Professor Featherwit nodded assent, and, after a brief chuckle, Waldo
resumed:
“You can take all those big fellows with the jaw-breaking names, but as
for me, smaller game will do. Maybe a fellow couldn't fill his bag quite
so full, nor quite so suddenly, but there would be a great deal more
sport, and a mighty sight less danger, I take it!”
It was by no means difficult to divine that the professor had not yet
spoken all that busied his brain, but the thread was broken, his pipe
was out, and, emptying the ashes by tapping pipe-bowl against the heel
of his shoe, he rose erect, once more the man of action.
“You will have to clear up, lads, for I must make such few repairs as
are necessary to restore the aerostat to a state of efficiency. So long
as that remains in serviceable condition, we will always have a method
of advance or retreat. Without it--well, I'd rather not think of the
alternative.”
That dry tone and quiet sentence did more than all else to impress
the brothers with a sense of their unique position. Back came the
remembrance of all they had gathered concerning this strange scope
of country since first settling down fairly within the shadows of the
Olympics, there to put that strange machine together, preparing for what
was to prove a wonder-tour through many marvellous happenings.
Times beyond counting they had been assured by the natives that no
mortal could fairly penetrate that vast wilderness. Natural obstacles
were too great for any man to surmount, without saying aught of what lay
beyond; of the enormous animals, such as the civilised world never knew
or fought with; of the terrible natives, taller than the pines, larger
than the hills, more powerful by far than the gods themselves, eager to
slay and to devour,--so eager that, at times, living flesh and blood was
more grateful than all to their depraved tastes!
“Do you really reckon there is anything in it all, Bruno?” asked the
younger brother in lowered tones, glancing across to where their uncle
was busily engaged in those comparatively trifling repairs.
“It hardly seems possible, and yet--would the members of four different
tribes tell a story so nearly alike, without they had at least a
foundation of truth to go upon?”
“That's right. And yet--the inland sea sounds natural enough. We know,
too, that there are such things as underground rivers, outside of Jules
Verne's yarns. But those animals,--or reptiles,--which?”
“Both, I believe,” answered Bruno, with a subdued laugh.
“That's all right, old man. I never was worth a continental when it came
to such things. I prefer to live in the present, and so--well, now, will
you just look at that old cow!”
In surprise Waldo pointed across to where a bovine shape showed not far
beyond the pool at the base of the miniature waterfall; but his brother
had a fairer view, and, instantly divining the truth, grasped an arm and
hastily whispered:
“Hush, boy; can't you see? It's a buffalo, a hill buffalo, and--”
“Quick! the guns are in the machine! Down, Bruno, and maybe we can get a
shot and--”
His eager whisper was cut short, though not by grip of arm or act by
his brother. A rumbling roar broke forth from the further side of that
mountain stream, and as the dense bushes beyond were violently agitated,
the hill buffalo wheeled that way with marvellous rapidity.
Just as a long head and mighty shoulders spread the shrubbery wide
apart, jaws opening and lips curling back to lay great teeth bare, while
another angry sound, half growl, half snort, only too clearly proclaimed
that monster of the mountains, a grizzly bear.
“Smoke o' sacrifice!” gasped Waldo, as the grizzly suddenly upreared its
mighty bulk, head wagging, paws waving in queer fashion, lolling tongue
lending the semblance of drollery rather than viciousness.
“This way; to your guns, boys!” cautiously called out the professor,
whose notice had likewise been caught by those unusual sounds, and who
had already armed himself with his pet dynamite gun.
“Careful! He'll make a break for us at first sight, unless--down close,
and crawl for it, brother!”
Bruno set the good example, and Waldo was not too proud of spirit to
humble himself in like manner. Although this was their first glimpse
of “Old Eph” in his native wilds, both brothers entertained a very
respectful opinion of his prowess.
Under different circumstances their expectations might have been more
fully met, but just now the grizzly seemed wholly occupied with the
buffalo bull, whose sturdy bulk and armed front so resolutely opposed
his further progress towards that common goal, the pool of water.
The boys quickly reached the flying-machine and gripped the Winchester
rifles which Professor Featherwit had drawn forth from the locker at
first sight of the dangerous game. Thus armed, they felt ready for
whatever might come, and stood watching yonder rivals with growing
interest.
“Will you look at that, now?” excitedly breathed Waldo, eyes aglow, as
he saw the bull cock its tail on high and tear up the soft soil with one
fierce sweep of its cloven hoof, shaking head and giving vent to a low
but determined bellow.
“It means a fight unto the death, I think,” whispered the professor.
“It's dollars to doughnuts on the bear,” predicted Waldo. “Scat, you
bull-headed idiot! Don't you know that you're not deuce high to his ace?
Can't you see that he can chew you up like--”
“Are you mighty sure of all that, boy?” laughingly cut in Bruno; for at
that moment the buffalo made a sudden charge at his upright adversary,
knocking the grizzly backward in spite of its viciously flying paws.
“Great Peter on a bender! If I ever--no, I never!”
Even the professor was growing excited, holding the dynamite gun under
one arm while gently tapping palms together as an encore.
