chance that the -man really wants to have possession of his own child; for he’s her father, -we’ve got to remember.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but think of all we’ve heard from the boys at the ranch about how -badly he treated Mr. Witherspoon’s niece, after running away with her, and -marrying her. You needn’t tell me, Frank, that such a man is going to care -anything for his own child. Like enough he hates Becky, just because she -looks like the wife he treated so bad. And I’m ready to - believe he’s doing this right now, not to get possession of -his own, but to strike a blow at Uncle Jethro, because he hates him -so.”</p> - -<p>“I’m not saying that it isn’t so, because all things point that way,” -Frank continued. “But how are we coming on now, Andy?”</p> - -<p>“Drawing up on them by degrees; but I notice that you’ve cut off more’n -a little power, Frank, and that we’re not rushing along as fast as we -were. Tell me, what have you done that for?”</p> - -<p>“Well, you see, now that we’ve sighted our game there’s no need of -rushing things at racehorse speed. We’d better go along a little slower, -and try to get the lay of things in our minds before we drop down, and -surprise Mr. Jose Sandero,” was the way the aeroplane pilot made -reply.</p> - -<p>There was little of the haphazard about Frank. As a general rule he had -a reason for everything he did; and each move was carefully considered -beforehand.</p> - -<p>Not that he could not do things with lightning-like rapidity when there -was actual need for haste, because he had frequently surprised even quick -moving Andy on occasions; but the chances were he had thought out all the - results of the action before the occasion for it came -about.</p> - -<p>And the beauty of the relationship between the two Bird boys lay in -this fact, that Andy recognized his cousin’s superiority of judgment, and -rarely, if ever, questioned his decision.</p> - -<p>This did not mean that Andy was merely an “echo,” for that would be a -wrong view to take of the case; he had a mind of his own, and often Frank -was only too glad to ask his advice when a little in doubt himself. But -when two fellows keep company a long time as chums, they gradually come to -know each other “from the ground up,” as Andy would express it; and one of -them just naturally forges a little to the front as the leader.</p> - -<p>In the case of the Bird boys it happened to be Frank, that was all.</p> - -<p>As they kept on advancing after the moving figures, Andy would from -time to time continue to make some remark, as he looked through the -glasses; so that in this way Frank was posted on how things were -going.</p> - -<p>Even though he cast an occasional glance ahead on his own account, as -yet he had not been able to exactly locate the fugitives. This might -partly be on account of the smallness of two ponies at such a distance; -and then again the glare of the sun, far up in the heavens, -in spite of the early hour, was very strong on the desert sand.</p> - -<p>There was one thing that Frank was pretty positive about; he believed -that the fugitive Mexican could hardly as yet have discovered what was -coming after him. To his naked eye the aeroplane would hardly be noticed -at all; or if it did accidentally catch his attention, he would believe -that it was merely some buzzard, or perhaps a great bald eagle floating in -space far up in the blue expanse of sky.</p> - -<p>If he looked back at all he would be more apt to confine his anxious -gaze to the level horizon, for it would be there an enemy was apt to -appear; no sane man could dream of an attack from above, since aeroplanes -have not yet become so common as to be recognized by everyone.</p> - -<p>And so the pursuit went on.</p> - -<p>Andy seemed deeply engrossed in his business of “keeping tab” on the -movements of those so far in front.</p> - -<p>Presently he began to notice that Frank was doing something to effect a -change in their relative positions.</p> - -<p>“Are you going down now?” Andy demanded a little fearfully, as though -he could not understand why such a move should be in order. -“Better now, than later on,” returned the pilot. “We’re too high up to be -able to make any sort of landing when we want to. Besides now that you’ve -got track of Jose, there’s really no need of keeping to this high -elevation.”</p> - -<p>“Then after you bring the biplane down to a lower level, we can just -rush things, if we think it best, is that it, Frank?”</p> - -<p>“My notion to a dot, Andy.”</p> - -<p>They were already circling around, so as to descend in the safer -“spirals.” Frank would not take the great risk of volplaning when the -other way answered just as well, and at one-tenth the chance of -accident.</p> - -<p>Andy managed to keep his eyes on the distant ponies pretty much all the -time the aeroplane was dropping in those immense circles, each one lower -in the grand spiral than the preceding one.</p> - -<p>“They’re gaining some on us, Frank!” he finally announced, regretfully, -as if he just could not bear the thought.</p> - -<p>“Oh! that’s a mere nothing,” declared his cousin, cheerfully; “and I -wouldn’t bother my head over it, if I were you, Andy. Why, when we get to -where I want to go, all I’ve got to do is to put on speed, and we’ll make -that up in three shakes of a lamb’s tail. What are two or -three miles to a wonder of the air that can, if hard pushed, clip along at -the rate of a hundred an hour, and perhaps that is far from the capacity -of a reliable biplane with a favorable wind.”</p> - -<p>As usual Frank managed to cheer his chum up immediately.</p> - -<p>“Sure, you’re about right, Frank, and I was silly to let it bother me. -But seems as if we ought to be down nearly far enough. If there were any -trees here we’d be only a couple of hundred feet or so above their tops. -And whew! Frank, I can feel the heat of that desert easy enough now, even -while we’re moving along like we are.”</p> - -<p>“It’s all over now, and I don’t mean to go down any further. Tell me if -you can still see Jose and the little girl, Andy?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I can see the ponies moving like crabs away off there; and I’m -taking it for granted that the ones we’re chasing after are mounted on the -same, Frank. Oh! wouldn’t it be a terrible disappointment now, if after we -got up close we found we’d been bamboozled, and that these were only a -couple of Indians, or Mexicans going back home after trading in some -American town?”