“Climb—climb!” Jack muttered, his fists clenched.
The plane cleared the rocks at the far end of the lake. Everyone took a deep, relieved breath.
Twice the ship circled after attaining safe altitude. Mr. Livingston waved to reassure the Scouts that all was well. Then the plane headed over the blue mountains and soon was lost in the distance.
Chapter 25
RENDEZVOUS
Jack sprawled on the hotel bed, munching an apple. The Elks Creek weekly newspaper was spread before him, but he had not been reading.
“Hap and Craig Warner are an hour overdue,” he complained, looking at his watch. “Why don’t they get here?”
“Because they’ve been held up at the hospital,” Ken replied calmly. “Easy, boy! You’ve been fretting all morning.”
Jack rolled off the bed. Going restlessly to the window, he gazed down on the street below. It was nearly deserted, and there was no sign of either the Scout leader or the rancher.
“Joe Hansart is in a bad way,” Willie contributed from the other side of the room. “That’s why they sent for Warner and Hap.”
“I know,” Jack acknowledged. “I ought to be patient. It’s just that I’m eager for news.”