RESCUED.
"What's the hurry?" asked Andy, when once they began to talk over their plans for leaving the valley.
For once Frank agreed with his chum. They had plenty to eat along with them and it might be just as well to wait for another day. By that time all of them would have recovered to a great extent from the excitement that had told upon them, particularly the professor, none too strong.
So it was finally concluded to stay right where they were until another morning, when one at a time Frank would endeavor to convey them out of the valley, not daring to risk two passengers at once with such a poor field for the start.
The time passed quickly enough, for there were a thousand things to tell on both sides. The aeronaut described his accident and related how he had lived through all the dreary months that had gone. Fortunately there did not happen to be any fierce wild beasts in the cliff bordered valley, and while he had had adventures with venomous serpents, fortune had stood by him.
He showed numerous little contrivances by means of which he had secured game enough to supply his needs. There were nuts in abundance and some wild fruits which, as a scholar, he knew the value of.
Water could be had in plenty, as a lovely stream flowed through the valley, diving down at one end and vanishing in the rocks, to find an outlet such as the human prisoner prayed for daily in vain.
Why, it was evening almost before Andy realized it, so quickly had the hours sped along. How proudly had his father asked all about the monoplane, which he examined with the most intense interest, knowing it to have been mostly made by the two enterprising Bird boys.
Prom the way in which he smiled and nodded his head after this survey it was evident that he was very well pleased with what they had done. And he also made them tell all about that famous race through the air to the hitherto unsealed crown of Old Thunder Top, which he remembered very well.
"And now, let's think of having a jolly little meal," said Frank, as the shadows began to lengthen down below the lofty cliffs, which was a pretty good indication that night could not be far away.
"Count me in," said Andy, jumping up, for it was his duty to get busy when the time came to make a fire and prepare a repast. "I guess we've got coffee for a few times yet, and I smuggled a can of Boston baked beans along when Frank wasn't looking, knowing that father used to be right fond of 'em."
"Coffee! Beans! Why, you fairly take my breath away!" exclaimed the one who for so many months had been deprived of all the comforts of civilization and forced to sustain his life in the most primitive manner.
When supper was cooking the professor made some excuse to wander off. 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 his father. "It's been so long since he's smelled it that it just makes him wild. 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 not many 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 his voice to call that the meal was ready than the professor broke through the bushes and hastened to take his place.
Frank lost not a second in filling a tin cup of the amber liquid and handing 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 how little things like this go to make up a portion of one's life until a cruel fate has deprived him of them all. And to think I have a boy so thoughtful as to fetch along a packet of smoking tobacco and a can of the real Boston baked beans. Thank you, Frank, that's a heaping pannikin you'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 that was the first hearty laugh Professor Bird had given utterance to since the day he started in his ill-fated balloon from Colon on the Caribbean coast to cross the Isthmus of Panama.
Before they went to sleep that night all preparations had been concluded looking to getting out of the trap in the morning. Frank had made his estimations and knew to a nicety just what his engine could do. Once free from the valley he believed they could head direct for the distant Magdalena, carrying two passengers and making short flights. It was true that as yet he had never taken up any second passenger and it entailed an additional tax upon the motor, but he had great faith in the little Kinkaid engine and felt that it would respond nobly to any additional demand made upon it.
But it would be advisable that he carry the professor out of the valley and land him on that plateau where they had made their last halt, ere going back for Andy. Then, from that elevated place they could start on the return trip, with everything favorable for a successful flight.
The night passed at length, though it must have seemed interminable to Andy. Frank knew that often his chum would rise up on his elbow and put out a hand gently, just to touch the form of his sleeping father close to him. And Frank did not wonder at it, for there were times when even he found it difficult to realize that their remarkable mission had actually proven successful.
At length the day came.
They were early astir, for much remained to be done. And there would needs be deft manipulation of the gallant little monoplane by its clever pilot, if two separate flights out of the enclosed valley were to be undertaken.
Finally all was ready.
The professor had really next to nothing he wished to bring away. The valley had grown hateful to him because of his enforced stay and he never wanted to see it again.
He took his place in the seat usually occupied by Andy. His face was grave, for he knew what risks they were running. But surely the lad who had 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 to assist in the launching. "Please don't forget me down here and let me root, hog, or die for months. Birds of a feather flock together, you know, so come back again, Frank."
Then came the start. It was anything but an easy job to get going in the small space allowed by the character of the valley, but Frank had figured it all out, measured the ground, removed such obstructions as promised to give trouble and had perfect confidence in his ability to make it.
And he did.
After that other ascent in the heart of the tropical forest he declared he did not mean to let anything appal him henceforth.
Once they started circling the valley, low down and just missing the tops 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 above the line of those hateful and cruel cliffs and for the first time since his captivity the man of science saw the blessed outside world again.
There was no trouble landing him on the accommodating plateau, after which the aeroplane started back for its second passenger.
Frank abated his vigilance not a particle. He knew that constant watchfulness must be the price of safety when one is venturing to imitate the birds and soar through the upper currents of the air.
Down into the valley he dropped, the monoplane behaving beautifully. And presently he was shaking the hand of his chum again.
Once more was a start made. Frank breathed easier after it had proven a success, for there were narrow escapes from a collision with some obstacle, 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 the depths and Frank turned the airship in the direction of the distant plateau.
Naturally Andy was as happy as a lark, singing and calling as they glided along, and finding scores of causes for attracting the attention of his chum. Finally Frank had to caution him to slow down and not try to make him look so much.
The trip was made in perfect safety. Indeed, Andy was now so confident of 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 with such a driver.
It required some planning to arrange matters so that both Andy and his father could be carried at the same time; but Frank had been figuring on this and fixed it in his mind.
Even after the start he felt more apprehensive than he allowed the others to see, for this was after all an experiment. Aviators have gone up with two passengers and in monoplanes, too, but the limit of their stay 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, thus making the journey in easy stages.
He believed they had plenty of gasoline to see them through, for an additional supply had been carried when starting from the neighborhood of the boat.
But once they were afloat he realized that he had been borrowing needless trouble, for the gallant little aircraft just acted beautifully and seemed to be able to speed merrily along with two passengers almost as well as with but one.
Of course there were many chances for trouble. There always are when traveling in an aeroplane, since the least thing that goes wrong means a descent or a fall.
Frank tried no lofty flight. He kept close above the tree tops, content to make steady progress in the direction where his little compass told him they would find the river.
Once away from the mountainous country and they were able to descend to still lower levels, where the chilly air changed to hot, and there were signs of life among the trees below—birds, monkeys and other natives of the wilds showing themselves at times.
It must have been a glorious sensation to the old aeronaut to be thus speeding along in a modern, up-to-date airship, after his enforced idleness for so long. Again and again did he express himself in that way, as he gazed over the expanse of country, and then allowed his eyes to rest fondly on the form of his boy, more dear to his heart than ever after what had happened.
"I think I see an open place beyond," remarked Frank, after they had been moving something like two hours after leaving the high plateau. "And it might be wise while we have the chance to go down and look things over. Then we will feel fit for another spell of work."
Accordingly the aeroplane was headed downward. They circled the opening once or twice in order that the pilot of the aircraft might get his bearings perfectly, and then he headed for the ground.
Even as they were just approaching the earth Frank heard Andy give one of 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 late to 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 was discharged.