Airplane Boys in the Black Woods

by E. J. Craine

  CHAPTER XI.

  REVENGE! REVENGE!

  "Have you got any guns aboard?" Jim asked tensely.

  "No. There are a good many in the settlement and at the stations, butI've never bothered to carry any on the boat," Howard answered.

  Then again came the frightened cry of a woman, followed by a number ofscreams, which stopped suddenly as if a hand had been placed over themouth that uttered them. With straining eyes the Buddies tried to peerthrough the tall, impenetrable foliage which grew on both sides of them,while the engineer stared tensely ahead lest he send his boat on therocks that lined the way. It seemed to them as if hours passed, althoughit was only a few minutes before they raced around the last turn andshot forward into a wider stretch of water at the further end of thevillage.

  At first they could not see anything unusual about the community, but asthey went along they made out a confused collection of native men andwomen. The white people among them appeared to be herded in the middle,and the moment the engine was silenced, startled voices criedprotestingly, as the huge Indians crowded close. Jim heard one voiceabove the others, speaking a language he did not know, and recognizedDon's clear tones which sounded cool and determined. Howard brought theboat up to the beach, but he hesitated a moment.

  "Thinking of taking some of them off?" Bob whispered and the man noddedhis head.

  "Looks as if the natives have jumped on the whites for some reason orother," he answered. "I don't want to hop out if we can get the womenaway, but those fellows look ugly and our chances are mighty slim, I'mafraid."

  "Wait here for us," Jim said softly. Then he leaped ashore, his handsdug deep in his coat pockets, and Bob, not knowing what was in hisstep-brother's mind, followed suit.

  "Better keep on the outer edge of them," Howard warned.

  "We will!" Jim ran a few yards, and yelled at the top of his lungs. "Youfellows want a bomb or two right in the middle of you?" He drew one fistup as if it held something large and deadly, and a few of the men facedhim quickly, but the others merely crowded closer to the white women andsneered defiantly.

  "No kill own women," one declared.

  "Don't kid yourself," Jim reported quickly. "I'll blow up the lot of youin about a half a minute." He looked exactly as if he meant every wordof it, and he did, but there was nothing more dangerous in his pocketthan a small flashlight. Then he saw Donald standing close beside hismother and father, whose arms were bound with thongs. "What's it allabout?" he demanded. The young Indian spoke to the men nearest him;presently there was a silence, and he faced Jim.

  "I am glad that you appeared with your bombs, Mr. Austin, you and yourbrother, but I pray that you will not use them immediately. I am surethe men here will listen to reason," he said elaborately.

  "They won't have much time to listen to reason. Where I come from wemake a practice to shoot or throw our bombs first and apologizeafterwards," Jim snapped, and his eyes blazed furiously. "I heard thosewomen scream. Tell those fellows to take their hands off, or I won'tlisten to anything--not a thing!"

  "I will," Donald said quickly. Both boys knew that a good many of thenatives understood perfectly what was said, and now those who werenearest to the belligerent-looking young Texans stepped away from theircaptives. Donald interpreted the speech, and the other women werepromptly released.

  "That's better. Now, what's the trouble," Jim thundered, and was gladthat his voice was a deep one.

  "Professor Martin took a party of men, women and children into thewoods. They thought they were going to have a party and a feast but helead them to the Black Woods, into which they will not go until afterthe last butterfly has passed over to the sea."

  "Yes," Jim snapped.

  "He guided them into a passage he had found which lead them through thethickest part of the forest. Some of the men got suspicious and askedquestions, then they all refused to go on, but the professor had herdedthe women and children ahead of him along with a couple of huge bruteshe'd picked up in town. They forced the women to go on, and threatenedto shoot the men if, they did not come with him and work where hewished."

  "I see."

  "They went along and were coming up a grade, when they heard strangesounds, the tramping of many feet. They broke and ran back."

  "Well."

  "They could not bring the women and children with them, so to berevenged, they came back and determined to kill every white woman andman they found here."

  "Yes." Jim was thinking hard and he certainly wished that his pocketswere full of explosives.

  "They gathered up friendly tribes to help them, and landed here abouthalf an hour ago, took possession of all the guns in the settlement,drove the native women away, and captured the white women," Donaldexplained.

  "Don't they know the professor will come back with their families?" Bobasked.