</p> - -<p>“There’s always a little chance that way,” Frank -admitted, “but all the same I don’t believe we’re going to be -disappointed. Traders would hardly strike across this desert, you -understand. It’s a bad place to get lost in, and mighty unpleasant -traveling at the best. Few people cross it, they said at the ranch. Once -in a while some Indians wander down here from their reservation in the -northern end of the State. You know the Navajos used to be in this region, -and the Comanches too, I was told, before the Government rounded them up, -and gave them lands up there, besides paying them a big sum every year in -money and supplies.”</p> - -<p>“I wonder——” began Andy, and then stopped, while he screwed his eyes -still closer to the ends of the twin tubes of the marine glasses.</p> - -<p>“What’s the matter now?” asked Frank, realizing that in all probability -Andy had made some fresh discovery.</p> - -<p>“Frank, there’s sure something moving over beyond where Jose and Becky -are plodding along. I can see several dots, and they have life to them, -too! It looks for all the world to me as if a pack of wolves might be -lying in wait for the ponies—half starved wolves maybe, crazy for a -chance to pull them down, and make a meal.” “Wolves,” -repeated the other, thoughtfully; “it would be hard for me to believe such -animals would ever be found in the middle of this sandy desert, where -they’d never find a bite of food in a year, and not a drop of water. You -must be mistaken, Andy; look again, won’t you, please?”</p> - -<p>Nevertheless the suggestion appeared to influence Frank so that he -again sent the aeroplane ahead at full speed; and Andy had a little -difficulty in keeping his glasses steady when leveling them, such was the -constant vibration of the uprights, under the full force of the powerful -little Kinkaid engine.</p> - -<p>But it was so much in sympathy with his own desire to get ahead that -Andy was willing to put up with almost any trouble. He knew instinctively -from the feel of the biplane that they were now speeding.</p> - -<p>A minute later, and he gave another exclamation.</p> - -<p>“Frank, I saw something flash just then; and as sure as you live I -believe it must have been the sunlight glistening on steel, just like it -might be a gun barrel or a knife!”</p> - -<p>“Do you mean that you saw it ahead of Jose, and among the crawling -objects you thought were wolves?” demanded the other. “Yes, -yes, there it is again, Frank!”</p> - -<p>“Well, that settles one thing then—they’re hardly wolves, Andy; for I -never yet heard of such animals carrying either guns or knives, did -you?”</p> - -<p>“They’re spreading out, Frank, just like they were lying in wait for -Jose. And while it looks queer from up here why doesn’t he discover them, -I suppose that’s because they’re hiding behind some sand hills,” Andy went -on to say.</p> - -<p>“But you don’t think any longer that they can be wolves, do you, -Andy?”</p> - -<p>“Not much,” the other replied. “We’re getting closer all the time, and -now I can see that they must be walking on two legs; though for that -matter they seem to be sprawled out pretty much all of the time, like -great toads, hopping this way and that. And Jose, he don’t know what’s -waiting for him, not one little bit.”</p> - -<p>“Then he’s still going on, is he?” asked Frank.</p> - -<p>“Yes, and now I can see that each pony has a rider; why, Frank, we’re -bearing down on them so fast that I can tell Jose from little Becky. It’s -her, all right, Frank. Don’t I see her hair flying out behind as she -rides. Oh! the meanness of that skunk making that little - child gallop across this red-hot desert, just to save -himself from being caught by our boys.”</p> - -<p>“Well, you could hardly blame him for that,” Frank went on to say, with -a touch of humor in his voice, “because what a bunch of furious cow -punchers wouldn’t do to him you could say in one breath. But tell me, how -does it look now?”</p> - -<p>“They’re getting mighty close to where the men are waiting, Frank. -Whoever do you suppose they can be?”</p> - -<p>“We’ve heard a lot about that Mexican cattle rustler, Carlos, since -we’ve come to the ranch; perhaps, now, these may be some of his crowd. -They’ve got no love for the Double X Ranch boys, you remember; and if they -think Jose and the child belong there, it’s going to go hard with them. -But you see we don’t know all about it yet. Take a closer look, Andy.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I’ve got the lot in focus,” muttered the other.</p> - -<p>“Do you see any feathers about them—examine their heads, and tell me,” -Frank went on to say.</p> - -<p>“Feathers!” ejaculated Andy, in astonishment, “why what in the wide -world would—say, Frank, do you have an idea that they may be Indians?” - “Well, I heard your uncle say that once in a while they’ve -seen a squad of the reds down this way, sort of escaped from their -reservation, and trying to see how it feels to be wild again. How about -those feathers, Andy?”</p> - -<p>“Why, there does seem to be something queer about the heads of those -chaps, I give you my word there is, Frank. Honest now, I believe you’ve -struck it right, and that they are Indians, but Frank, would they hold -Jose up, and perhaps take his scalp, just like in the old days?”</p> - -<p>“If so be they’ve been indulging in too much firewater. I wouldn’t put -even that past them,” the other boy answered, soberly.</p> - -<p>“Well,” added Andy, with a shutting of his teeth; “I’m glad of one -thing, then.”</p> - -<p>“What’s that?” questioned the other.</p> - -<p>“That we brought our bully old Marlins along, Frank!” was the quick -response Andy made.</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 title='The Terror of the Air' id='chXXI'> -CHAPTER XXI—THE TERROR OF THE AIR -</h2> - -<p>“Perhaps you’d better be getting the guns loose, Andy,” suggested -Frank, in his quiet way.</p> - -<p>“You bet I will, and only too glad of the chance; but can you hold -yours while you steer; or shall I fix it, so you can grab it up the very -second you land the biplane on the sand?” Andy asked, as he let the -glasses hang by their strap, and with hands that doubtless trembled more -than a little, he proceeded to unfasten the two repeating Marlins with -which so much execution had been done on the occasion of the grizzly bear -hunt.</p> - -<p>“Better lay it in the crotch you made for me, where I can get it in a -hurry when my hands are free,” the pilot explained.</p> - -<p>By the time all this had been done they were of course much closer to -the scene of the expected trouble. And when Andy again picked up the -glasses, and clapped them to his eyes, he uttered new exclamations that -indicated excitement.</p> - -<p>“It’s coming, Frank!” he exclaimed.</p> - -<p>“You mean the attack, Andy?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, because now Jose seems to have become suddenly -suspicious. There, I can see him jump off his pony, and he’s doing -something with Becky. As sure as anything, Frank, I do believe he’s -cutting the strap that’s held the child to the saddle. That looks like he -expects trouble, don’t it?”