Aeroplane Boys on the Wing

by John Luther Langworthy

  CHAPTER XV.

  AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE.

  "At last, Frank, we're on the move!"

  "Yes," replied the one at the wheel, as the cries and cheers from belowwere drowned by the volleying motor explosions; "and did you see thesenor kissing his hand after us, while his men were flat on theirfaces?"

  "It was a queer sight," Andy remarked. "And no wonder these ignorantpeons call our little monoplane a 'devil-bird.'"

  "Look down now. Just to think of two Yankee boys being allowed to swingover a tropical scene like that," said Frank.

  Both of them were deeply interested. In the valley they could see thelittle town, with the river stretching off toward the south. Then therewere the patches of tropical vegetation, the fruit trees and the cocoaplantations--all those interesting things which neither of them had everset eyes on before.

  Senor Mendoza had told them how the coffee was grown upon a certain partof the mountain slopes, since it did not do well in the valleys,preferring a higher altitude.

  They followed the course of the river generally, intending to coverpossibly something like eighty or ninety miles before trying to comb theland from side to side, in the endeavor to find the strange cliffenclosed valley.

  From time to time Andy would call the attention of his aeroplane chum tosome striking feature of the landscape far below. The little Kinkaidmotor was humming merrily, without ever missing a stroke, and Frank,having the utmost confidence in its steadiness now, after so many trialspins, could take a few seconds at a time to observe these things.

  "When we've gone something close on an hundred miles direct," remarkedthe pilot of the craft, presently, "I think we'd better make a descent,if given the chance."

  "You spoke of that before," remarked his companion, anxiously. "What isthe reason for doing it, Frank?"

  "Oh, nothing serious," replied the other. "We will then be at theparting of the ways, you know."

  "You mean we'll be about to leave the river that will have been ourguide up to then?" asked Andy.

  "Yes," Frank admitted. "And from that time forward we must simply dependon our judgment for everything. In that event it might be well if welooked over the entire plant, to make sure everything was in apple-pieshape."

  Andy breathed freer.

  "Oh, I agree with you there," he hastened to say; "and I'm glad youhadn't any more serious reason. But did you ever see such a picture inall your born days? Just look at the forest bordering the river. Thinkof trying to push through such a dense mass of over-grown jungle. And Ibet it's just full of snakes, poisonous spiders, lizards and all suchthings."

  "Not to mention such trifling citizens as jaguars, ocelots, tapirs,alligators, crocodiles and their kind," laughed Frank.

  "Ugh! what lucky fellows we are to be away up here, where we can skimalong at the rate of thirty miles an hour easily, without half trying,and snap our fingers at all those things. I tell you, Frank, thisaviation business is the greatest thing that ever came down the pike."

  So they continued from time to time to converse as they kept pushingalong, following the winding course of the swollen river that could beplainly seen below, between its banks of forest.

  Frank did not soar high at this time. There seemed no need, and besides,both of the boys were deeply interested in watching the various changesthat kept taking place in the checkerboard landscape below.

  Several times during the first hour they passed over hamlets orvillages. On such occasions it was ludicrous to observe the excitementthat occurred. The Bird boys would not have been true to their naturehad they not enjoyed the tremendous sensation which the sudden andunheralded appearance of the aeroplane caused in these riversettlements.

  Loud shouts floated up to them that constantly grew in volume. Menyelled, women and children screamed. Many fell flat on their faces;others tried to conceal themselves, as though they belonged to a coveyof wild ducks over which a hungry eagle hovered, picking out hiscontemplated dinner.

  And the last thing Andy would see, as he looked back, would be wildlyrunning figures gesticulating furiously and evidently next door to crazywith excitement. Apparently these natives believed that the aeroplanemust be a visitor from another world, or else some monster bird of afamily long understood to be extinct.

  The second hour had nearly ended and everything seemed to be movingalong smoothly. Frank saw not a cloud on the horizon thus far. Surelythis augured well for the ultimate success of their strange expedition.