  "At this time none may come back from the Black Woods," one man declaredsullenly. "None comes out alive."

  "The Professor, who is a fool, will himself never come back. He tookchildren, our children, to their deaths," another put in darkly.

  "For the loss of them, we take the white women," snapped a third, andhis hand went toward Phyllis' shoulder.

  "Hold off," Jim snapped, stepping forward quickly, and the hand remainedsuspended in the air. "Now, listen to me, you fellows, I'll get yourwomen and children out of the Black Forest, or Woods--"

  "They will be dead--none comes out alive--never since the curse ofBloody Dam."

  "Let me tell you something, you men. I was in the Black Woods, I've beenat the Bloody Dam, my buddy here and I were there the first day thebutterflies started their flight, and we came out alive--"

  "You lie--"

  "I do not lie. We heard the baying of the dogs, saw the fall of thestone wall, the wall on which the ancient prophet stood when he cursedall who entered the Black Woods--"

  "You saw and heard?" An old man came close. "Did one of them look intoyour eyes?" The voice shook and the man's lips trembled.

  "None looked into my eyes, nor my buddy's eyes," Jim answered solemnly,"and we came through, past poison snakes, over rotten logs, and now, onthe ancient ruin there is a white man into whose eyes the last man ofthe band gazed. The man is mad, he was digging a hole in the ground whenwe saw him last."

  "This is true," Donald added; then he spoke in their own tongue and thenatives stared at the two white boys as if they were beings from someother world.

  "How can you bring our children back?" one asked and his lips were setin a firm line.

  "There is an airplane here. We will go to fetch them. Howard, who is inthe boat, where there are more bombs, will stand guard. You must let thewhite women go to the shore and no man must lay a hand on them until wereturn. Do you understand?"

  "You will go to the settlement for soldiers," one snarled.

  "I will go to the Black Woods, to the Bloody Dam if need be, for yourchildren, and I will fetch them back. I do not lie," he declared withgreat soberness.

  "You shall go. The white woman may assemble near the boat with theengineer; but if in three-quarters of an hour you have not returned,they shall all be destroyed," the old man answered, and the other noddedtheir assent.

  "You have been in the Black Woods and you cannot lie," a younger manspoke sharply. "If we do not hear the loud purr of your engines in thetime set, they shall die. While you are gone, many of the friendly tribewill post themselves so that they will know if you do not keep yourword, and if but one soldier appears, all shall be killed."

  "I'm not worrying," Jim answered, and wished clear down to his bootsthat the statement was true, for he was frightened.

  "Can all the natives speak English?" Bob asked.

  "You mean those with the professor?" Donald wanted to know.

  "Yes."

  "A few of them can."

  "Good. Now, where is that plane? Howard said it had a cabin. How manywomen and children did they leave behind?"

  "Abo
ut fifteen or twenty," the Indian lad answered quietly.

  "If we cannot bring them in one load, we can in two," said Jim, but hekept his fists in his pockets as they went to the shed into which theplane had been run. It took only a few minutes to get her engine warmedup, the Flying Buddies were in the cock-pit, and Jim turned to Donald.

  "Is there likely to be more than one passage through the Black Woods?"he asked.

  "There is only one. These men say they were climbing most of the way, ifthat is any help as to direction."

  "Thanks. Don't give up the ship."

  "Good luck."

  No one waved when the huge airplane lifted off the ground, spiraled overthe little group assembled near the water, with their dark-skinnedguards standing close by. Bob looked over the side and saw a number ofthe naked men making their way into the wood to points from which theycould give warning if the soldiers or workers connected with thesettlement came to help the prisoners. From up in the air the situationlooked even more serious than from on the ground, and the Buddiesexchanged anxious glances.

  "I'm banking on the fact that they were climbing up hill. As I rememberit, we went pretty level for a while, then began to descend over a roughroute," said Jim through the speaking tube, for the plane's equipmentwas not very modern.

  "Hoping they'll come out on that hill?"

  "That's the idea."

  "Remember the chart readings?"

  "Surely. I sketched the place and location for Captain Seaman," Austinreplied.

  "But suppose we do not find them, or find they have been killed?"Caldwell's lips were grim. "If we took that information back to thenatives, the women would be slaughtered."

  "I know," Jim nodded.