</p> - -<p>“I should say yes,” replied Frank, shortly.</p> - -<p>“Hark! did you hear that?” suddenly demanded Andy.</p> - -<p>“I thought I caught a faint sound like a shot,” replied the other.</p> - -<p>“That was just what it was, Frank. I saw the smoke long before we got -the crack of the gun.”</p> - -<p>“Who fired?” demanded Frank.</p> - -<p>“One of those concealed Indians; and there goes another, and yet a -third shot! Oh! Frank what if they should hit poor little Becky, the -half-drunken scamps, trying to believe these are the good old days when -they chased white men across the plains. Just listen to the shots would -you, Frank?”</p> - -<p>Andy was fairly quivering with the nervous tension. What made it doubly -hard was the fact that while he could see these exciting things so easily -through the powerful lens of the glasses, yet they were still far away -from the scene of action and unable to raise a hand as yet -to render any assistance, should such be needed.</p> - -<p>“What is Jose doing now?” asked Frank.</p> - -<p>“Oh! one of the ponies seems to be down, and for the life of me I can’t -tell you whether it was shot, or has laid down like some of those cow -ponies are taught to do, Frank. There goes the other one the same way. And -now Jose has pulled the little girl down with him. They’re out of sight -behind the bodies of the ponies, I do believe, Frank!”</p> - -<p>“Bully for Jose, then; he sure knows how to stand the Indians off!” -exclaimed Frank; and for the time being Andy seemed to forget that just a -minute or two back he had been declaring that the same Jose deserved the -worst punishment the cow-punchers from the Double X Ranch could deal out -to him, for he almost echoed the words of his chum.</p> - -<p>“Good! good! he’s opened fire, too, for I can see the puff of smoke -each time he pulls trigger. Oh! Frank!”</p> - -<p>“Well, what now?” demanded the other, a little impatiently, as Andy -paused after giving that last exclamation that might stand for almost -anything.</p> - -<p>“He hit one of the Indians that time, as sure as -anything!” Andy declared, with a ring of delight in his voice.</p> - -<p>“What makes you think so?” demanded Frank.</p> - -<p>“Didn’t I see him turn a flop, though; and right now he’s holding his -leg like fun! Guess he got a puncture in his tire, all right, Frank. After -all, that Jose can shoot some, let me tell you. There, I do believe he’s -gone and done it again!”</p> - -<p>“What! hit another Indian, Andy?”</p> - -<p>“Well, I c’n see a second fellow rolling over and over; and now he sits -up and it looks like he’s examining his arm. Perhaps they’re beginning to -learn that it ain’t all one sided after all, this stopping a mounted man, -and trying some of the old tricks. Mebbe they’ll want to clear out now, -Frank?”</p> - -<p>“That wouldn’t be like Indian nature, from what they’ve been telling me -since we came here,” Frank went on to say. “They’re all as obstinate as -they make them; and the chances are, these fellows will just be more bent -on shooting Jose up than ever, if, as you say, he’s already pinked a -couple of their men.”</p> - -<p>“Well, they don’t seem to be clearing out that I can notice, and that’s -a fact,” Andy admitted immediately afterward. Frank could -himself hear the reports of guns being discharged, and they came so thick -and fast that he could almost imagine a battle was being fought between -large numbers of enemies on either side. Evidently the Indians were flush -with ammunition, and did not hesitate to use it plentifully. The White -Father in Washington would supply them with plenty more when this was -gone; or at any rate the hard cash with which to purchase the same. And -they were just as prodigal in wasting cartridges as so many half-grown and -irresponsible boys might have been.</p> - -<p>For the number of shots that kept ringing out, the amount of damage -done must have been remarkably small, from the accounts Andy kept giving -him.</p> - -<p>The Indians were creeping along wherever they could find protection by -way of the sand dunes; and the watcher in the air declared that he -believed they meant to completely surround the man at bay, when doubtless -they could pour in such a hot fire that he would either have to surrender, -or else be wiped out.</p> - -<p>It was a pretty exciting time for the two young aviators while they -were thus speeding toward the scene of the desert warfare. The biplane was -doing its level best, and yet so impatient was Andy to -arrive before the Indians had succeeded in accomplishing their terrible -work that it seemed to him they were fairly crawling along.</p> - -<p>“Oh! can’t we go faster, Frank?” he begged more than once.</p> - -<p>“We’re doing the limit right now,” Frank would answer.</p> - -<p>“I suppose so, Frank, but don’t you know it seems like we’d never get -there at this pace,” Andy would go on to say.</p> - -<p>“Keep cool,” was the advice of the other.</p> - -<p>“I’m trying as hard as I can to do that, but it makes me shiver all -over when I think of poor little Becky being exposed to that shooting,” -said Andy, between his clenched teeth.</p> - -<p>“Well, let’s hope Jose has been merciful enough to keep her lying flat -on the ground behind the ponies. They must be dead, Andy, because with all -that lead flying around no cayuse would ever consent to lie still, wounded -perhaps at that. And their bodies would protect the child, even if they -didn’t do the same altogether for the man. Is he still shooting?”</p> - -<p>“I haven’t noticed a puff of smoke over the spot for some time—but -there, I did get a glimpse of one just then; and Frank, believe me, he -must have done it again, because I can see several of the -others crawling toward one that seems to be kicking on the ground. There, -they’re helping him away. Let me tell you that same Jose is no slouch when -it comes to using a gun. He must have had a lot of practice in the -revolutions they have every little while down in Mexico since Diaz was -kicked out. I take off my hat to Jose when it comes to knocking chips off -the shoulders of half-drunken reds.”</p> - -<p>And this was the same Jose whom Andy had been saying such hard things -against only a short time before; but then circumstances alter cases; and -right now Jose was risking his life in defense of the little girl whom he -had for some reason kidnapped from her home.</p> - -<p>When they had been observing these things some time back they may have -been as much as ten miles away from the scene of spirited action; but as -the biplane was spinning along at a tremendous pace, in spite of the -belief of Andy that it did not seem to be doing its best, this distance -was being rapidly diminished.