She nodded her head as if to let him know he was right but when Jack saw a shadow pass over her face he understood what was in her mind—that her poor wounded Buddy might be lying there helpless, with that savage monster drawing nearer and nearer, sniffing the air and following the scent that sooner or later would take him to the spot where the fallen air mail pilot lay.
She shuddered and put a hand in front of her eyes nor could she be induced to make use of the glasses again for quite some time. She evidently feared lest she once more glimpse that horrid hairy animal, shuffling along in his shambling fashion, ready to attack any creature that came in his way, be it bird, beast or human being for was he not the king of the mountain fastnesses, utterly unafraid?
Jack felt convinced fortune was proving kindly disposed toward their mission of humanity. That troublesome wind was slowly but surely diminishing in force and gave promise of finally dying out in another hour or so. At least they were not going to be forced to call the search off as long as daylight served. Jack had not as yet decided in his mind what to do after twilight came and the face of the country became blotted out in the gathering gloom of night.
It might be possible for them to keep going, in hopes of discovering the tempting glow of a campfire among the tall trees of the timber belt; but discretion would more than likely force them to give up operations until yet another day.
The risk would be much too great, flying at that low altitude across such a dangerous wilderness where at any minute some unseen rocky cliff might suddenly rise up before their speeding aircraft bringing about an unavoidable crash, an explosion and—oblivion!
And then it came to pass, after all those weary and distressing hours of search—this time Suzanne uttered a shrill shriek and trembling all over held out the binoculars toward Jack crying:
“Oh! tell me if I am going out of my mind Jack! Is that really and truly smoke curling up from over there?”
She clung to his arm and continued to point, trying to keep her hand from wobbling to and fro because of her emotion.
Jack quickly focussed upon the object that had caught her attention. Perk understanding what it must all be about, even if unable to catch the meaning of what was being said, watched Jack’s face, well knowing how it was sure to register his thoughts.
“Smoke it is, for all the world!” Jack declared, immediately adding further words of good cheer; “and as true as you live, I can catch a gleam of sunlight falling on clear water!”