  "Don't you think you'd better take word to the settlement? There arelittle towns around here and someone could get a note through to CaptainSeaman--"

  "And he'd get killed trying to bring them out! If we dropped a message,some of the natives might get hold of it, and Buddy, we haven't got asecond to go down and find a white man."

  After that they sat silent as the huge machine thundered up over thehills, past villages, white and native, over the ridge or the nearestrange, over rushing rivers, and finally in the distance they were surethey saw the Black Woods which stretched for miles wild and desolate,particularly at this time of the year, when a funeral somberness seemedto hover over it and its ancient tragedies. On they sped, and at lastBob pointed toward a high bare clearing and there beyond the ravinearose the great stones of the ancient temple ruin, where they had leftMills. Eagerly the lads scanned the cleared place, then their eyes wentover the ruin, but not a sign of a human being did they see in eitherplace. Glancing at the dial clock, Jim spiraled in wide circles whichincluded the two places, while Bob searched vainly for a sign of theprofessor and his kidnapped band.

  "Maybe we guessed wrong," Jim said tensely.

  "Let's drop down anyway," Bob proposed.

  "Reckon I'd better," Austin agreed, but his heart was hammering againsthis ribs and his fingers were so cold he could hardly handle the stick.He shut off the engine, circled and finally they dropped near theopening Lang and his men had forced them to enter. For a moment theywaited, then Jim released his safety belt, and prepared to hop out ofthe cock-pit.

  "I'm coming along," Bob announced.

  "Wish you'd stay here, Buddy. If I have to run for it with some of thosepeople, we might be mighty glad to get off quickly."

  "Well, all right." Bob slid into the pilot's seat. "I've got a hunchthat Martin must be crazy. Wish you had some sort of gun."

  "Second the motion, but I haven't. I'll pick up a club." Austin droppedto the ground, hurried to the edge of the woods, paused long enough toarm himself with a stout club, then leaped on the log and a moment laterwas hidden from his buddy's sight as he disappeared into the passage.

  "Gosh all hemlock, I'd rather be going along with him than sittinghere," Bob grumbled uneasily as he tried vainly to catch a glimpse ofhis step-brother. But, except for the swaying of the long vines whichpartially concealed the entrance, there was no sign that a living soulhad entered the terrible passage. Through Caldwell's mind raced thememory of that awful trip with their arms bound and he felt as if heknew every inch of the route over logs, rocks, traps, streams, holes,snake dens--to Bloody Dam. He gasped, then he shook himself with grimdetermination. "Nice sort of codfish I've developed into--with a backlike a jelly fish."

  Caldwell proceeded to upbraid himself roundly for his lack of courage,but the recollection of those white women back there in the settlement,surrounded by grim natives who knew how to read the white man's clock,and were even now watching the minutes tick away made him shiverapprehensively. When the last one passed, if the boys had not returnedwith at least some of the women and children, alive and unharmed, thefate of Mrs. Manwell, her kindly husband, the Hardings, and any whitemen who appeared, was sealed.

  "If we do not get there on time they will be sure we sent for thesoldiers," he said softly, and he glanced at the control board, but withan effort managed to restrain himself from looking at the time piece.

  He wondered dully what Jim was doing, how far he had gone, and whetherhe was safe or had fallen a victim to some section of the passage withits numberless pitfalls. Resolutely he searched the sky for a sign ofanother plane, but saw nothing, although once he thought he heard one.However, he attributed this to his over-wrought imagination. Heconsidered starting the engine to keep it warm, then he remembered thatthe noise would drown any shouts or instructions Jim might try to callto him. Straining his ears, the boy tried to distinguish some sound, butonly the noises of the desolate forest reached him. Not even the song orchirp of a bird relieved the oppressiveness of his surroundings. Coldfear clutched Bob's heart like great icy fingers, and his teethchattered, as his brain called up the horror of the position he was in.

  He thought again of the white women, waiting tight-lipped for theirfate, whatever it might be; he thought of Professor Martin whosestubborness and determination to make the natives obey his orders hadbrought such difficulties, and this minute threatened the little band hehad forced to follow him; then the British officer at the barracks whosewife was in gravest danger; and Jim alone there in the passage.

