“I don’t know,” was the Jap’s reply. “When the machine failed us here and the aviator went away to secure a spark plug from the boys, if possible, the smugglers came up and told us a long story about getting the Chinks out to-night, and they have been about here ever since. I don’t know why they happened to select this peak for their operations just now.”
“I’ll tell you,” said a rough-bearded man, approaching where the two stood. “We selected this peak because in this kind of weather it is always above the clouds, and because the country below is being raked over with a fine-toothed comb by the rangers. Under the circumstances, it appeared to me that the best thing we could do was to hide the fellows high up in the air.”
“I understand now,” the Jap replied. “And you say the officers are below?” he questioned. “Aiming for this peak, perhaps?”
“They certainly are!” replied the smuggler. “Listen a moment and you’ll hear shooting!”
In the short silence which followed the report of firearms could be heard from below. The smuggler darted away, closely followed by the blond aviator, and the two Japs and Phillips and Mendoza began looking about for hiding-places in case a rush should be made for the summit. They found hiding-places, at last, at the edge of the canyon which lay between the two peaks. Kit, forgotten in the sudden excitement, hastily released Jimmie from the rope which held him, and the two boys prepared to mount their machines.
Shouts and cries of anger and alarm were now heard coming up from the slope, still veiled by the clouds, and the boys were under the impression that they might be able to get the aeroplanes away before the summit became a battle-ground. Just as they were about to spring into the seats, however, a sharp cry came from the place where the four men had hidden, and the next moment a storm of bullets swept down from above!
“Je—rusalem!” shouted Jimmie, stepping out and throwing his arms up in token of surrender. “That’s the Ann, and she must be loaded with pirates! Quit shooting!” he yelled at the top of his voice.
Kit was not slow in following the example of his friend, and then the outlaws and the Japs rushed from their hiding-places and also held up their hands in token of submission.
The next instant the powerful aeroplane, Ann, swept down upon the surface with a force which almost sent her off on the other side! The sheriff, the ranger and Havens sprang from their seats with revolvers in their hands, and by this time Jimmie and Kit had their own weapons out.
Almost before the four men could catch their breath, they were handcuffed by the sheriff.