Without climbing higher, Harvey circled about the woods, scanning the green depths below for some signal from his comrade. Bill and his companion had passed from sight, so that the five were somewhere in the depths of the forest. The aviator glided along the sky over the tree tops without catching a glimpse of anything to give hope. Then he passed a little way beyond the western end and circled about again. He saw a farm house a mile distant, and unless hope presented itself in some form very soon, he determined to go thither in quest of help against the lawless young men.
What was that which suddenly caught his roving eye? On the margin of the wood something flitted for a moment like a bird hopping from one branch to another. He would have believed it was such, had it not been so near the ground. Whisking his binoculars from his shoulder, he scanned the object. His heart thrilled when he recognized a cap swung by a person standing behind the trunk of a large tree.
“It’s Bunk!” exclaimed the delighted youth; “his foes are so near that he daresn’t show himself.”
Harvey was quick to make up his mind. Shutting off power for a moment he called in his clear, ringing voice:
“Wait where you are, Bunk! I’ll be back in a minute or two; don’t leave till I give the word and then come a-running.”
The cap was waved again and Harvey fancied he saw the corner of the negro’s countenance as he peered round the trunk.
The fear of the aviator was that the five men who were sure to be watching his movements, knowing he was trying to save his colored companion, would have their attention drawn to the spot over which the aeroplane was hovering. There was the danger that they had heard his call and would act on the hint, but the risk had to be taken.
Harvey next shifted to the opposite side of the wood, where he dallied back and forth for half an hour, as if trying to fix upon a good landing place. He knew he was under the eyes of the angered countrymen, but was certain he had drawn them to that side of the forest, where they were so far from Bohunkus that it would take considerable time for them to return to his neighborhood.
Suddenly the aeroplane darted off like a swallow, skimming over the trees, at the spot selected.
“Quick, Bunk! Don’t lose a second! Jump aboard!”