CHAPTER XXII.
RESCUED.
"What's the hurry?" asked Andy, when once they began to talk over theirplans for leaving the valley.
For once Frank agreed with his chum. They had plenty to eat along withthem and it might be just as well to wait for another day. By that timeall of them would have recovered to a great extent from the excitementthat had told upon them, particularly the professor, none too strong.
So it was finally concluded to stay right where they were until anothermorning, when one at a time Frank would endeavor to convey them out ofthe valley, not daring to risk two passengers at once with such a poorfield for the start.
The time passed quickly enough, for there were a thousand things to tellon both sides. The aeronaut described his accident and related how hehad lived through all the dreary months that had gone. Fortunately theredid not happen to be any fierce wild beasts in the cliff borderedvalley, and while he had had adventures with venomous serpents, fortunehad stood by him.
He showed numerous little contrivances by means of which he had securedgame enough to supply his needs. There were nuts in abundance and somewild fruits which, as a scholar, he knew the value of.
Water could be had in plenty, as a lovely stream flowed through thevalley, diving down at one end and vanishing in the rocks, to find anoutlet such as the human prisoner prayed for daily in vain.
Why, it was evening almost before Andy realized it, so quickly had thehours sped along. How proudly had his father asked all about themonoplane, which he examined with the most intense interest, knowing itto have been mostly made by the two enterprising Bird boys.
Prom the way in which he smiled and nodded his head after this survey itwas evident that he was very well pleased with what they had done. Andhe also made them tell all about that famous race through the air to thehitherto unsealed crown of Old Thunder Top, which he remembered verywell.
"And now, let's think of having a jolly little meal," said Frank, as theshadows began to lengthen down below the lofty cliffs, which was apretty good indication that night could not be far away.
"Count me in," said Andy, jumping up, for it was his duty to get busywhen the time came to make a fire and prepare a repast. "I guess we'vegot coffee for a few times yet, and I smuggled a can of Boston bakedbeans along when Frank wasn't looking, knowing that father used to beright fond of 'em."
"Coffee! Beans! Why, you fairly take my breath away!" exclaimed the onewho for so many months had been deprived of all the comforts ofcivilization and forced to sustain his life in the most primitivemanner.
When supper was cooking the professor made some excuse to wanderoff. Frank knew, though, what ailed him.
"It's the aroma of that blessed coffee, that's what," he said to Andy,who had looked a little troubled at this action on the part of hisfather. "It's been so long since he's smelled it that it just makes himwild. I know, because I had a little experience that way myself once,only it was two weeks I had to go without when we were camping and notmany months. When supper's ready he'll come with a rush, mark me, Andy."
And he proved to be a true prophet, for no sooner had Andy lifted up hisvoice to call that the meal was ready than the professor broke throughthe bushes and hastened to take his place.
Frank lost not a second in filling a tin cup of the amber liquid andhanding it to the late prisoner of the valley.
He tasted and then nodded his head.
"Nectar for the gods, my boys!" he declared. "One never knows howlittle things like this go to make up a portion of one's life until acruel fate has deprived him of them all. And to think I have a boy sothoughtful as to fetch along a packet of smoking tobacco and a can ofthe real Boston baked beans. Thank you, Frank, that's a heaping pannikinyou've given me, but I suspect I'm equal to the job."
They made a happy trio as they ate and chatted and laughed. Perhaps thatwas the first hearty laugh Professor Bird had given utterance to sincethe day he started in his ill-fated balloon from Colon on the Caribbeancoast to cross the Isthmus of Panama.
Before they went to sleep that night all preparations had been concludedlooking to getting out of the trap in the morning. Frank had made hisestimations and knew to a nicety just what his engine could do. Oncefree from the valley he believed they could head direct for the distantMagdalena, carrying two passengers and making short flights. It was truethat as yet he had never taken up any second passenger and it entailedan additional tax upon the motor, but he had great faith in the littleKinkaid engine and felt that it would respond nobly to any additionaldemand made upon it.
But it would be advisable that he carry the professor out of the valleyand land him on that plateau where they had made their last halt, eregoing back for Andy. Then, from that elevated place they could start onthe return trip, with everything favorable for a successful flight.
The night passed at length, though it must have seemed interminable toAndy. Frank knew that often his chum would rise up on his elbow and putout a hand gently, just to touch the form of his sleeping father closeto him. And Frank did not wonder at it, for there were times when evenhe found it difficult to realize that their remarkable mission hadactually proven successful.
At length the day came.
They were early astir, for much remained to be done. And there wouldneeds be deft manipulation of the gallant little monoplane by its cleverpilot, if two separate flights out of the enclosed valley were to beundertaken.