  Suddenly he heard Andy give vent to a cry of alarm.

  "What is it?" he demanded, quickly.

  "Turn her upward, quick! They are going to shoot at us!" shouted theother.

  Frank instantly started to obey, and while their forward progress stillcontinued unabated, the aeroplane commenced to head toward a higheraltitude.

  Immediately he heard the dull report of a gun from below. He dared notbend his head to look, since all his attention was needed to take careof his machine at such a critical moment. But the whine of the bulletas it passed close by was very plainly heard.

  Then came other shots, many of them, and the air seemed full of strangehissing sounds. Twice Frank felt a slight shock that told him some partof the aeroplane had been struck by one of the flying missiles. Hisheart seemed to jump almost into his mouth, as he trembled for theresult. But nothing happened. The motor kept up its insistent humming,and there was not a quiver to indicate that a vital part of themonoplane had been injured.

  "Andy, are you hurt?" he called, after the volley had ceased, themarksmen below having evidently exhausted their ammunition.

  "Only a scratch," came the reply. "Hardly drew blood. Think a splinterfrom the wood where a spent bullet zipped past must have hit me. It'sall right, Frank! We ran the gantlet just fine. But all the same I guessit would be better for us to keep a little higher after this."

  "Did you make them out and were they government troops, do you think?"Frank asked, for though he managed to turn his head, already had theymade such speed that only the interminable forest could be seen in theirrear.

  "No," returned his comrade. "I just reckon it was another camp of theseinsurrectos. You remember the senor said there were apt to be more thanone crowd of them up the river. It's the only way to get in and out ofthis country, and everything that happens has to count on a waterroute. I guess the Magdalena is about the same to this part of Colombiathat the old Nile is to all Egypt."

  "Well, it was a narrow escape, all right," Frank declared. "I don't justlike the sound of those bullets all around when you're six or eighthundred feet up in the air."

  Andy had recovered from his recent fright by now and could even laugh.

  "I should say nix," he observed; "especially when you know that onelittle clip on either wing would upset us like a stone. Excuse me, ifyou please. I'll never be fully happy when flying until we invent somesort of little parachute that in case of a drop will give a fellow achance for his money."

  Another hour passed, when Frank declared they had now reached the pointwhere a descent would be advisable in case they found an opening thatlooked suitable.

  "There are the mountains over yonder on the right," he said, "and fromnow on we had better begin to scour the country, covering every milejust as though we had a comb and meant to explore it all."

  The chance to drop came presently, and as the opening proved everythingthey could desire, a landing was made without the least trouble. Herethey rested and partook of a light lunch, having brought plenty ofprovisions along, together with a gun of the latest repeating type, withwhich Colonel Josiah had presented them.

  Frank, upon looking the aeroplane over a little later, discovered thathe had been wise in deciding to make a halt. There was need of someattention. Certain parts had become weakened by the strain, either inthe long voyage and handling on board the steamer, or else in this newflight.

  He was determined to be thorough in all he did, and this consumed moreor less time, so that when he finally pronounced the monoplane inp
erfect condition the afternoon was half gone.

  Still, they must go up and put in an hour or two searching. Andy was toowild with impatience to hear of anything else, and Frank saw no reasonfor not complying.

  "But we must be sure to get down again before night comes," he remarked,after they had made a successful rise and were speeding above the top ofthe thick forest. "If we should be caught out at night I rather guess itwould be a serious piece of business." And Andy agreed with him.

  For quite a time they soared aloft, Andy using the binoculars almostconstantly, watching the country below and occasionally sweeping thedistance.

  Frank was thrilled to hear his chum suddenly give utterance to a cry,but it was more of amazement than delight that gave birth to thisejaculation.

  "What is it now, Andy; more insurrectos?" he demanded, ready tomanipulate the planes and strike for higher regions.

  "No, no, not this time," came the quick reply; "but Frank, as sure asyou live, there's that plagued old biplane just rising up yonder a mileaway. And somehow I seem to feel that it spells trouble for us."