</p> - -<p>Whenever the shots came now they were plainly heard, as the air seemed -to be directly in the faces of the aeroplane boys while thus heading into -the south.</p> - -<p>And Andy also noticed that they kept gradually sinking -just a little lower as they proceeded. Had he been able to allow himself -time to think this over, he must have guessed why Frank was doing this; -and that he wanted to avoid being discovered by the Indians until he could -suddenly burst upon their vision in a terrifying apparition, frightening -them so badly that they would only think of making a hasty flight.</p> - -<p>Well, things were going on at such a pace now that whatever the outcome -might prove to be, it would soon be over. In a couple of minutes at most -the oncoming air wonder must have arrived so close to the scene of the -disturbance that its presence could no longer be concealed from the sharp -eyes of the Indians. Some warrior whose eyesight had not been so seriously -impaired by the strong drink he had purchased from some bootlegger or -trader, would while peeping around a sand dune, suddenly discover that -dreadful apparition coming straight through the air, with an angry mutter -that could only mean the sore displeasure of the Great Spirit, whose -messenger this frightful object must be.</p> - -<p>And when this occurred, Frank was rather inclined to believe there -would be a scamper on the part of the frolicking Indians such as - had not been seen on this same desert for many a day.</p> - -<p>Luckily they could depend on the stability of their machine; and every -particular part of the framework had been carefully gone over just the -preceding day by the one whose hand now controlled the levers by means of -which the aeroplane was guided on its way through space.</p> - -<p>Hence, there was little likelihood of any accident happening. Frank did -not allow the thought of such a thing to enter into his calculations. He -placed the fullest dependence upon those staunch steel guys and the -faithful little motor that never yet had failed him in time of need.</p> - -<p>“Oh! will we ever get there?” groaned Andy.</p> - -<p>“Keep cool, and hold on; we’re doing fine!” was Frank’s advice.</p> - -<p>“But I think they’re getting ready to rush Jose now!” the other went on -to declare, with renewed excitement.</p> - -<p>“What makes you think that, Andy?”</p> - -<p>“They seem to have gathered in knots in three places, and act like they -meant to make a swoop down on him from all sides at once,” came the -answer.</p> - -<p>“Well, if they’ll only hold off another minute or two -we’ll fix things so that their swoop’ll turn out a fizzle. Tell me when -they start out on the run, Andy, because I want to turn on our siren, you -know.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! I clean forgot all about that little trick Frank!”</p> - -<p>Frank some time before had arranged a contrivance by means of which he -could make the engine sound a loud-voiced whistle that he always called a -siren, because it had all the harsh, discordant notes of the big steam -fog-horns to be heard in some places along the stormy coasts of our -country, where the dangerous shoals or reefs make it important that -vessels should be warned while still far out at sea.</p> - -<p>This could be made to do duty at a second’s notice. Of course the boys -did not often sound the deep-throated whistle or horn, because it was apt -to create too much alarm in every living thing that heard it for the first -time, animals as well as human beings.</p> - -<p>But in a desperate case such as the one by which they were now -confronted this hoarse-tongued signal might prove the very finest -auxiliary they could hope to have in alarming the attacking Indians.</p> - -<p>And here Andy, with his usual thoughtlessness had entirely forgotten -about such a means of sending out a warning; while Frank had -it in his mind all along. That little incident showed the difference -between the two cousins; for with all his good qualities Andy often forgot -things that it would have paid him well to remember.</p> - -<p>Both of them were intensely interested by now, and a study of their set -faces would have been worth while. Andy did not depend on the glasses any -longer to tell how things were progressing, since they had come close -enough for him to see with the naked eye. Of course, the fact that they -were several hundred feet above the level of the sand gave considerable -assistance, for they were entirely free from the little dazzling heat -waves that must hug the face of the desert more and more as the day -advanced, making seeing perfectly a difficult job.</p> - -<p>The seconds clicked along, each one in the mind of the impatient Andy -being registered by so many loud “pops” of the exhaust, for it was not -muffled now.</p> - -<p>“There, what did I tell you, Frank; listen to those awful yells, would -you? Oh! he knocked one over then, I say! But the whole lot have started -up, and bending low down are sprinting in the direction of Jose as fast as -they can go. Frank, why don’t you do something before they -get to him? It’s now or never, I tell you; just hear the guns going off -with a rattle and a bang! Frank——”</p> - -<p>But Andy’s words were suddenly lost in a most terrific roaring sound -that broke forth, as Frank turned on the big siren whistle or horn. Across -the face of the desert went the strange sound, in a wave that would -annihilate space. And coming to the startled ears of the on-rushing -Indians, it must have instantly riveted their attention.</p> - -<p>Imagine their astonishment when upon raising their eyes for the first -time they discovered what seemed to be a tremendous bird rushing through -the air toward them and uttering that thrilling whoop, the like of which -none of them had ever heard before.</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 title='The Bird Boys’ Triumph' id='chXXII'> -CHAPTER XXII—THE BIRD BOYS’ TRIUMPH -</h2> - -<p>The aeroplane was speeding down upon the spot, with that loud-throated -siren going at full blast. Andy had been holding himself in so long now, -that it was utterly impossible for him to stand it any longer; so he too -let out a series of ear-piercing shrieks that at least added to the -din.</p> - -<p>Not content with that the boy commenced firing his repeating Marlin. He -did not bother trying to take any particular aim, which would of course -have been next to impossible in the swaying aeroplane, any way; but only -meant to add all he could to the tremendous din accompanying their -swoop.