  He shook himself vigorously, stretched his cramped legs, moved from sideto side on his seat, and glanced about the spacious cabin which heprayed would soon be filled with the wives and children of the natives.He glanced across the clearing toward the ruin, and wondered what hadhappened to the Indians they had seen around the place. His eyes soughtthe tiny pool with its trickling stream moving so quietly one couldhardly tell it was there, and wished he dared hop out and drink of itscool water. His throat and lips were dry.

  From a distance Bob thought again that he heard a plane, but it wasfaint and he could not find it anywhere in the sky, although he searchedhard, in an effort to get his mind off this anxiety. He knew there wereseveral mail and passenger routes between the two countries but he wasfar off their course, so it was not likely to be one of them. Therewasn't a cloud, even a tiny one, in the whole sky, so every pilot goingfrom south to north, or back, could follow his course as easily as if itwere a green line in a New York subway passage. He sighed wearily, andwondered what time it was, but forced himself to keep his eyes off theclock. He feared lest the limited time allotted had passed. Then, hesprang up, for far off he heard a muffled scream. It came from theforest and sounded as if someone were being tortured. Again it camelouder than before, and with mechanical fingers that flew over thebuckles, he freed himself from his safety belt, leaped out of thecock-pit, and ran as fast as his legs could carry him to the entrance ofthe passage.

  CHAPTER XII.

  THE FIGHT IN THE PASSAGE

  When Jim ran into the passage, he was hoping against hope that this wasthe way the stubborn professor was coming with his captured party, andthat they were not so far from the entrance that it would be impossibleto get any of them
back in time to save the lives of the white men andwomen held prisoners. Glancing at his watch he noticed that the minuteshad been ticking themselves away at an alarming speed. He took a momentto look at the ground and could easily see the foot prints made by thegang; his own and Bob's showed especially plain in the soft spots, buthe dared linger only long enough to assure himself that none of them ledout. Everyone went in, as he was going, which meant that, if Martin wasin that secret route, he had not as yet reached the hill.

  Running as fast as he dared with the light of his small flash his heartbeat anxiously, lest after all, his hunch had been a bad one and hecould not find any of the natives. He blamed himself roundly for nottaking a chance to get a message to the barracks warning Captain Seamanof the danger in the village, and urging him to send a force with allspeed to rescue the party of white people. Now, that it was almost toolate, it seemed to the lad as if there were a dozen things he might havedone, and that he had chosen the most foolhardy of them all; the oneleast likely to succeed. With his mind harping on this discouragingstrain, his feet carried him swiftly on and on.

  He thought of Bob waiting anxiously in the plane and was rather gladthat his part of the task was not sitting still while the moments spedby. Keeping a sharp lookout on all sides, especially under his feet, heproceeded and made up his mind that he would not go very far. Surely theprofessor had sufficient time to be near the grade, and the boycalculated he must have come into the place by some branch route whichthe gang had missed as they were led by the reckless Red and his dimillumination.

  Five minutes passed, then suddenly Austin's heart leaped hopefully, forhe was positive that he heard muffled voices ahead of him. Believingthat the professor was more than half mad because of his ineffectualefforts to push the work of the expedition and make better lookingprogress which would place him permanently in command of the work,besides bring him honors when it was finished, Jim restrained an impulseto shout to the party. Martin was sure to resent the appearance ofanyone who might attempt to interfere with his plans, and also, he waswell armed, the natives had declared. With these points in mind heproceeded much more cautiously, and at last he reached a bend where thetunnel widened considerably, then narrowed as it led over a stream. Thespot was familiar to Jim and he recalled how difficult it had been forhimself and his Buddy to manage with their arms tied.

  But before he reached the bridge, he saw the secret way was well lightedahead, then he heard a shrill scream and the rushing of feet, whichseemed to be going away instead of coming toward him. Quickening hispace, he moved close to the wall, shoving along and screening himselfwith the hanging vines which were thick at this point. Again came theawful yell and the boy ran as hard as he could go.

  A moment more and Jim was at the bridge, then he looked beyond to alower plain and was astonished to see a man, crouched like an animal andrunning almost on all fours. His back was to the boy and from his lipscame the piercing snarl which was enough to make anyone's blood runcold. Standing, as if he were paralyzed with fear, was the tall, thinprofessor, his clothes bedraggled, his mouth open and his eyes staringhypnotized by the awful creature facing him. Another cry, then theprofessor shrieked at the top of his lungs. Behind him were huddled thelittle band of natives, mostly women and children, while the two burlyfellows brought to assist in the kidnaping, faced about and ran off asfast as their legs would carry them.

