Altogether, the broken top, or Hosmer’s “Baldy’s Bench,” was much larger than might have been expected. For the moment there was no sign of life. Both boys had made an instant survey to discover this. Then both gave all their thoughts to the possibility of landing. It seemed a desperate chance, but Frank and Phil had so long dreamed of reaching this spot in the Loon that the apparent absence of life did not deter them.
“Try it,” panted Frank. “If we can get down I guess we can get up.”
Phil, who had been circling in an ascending spiral, now dropped his planes and headed down.
“Beyond that middle thing,” he answered nodding toward a central heap on the smoother surface. And, while all held their breath, the young navigator slowly dropped the Loon on the rocks. For a moment the landing seemed perfect. Then, the left landing wheel running forward struck an elevation. There was a straining crack, but Frank had already dropped through the opening in the floor of the cabin and he stopped the advancing car. At the same moment there were three exclamations:
“How still it is!” said Lord Pelton.
“It’s the sleeve on the wheel standard,” called Frank.
“There they are,” shouted Phil.
Catching up his rifle, Phil and the Englishman leaped from the car and sprang across the rocks. From somewhere just beyond the center of the “Bench” a flock of sheep had appeared. A few had started for the cut on the edge of the cliff. The greater number, however, hung back and, at the instant Phil and Lord Pelton started for the chasmlike cut, the entire flock stopped stock still.
“Would you believe it?” whispered Frank.
“See ‘Old Baldy’?” was Phil’s only reply.