</p> - -<p>Frank could see all that happened, because they were no longer far -away. No need of glasses either at this stage of the game. He could note -the movements of every one of those who had been in the act of rushing the -Mexican at bay when the appearance of the biplane in the near heavens came -to put a damper on their enthusiasm.</p> - -<p>Although at first stunned by the sight that met their startled eyes, -and the ear-splitting sounds accompanying the same, the -runaway Indians from the reservation had quickly remembered that they -still had legs. If any of them had been a bit wobbly before, on account of -the potions they had been imbibing, it seemed to be driven from their -systems by this scare, for they ran like prize sprinters. Even the several -wounded warriors endeavoring to flatten themselves down behind the sand -dunes, as though in hopes of being able to hide from the argus eyes of -this wonder of the skies.</p> - -<p>Andy no longer had any fears concerning the attack, for he saw that it -had been effectually broken up by their coming. He started to shout again, -but found it beyond his ability, for the situation had resolved itself -into a comical farce by this time in the boy’s mind, and offered all the -humorous aspects of a great joke.</p> - -<p>But none of those Indians thought so, if one could judge from the way -they were running. Andy had seen rabbits speeding away after the crack of -a gun; but that was hardly in the same class with what those braves did -that morning.</p> - -<p>Some of them jumped this way and that as they sped off; as though under -the impression that they might thus escape the swarm of bullets that their -imagination filled the air with, on hearing the crackle of Andy’s -fast-shooting gun. Others dodged behind each succeeding sand -hill, and then appearing beyond, continued their flight in eccentric -curves; only glad if by this means they might escape the terrible eye of -that mighty bird that came whirring along, letting out such hideous war -cries, and assuming all the appearances of a dragon as pictured by the -Chinese on their flags and everywhere.</p> - -<p>Frank did not attempt to alight just then; he believed that it was good -policy to make sure that the hostiles had all been frightened off before -exposing the fact that after all it was only two boys in some clever -invention of the white man who had come upon the scene.</p> - -<p>And so, instead of heading directly for the spot where Jose lay behind -the two ponies, which they now realized were surely dead, Frank continued -to sweep around in a widening circle.</p> - -<p>It was worth while to see the abject terror of such of the Indians as -they passed over. They would flatten themselves on the burning sand, as -though hoping in this way to escape the attention of the terror that was -seeking its prey; nor did any one of them dare to turn his head to look -upward at the monstrous bird with that loud shriek.</p> - -<p>From a distance one or two discharged guns at the speeding aeroplane, -but of course there was not one chance in ten thousand of -the bullets doing any execution while the Bird boys were rushing along at -such a pace; indeed, they did not even hear the whine of the passing -lead.</p> - -<p>Frank had his hands full taking care of the biplane, so that even had -he desired to do so he could not have added anything to the racket. One -hand controlled the lever which brought about the circling movement of the -aeroplane, while with the other he kept that siren busy.</p> - -<p>But by now Andy had bethought him of another means for adding to the -panic of the fleeing Indians. In the box just back of him he happened to -have a number of large cannon firecrackers. Under ordinary conditions -these would appear to be rather queer things to carry on an aeroplane; but -it seemed that Andy was particularly interested in experimenting with -dropping stones which he called “bombs,” from a great height, in order to -see how aeroplanes might be made useful in war times. And thinking some -time to rather astonish Frank by sending down some of those big -explosives, he had smuggled them aboard.</p> - -<p>The idea had about passed from his mind at this time, but suddenly -remembering the big red crackers, he was now pulling them out, and feeling -for some of those wind matches they always carried when on a -trip, because they could be used no matter what current of air they -happened to be passing through.</p> - -<p>Frank did not see what his cousin was doing. In the first place he had -enough to look after as it was; and then again, when he could spare a -second, he wanted to ascertain what the Indians were up to.</p> - -<p>The first thing he knew about it was when a terrific report came from -directly under the aeroplane, and close to the face of the sandy stretch. -Immediately on top of it came a shriek from Andy.</p> - -<p>“Oh! it nearly fell on top of that Indian before it exploded, Frank! If -only you could have seen him go head over heels; and now he’s running to -beat the band! Talk to me about a scared rabbit, these noble red men are -sure the limit. I really believe they think the Day of Judgment has come -along ahead of time. If you keep it up much longer, Frank, I’m going to -fall right out of my seat; I’m laughing so hard I just can’t sit -still.”</p> - -<p>“Then perhaps it’s about time we called a stop on the excitement, and -let the poor fellows get away,” said Frank.</p> - -<p>“No danger of them coming back again,” ventured Andy, as he threw his -last big cannon cracker in the quarter where he had caught -sight of another brave trying to dig a hole in the sand, as though wild to -cover himself up, and thus avoid attracting the attention of the monster -bird.</p> - -<p>His aim was pretty fair, since Andy had been practicing this thing for -quite some time now. The explosion took place on schedule time, too; and -with about as tremendous a result as before; since it sent the terrorized -warrior flying off as if he believed the Evil Spirit were in full -pursuit.</p> - -<p>Frank turned back.</p> - -<p>The coast seemed clear of Indians now, even the wounded braves having -found some way of hiding from sight. Perhaps they had in despair scooped -hollows out of the burning sand, and were even now lying under a scanty -covering of the same, trembling in mortal terror of discovery.</p> - -<p>Neither of the Bird boys cared whether this were so or not. They had -succeeded in accomplishing their main object; which of course had been to -give the assailants of Jose a severe scare, so as to scatter them to the -four winds. And now the next thing they wanted to do was to drop to the -earth, and capture the man himself.</p> - -<p>Accordingly Frank guided the biplane to where he thought -best to make his landing. Then he proceeded to accomplish this ordinary -feat with his accustomed ability.