Naturally enough, their sympathies were with the buffalo, since the odds
seemed so immensely against him; but their delight was short-lived, for,
instead of following up the advantage so bravely won, the bull fell back
to paw and bellow and shake his shaggy front.
With marvellous activity for a brute of his enormous bulk and weight,
the grizzly recovered its feet, then lumbered forward with clashing
teeth and resounding growls.
Nothing loath, the buffalo met that charge, and for a short space of
time the struggle was veiled by showers of leaf-mould and damp dirt cast
upon the air as the rivals fought for supremacy--and for life.
For that this was destined to be a duel to the very death not one of
those spectators could really doubt. That encounter may have been purely
accidental, but the creatures fought like enemies of long standing.
As their relative positions changed, the buffalo contrived to get in
another vigorous butt, sending bruin end for end down that gentle slope
to souse into the pool of water, that cool element cutting short a
savage roar of mad fury.
Then the trio of spectators could take notes, and with something of
sorrow they saw that the buffalo had already suffered severely, bleeding
from numerous great gashes torn by the grizzly's long talons, while one
bloody eye dangled below its socket, held only by a thread of sinew.
Nor had bruin escaped without hurt, as all could see when he floundered
out of the water, bent upon renewing the duel; but there was little room
left for doubting what the ultimate result would be were the animals
left to their own devices.
Like all bold, free-hearted lads, Waldo ever sympathised with the
weaker, and now, unable to hold his feelings in check, he gave a short
cry, levelling his Winchester and opening fire upon the grizzly, just as
it won fairly clear of the water.
Stung to fury by those pellets, the brute reared up with a horrid roar,
turning as though to charge this new enemy; but ere he could do more,
the professor's gun spoke, and as the dynamite shell exploded, bruin
fell back a writhing mass, his head literally smashed to pieces.
Heedless of all else, the wounded buffalo charged with lusty bellow,
goring that quivering mass with unabated fury, though its life was
clearly leaking out through those ghastly cuts and slashes.
A brief pause, then Professor Featherwit swiftly reloaded his gun,
sending another shell across the stream, this time more as a boon than
as punishment.
Smitten fairly in the forehead, the bull dropped as though beneath a
bolt of lightning, life going out without so much as a single struggle
or a single pang.
“Twas better thus,” declared the professor, as Waldo gave a little
ejaculation of dismay. “He must have bled to death in a short time, and
this was true mercy. Besides, buffalo meat is very good eating, and the
day may come when we shall need all we can get. Who knows?”
After the animals were inspected, and due comment made upon the awfully
sure work wrought by the dynamite gun, the professor suggested that,
while he was completing repairs upon the aeromotor, the brothers should
secure a supply of fish and of flesh, cooking sufficient to provide for
several meals, for there was no telling just when they would have an
equal chance.
“Just as soon as we can put all in readiness,” he continued, “I am going
to leave this spot. My first wish is to thoroughly test the aerostat,
to make certain it has received no serious injury. Then, if all promises
well, I mean to begin our tour of exploration, hoping that we may, at
least, find something well worthy the strange reputation given these
Olympics by the natives.”
Without raising any objections, the brothers fell to work, Bruno looking
after the flesh, while Waldo undertook to supply the fish. That was but
fair, since he had been cheated out of catching the first mess.
Not a little to his delight, the professor found that the flying-machine
would promptly answer his touch and will, rising easily off the ground,
then descending at call, evidently having passed through the ordeal of
the bygone evening without serious harm.
Still, all this consumed time, and it was after a late dinner that
everything was pronounced in readiness for an ascension: the meat and
fish nicely cooked and packed for carriage, a pot of strong coffee made
and stowed beyond risk of leakage, the flying-machine itself quivering
in that gentle breeze as though eager to find itself once more afloat
far above the earth and its obstructions to easy navigation.
Waldo expressed some grief at leaving a spot where game came in such
plentitude to find the hunter, and trout simply longed to be caught; but
upon being assured of other opportunities, perhaps even more delightful,
he sighed and gave consent to mount into space.
“Only--don't ask me to tackle any of those big dictionary fellows such
as you talked about this morning, uncle Phaeton, for I simply can't;
they'd get away with my baggage while I was trying to spell their names
and title--and all that!”
Without any difficulty the aeromotor was sent out of and above the
forest, heading towards the northwest; that is, direct for the heart of
the Olympics, of whose marvels Professor Featherwit held such exalted
hopes and expectations.
Grim and forbidding those mountains looked as the air-ship sailed
swiftly over them, opening up a wider view when the bare, rugged crest
was once left fairly to the rear. Save for those bald crowns, all below
appeared a solid carpet of tree-tops, now lower, there higher, yet ever
the same: seemingly impenetrable to man, should such an effort be made.
Once fairly within the charmed circle, leaving the rocky ridge behind,
Professor Featherwit slackened speed, permitting the ship to drift
onward at a moderate pace, one hand touching the steering-gear, while
its fellow held a pair of field-glasses to his eager eyes.
All at once he gave a half-stifled cry, partly rising in his excitement,
then crying aloud in thrilling tones:
“The sea,--an inland sea!”