Finally all was ready.
The professor had really next to nothing he wished to bring away. Thevalley had grown hateful to him because of his enforced stay and henever wanted to see it again.
He took his place in the seat usually occupied by Andy. His face wasgrave, for he knew what risks they were running. But surely the lad whohad piloted the frail craft through so many perils would not fail now!
"Good-bye, both of you!" said Andy, beaming upon them, as he prepared toassist in the launching. "Please don't forget me down here and let meroot, hog, or die for months. Birds of a feather flock together, youknow, so come back again, Frank."
Then came the start. It was anything but an easy job to get going in thesmall space allowed by the character of the valley, but Frank hadfigured it all out, measured the ground, removed such obstructions aspromised to give trouble and had perfect confidence in his ability tomake it.
And he did.
After that other ascent in the heart of the tropical forest he declaredhe did not mean to let anything appal him henceforth.
Once they started circling the valley, low down and just missing thetops of the trees growing there, Andy, sent vigorous whoops after them,and his father answered by waving his hand, for hat he had none.
So, guided by the master hand of Frank Bird, the aeroplane rose abovethe line of those hateful and cruel cliffs and for the first time sincehis captivity the man of science saw the blessed outside world again.
There was no trouble landing him on the accommodating plateau, afterwhich the aeroplane started back for its second passenger.
Frank abated his vigilance not a particle. He knew that constantwatchfulness must be the price of safety when one is venturing toimitate the birds and soar through the upper currents of the air.
Down into the valley he dropped, the monoplane behaving beautifully. Andpresently he was shaking the hand of his chum again.
Once more was a start made. Frank breathed easier after it had proven asuccess, for there were narrow escapes from a collision with someobstacle, and he knew only too well what that stood for.
"Now we're all right, I guess!" sang out Andy, as they came out of thedepths and Frank turned the airship in the direction of the distantplateau.
Naturally Andy was as happy as a lark, singing and calling as theyglided along, and finding scores of causes for attracting the attentionof his chum. Finally Frank had to caution him to slow down and not tryto make him look so much.
The trip was made in perfect safety. Indeed, Andy was now so confidentof the capacity of
the monoplane, as well as the skill of its pilot,that he expressed himself as ready to go anywhere in such a craft withsuch a driver.
It required some planning to arrange matters so that both Andy and hisfather could be carried at the same time; but Frank had been figuring onthis and fixed it in his mind.
Even after the start he felt more apprehensive than he allowed theothers to see, for this was after all an experiment. Aviators have goneup with two passengers and in monoplanes, too, but the limit of theirstay aloft had never exceeded two hours, for the strain is very great.
So Frank hoped to find places where they might drop down to rest, thusmaking the journey in easy stages.
He believed they had plenty of gasoline to see them through, for anadditional supply had been carried when starting from the neighborhoodof the boat.
But once they were afloat he realized that he had been borrowingneedless trouble, for the gallant little aircraft just acted beautifullyand seemed to be able to speed merrily along with two passengers almostas well as with but one.
Of course there were many chances for trouble. There always are whentraveling in an aeroplane, since the least thing that goes wrong means adescent or a fall.
Frank tried no lofty flight. He kept close above the tree tops, contentto make steady progress in the direction where his little compass toldhim they would find the river.
Once away from the mountainous country and they were able to descend tostill lower levels, where the chilly air changed to hot, and there weresigns of life among the trees below--birds, monkeys and other natives ofthe wilds showing themselves at times.
It must have been a glorious sensation to the old aeronaut to be thusspeeding along in a modern, up-to-date airship, after his enforcedidleness for so long. Again and again did he express himself in thatway, as he gazed over the expanse of country, and then allowed his eyesto rest fondly on the form of his boy, more dear to his heart than everafter what had happened.
"I think I see an open place beyond," remarked Frank, after they hadbeen moving something like two hours after leaving the highplateau. "And it might be wise while we have the chance to go down andlook things over. Then we will feel fit for another spell of work."
Accordingly the aeroplane was headed downward. They circled the openingonce or twice in order that the pilot of the aircraft might get hisbearings perfectly, and then he headed for the ground.
Even as they were just approaching the earth Frank heard Andy give oneof his customary exclamations, such as announced an important discovery.
"Frank, there's the biplane in the opening!" was what he cried.
Yes, Frank himself had sighted it now, but the discovery came too lateto have any effect upon their movements, since they were bound to land,not having room to rise again, even did they wish to do so.
And Frank, as he felt the wheels under the aeroplane touch the earth,also heard a loud cry and some lusty Spanish expletives as a pistol wasdischarged.
Aeroplane Boys on the Wing Page 22