“What about those queer marks in the snow?” asked Bony.
Mr. Swaim looked puzzled until Jack explained.
“Oh,” said the inventor, “that was when we had an accident. The Eagle came down unexpectedly, and turned turtle. Neither I nor Stephen was hurt, but we had quite a time righting the machine. The marks you saw must have been the impressions of the wings in the snow.”
“We thought it was a great bird,” explained Nat.
“And I wasn’t so far out, calling it an eagle,” spoke Bony, cracking a couple of finger knuckles, and ending up with both thumbs.
“I have been out here in this secluded place for several months,” went on Mr. Swaim. “That is why I left no address for my nephew’s guardian, as I did not want to be disturbed. I never supposed my nephew would try to find me, and he probably would not have done so, except by accident. But I will soon go back East, for my invention is almost perfected, and I want to give some exhibitions, and try for some government prizes. Would you boys like to see it tried?”
“You bet!” exclaimed Jack fervently, and the others nodded assent.
“We were going to give it a trial when you boys arrived here,” went on Mr. Swaim. “Now that Will is all right, I think I will take the Eagle out for a flight. I was considerably worried,” he continued, “when my men brought me reports of strangers trying to enter the camp, and I gave strict orders to keep them out. That is why my men were rather brusk with you.”
“That’s all right,” answered Jack. “We had no right to come around, but we were very curious.”
“I don’t blame you. Well, I’ll go and get the machine ready for a trial spin.”