Andy uttered a low cry of alarm and began to fumble for the revolver Colonel Josiah had made him promise to always carry on his person, once they reached the country of revolutions.
The first sight they obtained told them that something unusual had indeed happened. A number of the native crew were in range of their vision, but every man had fallen flat on his face and seemed to be cowering there as if afraid.
"What in the dickens is it?" gasped Andy.
"I don't know. They are a scared lot, that's sure! Perhaps they saw a sea serpent alongside! It couldn't be that a jaguar has boarded us. No, look at old Quito, how he lifts his head and takes a terrified look! Why, he seems to be observing something up above in the heavens as sure as you live!"
As Frank shot out these words he, too, bent his head back to scan the brazen sky above. A cry broke from his lips.
"Why, what under the sun does it mean?" exclaimed Andy, who had also turned his eyes heavenward to discover a strange thing speeding over the tops of the trees, one, two thousand feet high, and at the same time there came to his ears a familiar throbbing that could have but one meaning.
"An aeroplane!" he burst forth in thrilling tones; "and the sillies down there think it's just a frightfully big bird about to carry them off. Hey, Frank, perhaps the government has got one of the new contraptions after all!"
"Go slow," said Frank. "Suppose you look a bit closer, my boy. Isn't there something familiar about that same craft up yonder?"
"It's—it's a biplane, Frank!" gurgled Andy.
"Yes, and one you've set eyes on before, too, old fellow. It belongs to—"