</p> - -<p>As the sand was loose and liable to clog the wheels, he had to be -additionally careful about landing. And Frank had already experimented in -getting up again after dropping upon such a shifting bed, so that he knew -just how it should be done.</p> - -<p>Picking out a spot which looked better than anything around it, he -brought the aeroplane to the ground so softly that it almost seemed like a -thistle-down blown by the wind, and alighting.</p> - -<p>The motor had ceased to whirr, and the propellers to whizz as Andy, -clutching his Marlin in his grasp, sprang from his seat to the sand.</p> - -<p>Frank was hardly three seconds behind him, and it might be noticed that -he too held one of the useful guns.</p> - -<p>Who could tell what need they might have for these life preservers, -when adrift in such a desert land, and with reckless Indians all around -them; not to speak of the man who lay behind the two dead ponies, with his -gun covering them even now.</p> - -<p>Frank was not taking any chances with Jose. He knew that the Mexican -must be in a desperate frame of mind, and ready to fight to the - last gasp before he would consent to yield. And Frank -believed in strategy when it could be made to answer the purpose.</p> - -<p>What they wanted above all else just now was the return of little Becky -to the care of her legal guardian. They were not appointed to wreak -vengeance on the head of the father who had seen fit to steal his own -child away. Besides, somehow, after seeing how valiantly Jose had held the -whole band of reservation Indians at bay, both boys felt considerable more -respect for the Mexican. At least he was no coward, even if his actions in -the past had been along that line, Jose, like so many of his class was a -bravo; he could display mean traits toward women and children, but face -half a dozen men in a brawl, or a fight like this, without showing the -white feather.</p> - -<p>So Frank immediately held up his hand, as he called aloud:</p> - -<p>“Halloo! Jose Sandero! do not fire upon us! We will not do you harm if -you turn over the child to us to take back to her home! Do you understand -me?”</p> - -<p>They saw the figure of the Mexican now. He had scrambled to his feet to -face the boys who had come so happily to his rescue just in time to save -his life. Perhaps this fact was duly impressed upon the mind -of the man from across the border. He owed these lads something, and a -Mexican always has an exaggerated sense of his own honor; it is a heritage -he has received from his Spanish ancestors far back.</p> - -<p>“Si, senors,” he answered back, in a mellow tone, “I understand. Come -closer that we may talk it over. I promise you I will not fire one shot. -Carramba! it is only one that I have left me, after all you saw.”</p> - -<p>Then they advanced until close by where the two dead ponies lay. One -thought was in the minds of both Frank and his cousin—the little girl, -how had she fared while all the bullets were flying through the air, sent -by half-drunken Indians who cared little where they landed.</p> - -<p>Jose had suffered. His left arm hung almost helplessly at his side, and -they could see that the blood was dripping from his fingers; but he -clutched his repeating gun in the right hand and seemed still full of the -lust of battle.</p> - -<p>“How about the child; is she safe?” called Frank almost afraid to ask -the question, for his heart seemed in his throat with the dreadful -suspense.</p> - -<p>“Surely, senors,” came the immediate reassuring reply. “I saw to it -that she lay flat on the ground where nothing could injure her. - Look and see for yourselves,” and with that he spoke -something to little Becky, so that she immediately sprang to her feet and -stretched her tiny hands longingly toward the boys.</p> - -<p>At that both of them experienced a deep sense of relief. It began to -look, if only Jose proved reasonable, that the end of their long and -arduous air chase was now in sight, and that presently they could proceed -back to the ranch, bearing with them the little sprite whose abduction had -created all this excitement.</p> - -<p>“We would make terms with you, Jose,” said Frank in a business like -way.</p> - -<p>“I am ready to hear what you have to say, young senor,” came the -reply.</p> - -<p>“You admit that our coming has probably saved your life?” Frank went -on, thinking it the part of wisdom to have that point well understood in -the beginning.</p> - -<p>“Si, senor, it is true, and for that Jose is grateful; if it had not -been so he would not consent to give up the child, even if you tried to -recover her by force. But you have done me a good turn, and perhaps we can -make terms. If, then, I hand her over, will you agree that I go my way -unmolested?”</p> - -<p>“We willingly agree to that, Jose. You may be a bad man, but we saw you -stand off those Indians like a brave one, and for that we -respect you. Yes, we will promise not to raise a hand to molest you. -Listen Jose, if you place the little girl in our hands we will promise to -do even more than that, if so be you are courageous enough to trust -yourself with us in our aeroplane. We could rise with you, and fly far -away across the desert to where you will be near the border. There we can -land, and give you a chance to save yourself from these Indians, who may -hang around here, seeking revenge for the wounds you have given them.”</p> - -<p>That was a square offer on the part of Frank. Andy held his breath, -wondering if the other would dare accept it. The same courage that had led -Jose to face the guns of the Indians might not be sufficient to allow of -his getting aboard that wonderful air bird, and let himself be carried up -among the clouds.</p> - -<p>Jose was hesitating between opinions. He hardly knew which seemed the -worse of the two. But one danger he could understand, while the other was -along the line of the mysterious and unfathomable.</p> - -<p>They saw him pondering for a full minute. Then, as if he had made up -his mind, he threw up his hand.</p> - -<p>“I will accept your offer, senor,” he said. “A man can -die but once, and what matter if he fall from the clouds, he may never -know what hurts him. And if I am left here without a mount, the -Indians are sure to get me. Advance, then, senors, and fix it as you -please. I am ready to take the word of such honorable young men.”</p> - -<p>But all the same Andy could see that he shuddered when he cast a glance -over toward the quarter where the stranded biplane lay, as though the mere -thought of allowing himself to be carried up in the regions of the upper -currents aboard that frail combination of engine, planes, and rigid -uprights and stays, struck Jose as with a cold breath from the Arctic -regions.