  From a few of the children there came terrified whimpers, but most ofthe natives were quiet. The crouching man gave a shrill scream, mumbledsomething about his treasure, his riches, and then Martin seemed to cometo life. He backed away, started to turn, but caught his foot on anexposed root which would have sent him headlong, but the man in frontleaped like a monkey, caught him by the front of his shirt, andproceeded to shake him as if he were a rat. The powerful hands drew thecloth tight and tighter, until Martin's head dropped back, then Mills,for there was no mistaking the identity of the crazy fellow, raised himhigh above his head, and smashed him to the ground, where he lay still.Horrified, the lad stood, then suddenly he felt a hand on his arm andBob was beside him.

  "Can we get them out?" he whispered.

  "I hope so," Jim replied.

  Just then one of the native women saw the Flying Buddies, and Austinbeckoned to her to come to him. She hesitated a moment, then, pushingher children ahead of her, she made her way around the murderer and hisvictim. Mills calmly seated himself on the dead body, searched throughthe clothing until he found tobacco, and rolled himself a cigarettewhich he puffed indifferently.

  The one native woman reached the boy's side, then others cautiouslyfollowed, until finally they had all passed, and with thankful hearts,the Buddies hurried them as fast as they could walk up the incline,across the level stretch, and finally out into the afternoon sunshine onthe top of the hill.

  "Well, what's this?" It was Bradshaw who was awaiting them, and staredin wonder at the strange group.

  "Help us get these people back to the settlement," Jim saidbreathlessly. "There isn't a moment to lose, Bradshaw. Gee, I'm glad youcame along."

  "Wanted to have a look at your friend Mills," Bradshaw told them as heproceeded to help. "Guess I missed the lad, for I didn't find him," headded.

  It took only a few minutes to tumble the majority of the natives in thebigger cabin, and three into the helicopter. The engines were started,and the planes raced in a circle, hovered in the air to learn where theywere going. Then Jim set the course, and putting on all the power hedared, raced the big machine as she had never been raced before, throughthe heavens toward the settlement.

  They had gone a little over half way when the clock in the dial boardannounced that the time limit was up. Austin verified it with his ownwatch, and bit his lips anxiously. He did not give up hope, but prayedthat Howard or Don, or perhaps the doctor would be able to persuade thenatives to give them a few minutes grace. He glanced at Bob, whose lipswere set, and his eyes scanned the route as far as he could see.Finally, three minutes later he made out the winding river and sooncould see the settlement. To his joy he noted that the little group werestanding almost as they had been left, near the boat, with Howard seatedbefore his engine, and the white women and young people nearby, withtheir native guard.

  As they zoomed at top speed, the white men turned their faces upward.The engines were shut off, the two machines glided gracefully to theground, the native passengers shouting gleefully to the members of theirfamilies. Quickly the men who had been so determined on revenge, rushedforward and caught their loved ones in their arms. Presently Jim was outof the machine and he saw Donald standing near him, a watch in his hand.

  "I find that you have half a minute to spare," he remarked.

  "Yes?"

  "Exactly. I held my watch, which is a new accurate time-piece, and whileI did not object to dying when the three-quarters of an hour was up, Idid object to such an unpleasant ending to the lives of my esteemedparents. It is possible, of course, that the hands stoppedoccasionally--barely possible," he grinned.

  "Oh, I was blue when I saw how the time had passed," Jim said.

  "Expect you were. Don't know that I should have cared to change placeswith you."

  Then followed explanations from all concerned and unconcerned; Bradshawlearned why he had been urged to nearly tear the wings off his plane,and when the danger was past, the natives awkwardly tried to thank theBuddies by presenting them with gifts, while Mrs. Harding nearly wentinto hysterics, which the doctor hastened to bring her out of with agood shake.

  "Buck up, buck up. Where's Martin?" he asked Bob.

  "Mills met him in the passage and killed him."

  The party looked sober.

  "Twice you boys came through the Black Woods, but Martin, who forcedhimself under the butterflies, met destruction before the change of themoon," said Donald quietly.

