And so Andy said nothing more along those lines.
CHAPTER XIX—OVER PLAIN AND DESERT
“I think we’re high enough up now!” observed Frank, presently.
He no longer sent the biplane in widening circles, boring steadily upwards; but turned toward the south and pushed for speed, as far as was compatible with safety, which was always Frank’s way.
And Andy seemed to have now lost all interest in what lay behind, for he was looking ahead through the glasses, as though in the hope of discovering the kidnapper of little Becky somewhere in the hazy distance.
It was still comparatively early in the morning, and in places there lay an odd sort of mist that may have been a mirage, obscuring the view, since the earth was hidden in its whitish folds.
Away beyond these spots did Andy turn his marine glasses. Now he saw something moving that at first gave him a little shock; but on second inspection it turned out to be a sailing buzzard, evidently scenting some carrion in a bunch of sage brush, that gave promise of dinner, since it was close to the earth at the time.
A minute later and Andy had another start, as once more he believed he had discovered an object that certainly crawled over the ground. Could it be some wounded man, or one who was perishing for a drink of water, in that arid land bordering the desert?
But hardly had this thought occurred to Andy than he realized his mistake; for he now saw that it was only a cowardly coyote, shuffling along as though ashamed to be caught returning to his den at such an hour of the morning, after an all night feast, perhaps.
Down below them they could see the plain which formed a part of Double X Ranch. It looked like a great checkerboard, on account of the different colors of the soil, which stood out in relief when one was directly above. Had there been any water there they could have seen to the very bottom, even though it were twenty feet deep, such is the advantage which this lofty position gives. No wonder, thought Andy, that the hawk is able to pick out just the fish he wants for his dinner, and then finds it so easy to pounce down upon the unfortunate thus selected.