</p> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - -<h2 title='Home Again—Conclusion' id='chXXIII'> -CHAPTER XXIII—HOME AGAIN—CONCLUSION -</h2> - -<p>Frank knew that they had better not loiter there. Still, he could not -see Jose losing blood like that, when it was so easy to stop the flow.</p> - -<p>So, while Andy watched to see that none of the frightened Indians got -over their scare, and came sneaking back, bent on potting some of the -palefaces, Frank made a quick job of looking after the wounded arm of the -Mexican.</p> - -<p>The man seemed to hardly know what to make of it all. He watched every -move of the amateur doctor as though he could not understand how any one -would be so generous toward an enemy. But Frank knew what he was doing, -and he meant to extract a promise from Jose, before they left him, that -never again would he dream of trying to do any injury toward either little -Becky or Mr. Witherspoon, her relative, and legally appointed guardian. -And he believed the man would keep such a promise faithfully too; for -Frank was a pretty good reader of human nature.</p> - -<p>Then they all walked toward the aeroplane that lay there on the hot -sand as a camel of the desert might for its Arab owner, -prostrate for his mounting.</p> - -<p>It was easy enough to fasten little Becky in; but with the man there -had to be some maneuvering, because a sudden movement on his part would -endanger them all. Jose drew a long breath as he took his seat, and held -grimly onto an upright with his one well hand, his rifle strapped to his -back meanwhile. It was as though he hardly expected to ever come safely -down again; but then he had carefully counted the cost, and having decided -his pride would not allow him to back out.</p> - -<p>Frank knew that it would be a very difficult task to get the biplane to -travel over the sand at a rate of speed sufficient to allow of their -mounting when the proper moment came; but he had experimented so many -times, looking to some such contingency, that he believed he could -surmount every trouble.</p> - -<p>He therefore moved the aeroplane with the help of the others, so that -he would have the assistance of the slight wind that was blowing.</p> - -<p>Finally all was ready.</p> - -<p>The motor began to hum, gradually increasing its note as Frank turned -on more power, on finding that his hopes were about to be fulfilled. Yes, -they were actually passing along over the sand now; for just -there it was packed more than in most places. Andy had held his breath -with the suspense, figuring on how he could climb back if he had to go -overboard to help push. But it was all right now, and such a move would -not be necessary.</p> - -<p>When the final moment arrived, they started gradually upward. Frank -heard Jose gasp for breath, and he knew the Mexican must be saying his -prayers from the low mumble that drifted in at his ear; doubtless the man -was almost stiff with fright when he dared look down, and saw that he was -apparently as far above the surface of the desert as many mountain peaks -would be.</p> - -<p>Frank knew what he was doing, and that if the man was left on the -desert in his present wounded and weakened condition, it was just the same -as giving him over to death, which might come in any one of several ways. -If the Indians did not get him he might starve or die from lack of water; -and then again, should the infuriated cow puncher band from the Double X -Ranch come upon Jose he might count on a short shrift and a rope.</p> - -<p>After all was said and done, fortune had been so kind that no -irreparable damage had followed the bold raid of Jose, unless indeed poor - old Tige had received a dose of poison as the boys had -feared. Little Becky seemed to have come through it all in very good -shape, and for these mercies Frank felt that they had great reason to be -thankful.</p> - -<p>And that was mainly why he was now carrying Jose across the balance of -the desert to place him on the road to the near-by border, beyond which he -undoubtedly had friends who would take care of him.</p> - -<p>Andy had not forgotten the Indians, and was constantly on the lookout -for any signs of them. Whenever he did sight a skulking figure Andy made -haste to squeeze the rubber that caused the siren to give tongue. Jose -nearly lost his hold the first time he heard that fierce whoop so close to -his ear; for of course in his nervous condition he thought that something -had burst, and that they were now bound to go tumbling down through all -that space to be splashed about below.</p> - -<p>But that lasted for only a very brief time, since they speedily reached -a point far beyond where any of the fleeing Indians had gone. After that -it was plain sailing and they made rapid speed.</p> - -<p>Then, after they had covered many miles in this fashion, with the -glasses Andy was able to make out trees ahead, and some sort -of ridge that doubtless marked the delimitation of the desert’s -border.</p> - -<p>Nearer and nearer they drew. Jose began to actually consider that he -still had something of a chance to live through it all; though the balance -of his life he would certainly never be apt to forget what dreadful fears -had held him gripped fast in their power when up in a fast-flying -aeroplane.</p> - -<p>Now the keen-eyed pilot was looking for a likely place to land, and -this he discovered close to the trees themselves, where the ground became -much firmer, and Jose could immediately get under shelter from the -broiling sun.</p> - -<p>After coming down from that cool altitude the tremendous heat of the -desert was almost overpowering, and both boys were glad to know that they -did not have to continue on through it for any great length of time.</p> - -<p>So Jose was finally landed. He seemed to be rejoiced to find himself -once more on solid ground. True, he would always boast of having been up -almost to the clouds, but it is unlikely that any ordinary attraction -could tempt him to try it again.</p> - -<p>He shook hands with each of the boys when they were ready to once more -venture into unknown space with the aeroplane. Andy was a -little dubious about accepting that hand, which he felt pretty sure had -not always been free from crime; but then Frank had done it, and he felt -that he could not do better than imitate his cousin in such matters.</p> - -<p>They had no particular trouble about the new launching; indeed, now -that the biplane was free from the weight of Jose, it seemed to mount -upward like a bird that has broken loose from its cage.</p> - -<p>The last they saw of the Mexican he was waving a hand after them. And -Frank felt well satisfied with the morning’s work. He believed that not -only had they succeeded in rescuing the little girl, but that fortune had -allowed them to give a bad man a chance to open his eyes. It might be the -means of turning Jose Sandero from his evil ways; and then again the -incident was liable to be swallowed up by the demands of his hard life. -And probably they would never know.