  "That's right," Jim nodded, "but it looks to me as if the curse ofBloody Dam was made so that fellows who aren't evil-doers may passunharmed even through the Black Woods." />
  "Perhaps that is so," Donald answered, then went on with a smile, "Andperhaps a kindness rendered a hunted lad named Yncicea and his unclebrought a blessing so great that against it the curse is noteffective--"

  "Perhaps," chuckled Bob, then added softly, "I don't mind telling youthat we're mighty happy at having met that lad at my uncle's farm."Suddenly his mood changed. "When do we eat?"

  "There is food in the basket," Mrs. Seaman answered, "You boys must behollow as drums." She made a brave attempt to shake off the horror ofthe hour through which she had just lived, and Barbara Harding came toher aid.

  "Let's brace up," she urged. "We'll all feel better when we have hadsomething to eat."

  "Suppose we take the food and eat it on board the boat on the way home,"Mrs. Harding suggested. "I feel as if I cannot leave this place tooquickly." Her face was white as if she had suffered a long illness, andher eyes rested upon her daughters, who were safe, but she dreadedremaining with them in the encampment where the white people were sogreatly out-numbered by the natives.

  This plan was accepted by all of them, so they made hasty preparationsto depart, while the natives, the more reasonable ones, realizing thattheir act might bring serious difficulties to the tribes, pitched in tohelp, and many of them ran to their own quarters to bring presents aspeace offerings.

  "We feared our own women and children were in danger, or dead," onereminded Mrs. Seaman, who promptly held out her hand to them.

  "I understand," she said kindly. "You need have no further fear fromProfessor Martin. He brought about his own punishment and I am happythat your families are safe." The man bowed low before her.

  "We are your servants," he answered--but could say no more, for at themoment the air was filled with the thunder of many airplane motorsracing nearer and nearer.

  The eyes of the Flying Buddies turned instantly to the sky and wereastonished to see twelve tiny specks in a perfect V formation, racingwithout deviating an inch from their formation, high in the blueheavens. Quickly the boy took out his handkerchief, broke a twig andtied the corners to make a flag.

  "Fix yours the same way, Buddy," he said crisply. The planes weregrowing at an amazing speed into huge shapes as their pilots crowded onevery ounce of power. The boys wondered how the captain could havelearned of the trouble, for as far as they knew no one had informed thesoldiers, but here they were and his heart sang with thankfulness thatthey would find peace and quiet instead of death and destruction.

  "Here you are." Bob handed over his flag handkerchief, and Jim ran withthe improvised pair of signals, to an open space, while the nativesstared. He marveled at the formation of the thundering machines, one ofwhich he saw was a bomber, and at least two equipped with machine guns.They were swooping now almost to the bend in the river, so Austinwaggled a message to the pilots and hoped they would understand thescout code.

  "All O.K.; All O.K.;" he waggled and instantly the leader's nose shotup, his hand went to the side of his cock-pit and his men followed himin a steep climb, after which they zoomed high, circled, while Jim wenton talking to them with the flags. "Everybody is safe. No one hurt. AllO.K." The machines made two turns above their heads, then the engine ofthe leader's plane was throttled and he glided like a great bird to theground, made an admirable three-point landing and stopped. Instantly aman leaped out of the cock-pit and started forward.

  "What's the matter?" he demanded.

  "It's my husband, my husband," cried Mrs. Seaman and she ran to meethim. A moment he held her close, then braced his shoulders, and facedthe others.

  "A native sent a message that the village had been attacked and you wereall going to be burned to death," he gasped.

  "We might have been, but we are not," Dr. Manwell answered.

  "Thank God you are safe, but, what was the idea?" the captain persisted.He had to shout because the planes were still racing near enough so thatthey too could swoop down if there was any sign of danger.

  "Martin got a crazy idea that by kidnaping the natives' families hecould force the men to push forward the work he was doing and entersections of the forest which they feared."

  "Great heavens, was he insane?" Seaman exploded.

  "I should not be at all surprised," the doctor answered, then went on,"whatever ailed him, he has already paid the price of his folly. Thenatives thought that their wives and children had been killed or wouldnever come out of the Black Woods, so they came back with other tribes,bent upon revenge. We can hardly blame them. They happened to find usall here; took possession of the weapons in camp, and before any of usrealized the danger, they surrounded the women."

