“Karl knocked that fellow out,” explained Bob’s father. “In addition to being a fine aviator, that fellow’s a fighter.”
Bob glanced at Karl. From the start the youth had believed the aviator could give a good account of himself if called upon.
“But that’s not telling us anything,” said Mr. Wallace. “What caused the fight? How did it all come about?”
“This way,” began Mr. Holton. “Joe and Karl and I were sitting in the cabin of the ’plane discussing the expedition when we were suddenly interrupted by a gang of at least five rough men, who rushed at the ’plane angrily. We didn’t know what their object in attacking us was, and never did find out. Perhaps they wanted to steal what we have, or they might have been in that crowd yesterday when we laughed and they thought we were making fun of them. At any rate they came at us furiously, and one man broke out the glass in a window. We got out of the airplane as soon as we could to defend ourselves. We couldn’t get to our guns because they’re in a nailed box. But we used our fists to good advantage and finally were able to beat them off. All got away but that fellow over there.”
“Well, of all things!” exclaimed Mr. Wallace. “Seems like we’re having trouble and then more trouble. Bob and I had an experience on the train that wasn’t very pleasing,” he said, and then told of the robbery in which he had lost a valuable watch.
“We’ll soon be out of this country, I hope,” sighed Joe. “Though I suppose it isn’t the country so much as it is our stroke of bad luck.”
“No,” agreed Bob. “Anyone——”
He stopped quickly, as he observed that the Colombian who had been knocked out was regaining consciousness. At first the man merely stirred about, as if totally unaware of what had happened. Then he glanced up and got to his feet.
Pausing but a moment to glare at the Americans, the man dashed away in the direction of the town, drawing his teeth back in a wicked snarl as he looked back at them one last time.
“I think we’d better get away from here as quickly as we can,” said Mr. Holton. “For all we know there may be another gang getting ready to attack us. The whole town might even come out.”