</p> - -<p>Once again they were flying boldly across the wide stretch of desert, -with its lonely looking cactus plants, and its queer windrows of sand that -looked for all the world as though a giant comb had been drawn over the -land, leaving it in this peculiar condition. When, finally, -they reached the northern end of the desert, and headed direct for the -ranch house, possibly both of the Bird boys were feeling happier that ever -before in all their lives. They had accomplished what seemed next door to -a miracle, because, had the men in “chaps” chased after Jose, and -threatened to take him, there could be no telling what the desperate -Mexican might not have done rather than submit.</p> - -<p>“Look there, Frank,” Andy was saying a little later, “you can see the -ranch house as plain as anything from here, and why, if that ain’t the -boys coming on the tear over yonder!”</p> - -<p>Frank, looking, saw that his chum spoke the truth. There could be seen -a confused medley of boys and horses. They were whipping their mounts -madly, and using both hats and quirts to try and increase their speed.</p> - -<p>“That must be Charley Woo among the front ones,” Frank remarked, after -he had taken a second good look.</p> - -<p>“Yes, you can tell him miles off by his white clothes,” Andy went on to -say, “and he’s done himself proud, has Charley, this day. Uncle must be -there alongside, and asking more questions, as he tried to get a little -more speed out of his mount. And I reckon they’ve glimpsed - us, Frank, by the way they act. Are we going to land and let -them see that Little Sunbeam is safe with us?”</p> - -<p>“It would be cruelty to animals not to,” replied the pilot, as he -started to head gradually toward the earth.</p> - -<p>Ten minutes later, and they were surrounded by an eager, excited -throng, and when Buckskin, Shorty, and all that lot learned that little -Becky had not suffered to any serious extent as a result of her terribly -long and wearisome ride, bound on a pony as she had been, they “awoke all -creation,” as Andy declared, with their exultant whoops.</p> - -<p>Nothing would do but that the boys must tell the whole story; and those -wild riders fairly held their breath as they listened to the modest -account of that most remarkable dash through space, to arrive just in the -nick of time—Frank called it the psychological moment, and then had to -stop and explain just what he meant by that, before they would let him -proceed.</p> - -<p>It was the greatest story they had ever heard. They would never have -believed such a thing possible, only that they knew Frank and Andy never -told yarns, or even stretched a fish story. Besides, there was little -Becky ready to corroborate all that had been said. Mr. -Witherspoon insisted upon taking the child on his horse, and thus heading -for the ranch, while the boys continued their flight; of course they would -arrive at their destination an hour before the ponies could make it, and -thus relieve the minds of those who were there.</p> - -<p>The round-up was all off for the present. Later on they could make -another start, and this time the boys would be along, to witness all that -was done, with Andy taking pictures of the various phases of the -operation, as long as his roll of films lasted.</p> - -<p>But Mr. Witherspoon had learned a lesson, and never again would he -leave home without a sufficient guard remaining there at the ranch house -to handle any situation that might arise.</p> - -<p>He took some of Frank’s philosophy, to the effect that he would always -after that be prepared for possibilities, since lightning can at times -apparently strike out of a clear sky.</p> - -<p>The boys’ time on the ranch was now getting toward a close; but before -they left they had one pleasant surprise that made them feel happy. It was -just on the little maid’s sixth birthday that a tired Mexican came to the -place and asked to see Mr. Witherspoon.</p> - -<p>It happened that both boys were with him, and remembering their recent -adventure in connection with one such greaser, they eyed the -dusty traveler with more or less curiosity. He handed Mr. Witherspoon a -packet which he said his master, who was a ranchero down in Chihuahua, -Mexico, had ordered him to get there before dark on this particular -day.</p> - -<p>Opening the packet the ranchman disclosed some beautiful silken -garments such as would be apt to set a little girl wild with delight, and -also a lovely slender gold necklace with pearls as its ornaments.</p> - -<p>When he had glanced at the paper that had come with this gift Mr. -Witherspoon smiled, and looked meaningly at the boys.</p> - -<p>“Well, all I can say is, that you two boys are next door to wizards. -You’ve actually made an impression on a heart that I calculated was as hard -as flint. Here are some presents for our little girl,” and on the paper I -read in Spanish: “To the little Senorita Rebecca from her unworthy father, -on her sixth birthday. May the good God bless her.”</p> - -<p>And neither of the boys so much as smiled, for they felt that in some -fashion that merciful act of Frank’s in treating Jose Sandero so -generously had borne such fruit as no one would ever have believed -possible.</p> - -<p>When the time came for them to say goodbye to Uncle -Jethro and the jolly boys on the Double X Ranch, it was hard to do it. And -neither Frank nor Andy would ever forget the rousing cheers that burst -from the lips of those happy-go-lucky punchers, Buckskin, Waldo Kline, -Shorty, Alkali Joe and the rest, not forgetting even Charley Woo, when -they saw the last of them at the station.</p> - -<p>Of course Frank and Andy reached their home town in safety, and in due -time the biplane once more rested in its accustomed hangar back of Frank -Bird’s home; with the first snow of winter covering the ground, and a -frosty tang in the air that was just the opposite of that torrid wave the -Bird boys struck when crossing the Arizona desert.</p> - -<p>And it is to be hoped that we will have the pleasure of recounting -further thrilling adventures that befell these intrepid air pilots in -other volumes to succeed this. Meanwhile, having seen them safely through -experiences at the cattle ranch, and once more back home before the -delayed session of school opened, it only remains for us to say goodbye to -the reader and write—</p> - -<p class='tac mt10 fs09'>THE END.</p> - -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BIRD BOYS’ AEROPLANE WONDER ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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