  Seaman's lips were set in a tight line.

  "I was busy attending to the pilot who has a bad infection, so did notknow what was happening until I heard my wife scream. We were allsurrounded, then Howard, who had our young American friends on a tour ofinspection, appeared in the boat. Fortunately the lads had bombs intheir pockets--"

  "Bombs--"

  "Yes and more in the boat," the doctor answered emphatically, as if itwas quite usual for American boys to go about with explosives. "Thenatives were reasonable and the Buddies promised to bring the women andchildren back. They did, and all is well--"

  "Thank heavens for that--"

  "Let us all forget it, dear," Mrs. Seaman urged her husband. "The menwere frantic with fear for their families, even as you were just alittle while ago, and we cannot blame them for trying to retaliate. Noneof us was hurt, and now you find us quite safe."

  "Surely," the captain agreed, then he saw Bradshaw. "How did you happento be here?" he asked.

  "I was looking for Mills, saw the expedition plane instead, and hungabout to learn what was doing. After that, I did pilot duty and turnedthe helicopter into a passenger plane," the Canadian grinned cheerfully,then added, "I take it that further details of the exploit can be madelater."

  "All right. Now, Doctor, how about that pilot--should he be taken to ahospital?"

  "I'll take him to my house and look after him a few days, if you have noobjection. I do not believe that he is in danger, but it will be just aswell if he has good care for the present."

  "Suits me," answered Captain Seaman crisply, then he turned to his wife,"Care to hop home with me, dear?"

  "I should like to," she smiled at him. "Before we start I wish that youwould assure the natives that you will not punish any of them."

  "Of course," he agreed. He called some of the leaders together, and whenthey were assembled, he shook hands with everyone. Speechmaking was outof the question because of the noise, and the tribesmen held up theirhands as a sign that they were eternal friends. After that it wasarranged that the doctor, his wife, Donald and the invalid pilot shouldbe taken back to town in the community's huge plane with the FlyingBuddies, or one of them, at the stick. Mrs. Seaman was to have a placein her husband's machine, Mrs. Harding and her daughters would fly withBradshaw.

  Presently all were ready except the captain, who paid a brief visit tothe native's quarters, reassured them of his friendship and ate saltfish with them. When that ceremony was completed, they came with him tojoin his party. A bit later the planes were ready, the big one led offwith its passengers and the sick man, Bradshaw followed, and last camethe officer's ship. They rose swiftly, the British planes circled aboutthem, received their orders by signal lights flashed in colors, and fellin behind the others, while the officer again took the lead; heading ina bee line for home.

  Jim was as excited as if he were a part of some grand maneuver and triedhard to keep properly in the formation with his huge plane, which musthave looked a bit odd racing among the other slim, efficient planes ofthe British Government. The boy glanced at his passengers, who seemed tohave completely forgotten the dangers through which they had passed, andwere thoroughly enjoying themselves and the trip.

  Bob was, of course, beside his Buddy, and the two exchanged delightedglances. Austin wondered what his brother would say if it were not sonoisy, but later, when they came down in
the field's runway, the youngerboy grinned widely.

  "I've had as grand a time as a bob-tailed cat with a kettle of fish," heannounced. "Wouldn't have missed it for a million."

  "What I want to know is where you boys got those bombs," the captainsaid as he hurried up to the machine.

  "If you find out, we'll pin a horseshoe on you," Bob promised with alaugh.

  "Didn't you have a blooming thing?"

  "Surely," Jim replied gravely. "My fists and an electric light flash."

  "Come along in--I want the rest of the story," the officer chuckled.

  "And, like the little boy by the cookie jar, you won't be happy untilyou get it," said Bob. Just then a pair of orderlies appeared with astretcher, the pilot was carefully lifted out and taken off toward thedoctor's home.

  "I shall send congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Austin on the splendidconduct of their sons--" Dr. Manwell began, but Jim cut him short.

  "When Dad hears of Donald's trick with his watch, sir, he will keep thewires buzzing congratulating you and Mrs. Manwell. We were over fourminutes late--" Jim said.

  Bob laughed and changed the subject abruptly.

  "I say, I'm as hungry as a flock of lions. When do we eat?" he demanded,and the party started quickly for the house and the larder, lest theyoung fellow devour them all then and there.