BUILDING THE AIRSHIP
Fortunately the waterbottles had been well saddled on the burro, and it
carried them safely to the top of the mountain, in spite of its wild
flight from the lion. Everything now being ready, the troop of Scouts
returned to where the luncheon had been spread and sat around and ate.
Of course the lion was the chief subject of conversation at the dinner.
Mr. and Mrs. Turman both declared they were surprised at its appearance,
as they had not heard of any of its kind in that part of the country for
several years. Naturally, too, the statement of Mrs. Turman that she had
seen a moving object that might have been a man on top of Flathead
directed some interest toward that mountain.
"It seemed to be walking erect like a man," she said in reply to further
questions; "but it might 'ave been the painter. I couldn't make sure
what it was. I wish I'd had a pair of glasses like some of you boys
have."
"I've heard it said that there's some cliff-dwellers' houses over on
that mountain," volunteered Uncle Sam. "I don't know where the story
came from, for there's nobody around here now that's ever been up there.
I don't see how anybody could climb that mountain."
"Let's examine it with our glasses," suggested Byron, who had a pair
slung over his shoulder.
Half a dozen binoculars were quickly unslung, and the holders were soon
searching the singular upheaval of stones and earth more than a mile to
the east.
"I see something that looks like some houses right in the side of the
mountain," announced Byron.
"Oh, yes, there are some cliff houses," replied Mr. Turman. "There's a
big hollow place right in the side of the mountain about thirty feet up.
There's a regular cliff there, and you can see where pieces of wood were
driven in to make a ladder to climb up."
"Is that so?" Dr. Byrd exclaimed in surprise. "I never knew that."
"Yes; there's no road or trail along that side of the mountain and
hardly anybody ever goes near it."
"Well! This is a surprise to me," declared the doctor. "I thought I knew
this country pretty thoroughly, but it seems that a very important
feature has escaped me."
Mr. Frankland and Mr. Porter knew just as little, and the faculty of the
school at once decided that a trip of investigation should be made in
the near future.
A search of the plateau, or mesa, on Flathead, with the aid of the
glasses, produced little result of special interest. The doctor
expressed considerable surprise on finding it so large. There was a
patch of timber on the farther half, while the nearer half was made up
of several hills and ravines and a few rocky elevations and bluffs.
"I'd give a good deal to get up there and examine that mesa," said Dr.
Byrd. "We might find something interesting. There's a glittering spot
near the middle that looks as if it might be water shining in the
sunlight."
"I know how we can get up there," Hal announced with sudden eagerness.
Everybody turned toward him.
"How?" asked Pickles.
"In Mr. Miles' airship when it's finished."
"That's a brilliant idea," laughed the doctor. "Well, Hal, if anybody
besides Mr. Miles himself makes that trip, you ought to be allowed to."
"Can I?" Kenyon asked eagerly.
"No, of course not. I was only joking. Really, I'd like to see you all
make the trip, but you know it's out of the question."
Three hours were spent by the Scout company on the top of the mountain.
They visited the shafts that had been sunk by the aged miner and heard
him tell of how wealthy he might have become had it not been for people
who schemed against him. They traveled over every foot of the wooded
peak, making note of curious formations and conditions and gaining much
information.
Then they set out on their return, making the descent a little to the
west of their ascent. During all their stay on the mountain and their
return to Lakefarm they kept a keen lookout for the panther, but saw
nothing of it.
"When Mr. Miles gets well and his new airship is finished, maybe he'll
hunt the mountain lion like an eagle," suggested Hal to several of the
boys on the way down.
"My! wouldn't it be great if we could go with him," said Lee Huff with
explosive enthusiasm.
"If they don't chain me to the earth, I don't see how I'll keep from
running off with the airship," said Frank Bowler.
"Yes, you'd do wonders, you would," Pickles sniffed.
"He'd likely turn acrobat and tumble into the cañon," Hal suggested.
"Then he'd he stuck up on Flathead for another mummy," chuckled
Ferdinand.
"Aw! close your face or I'll clip you one," Frank snapped, a little
provoked. He was forgetting his voluntary promise not to make any more
such rash threats. If Dr. Byrd had heard this threat, doubtless Bad
would have been reminded of his resolution.
They arrived at the school without further incident, and next day the
aviator listened to a chorus of stories of their experiences on the
mountain.
When the suggestion was repeated that he hunt the mountain lion in his
new airship as soon as it was finished, Mr. Miles replied:
"That's a good idea and I promise you I'll follow it."
But the sportsmen of the town were not content to sit idly by and wait
for an injured stranger to recover, build an aeroplane, and carry off
such rare game, together with all honors. No sooner did they hear of the
presence of a puma in the neighborhood than hunting parties began to
form and to scour the mountains in search of the big cat.
Several days went by but the results were uniformly unsatisfactory, for
no trace of the puma was discovered. The boys of the school desired to
take part in the search, but Dr. Byrd would not grant permission. He did
not regard it safe for so many boys to be at large in the mountains with
guns, and no guns were kept at the school. They would have been glad to
take part in the hunt with clubs and bows and arrows, for they were
skilled in the use of the latter, but the doctor did not take kindly to
this suggestion either.
Meanwhile the parts of the new airship arrived at the school. They were
carefully crated and were conveyed over the government road from the
nearest railroad station in two wagons. It was a day of much excitement
when they arrived, interest in the mountain lion being almost entirely
eclipsed.
Then the work of putting together the parts of the novel aeroplane
began. Perhaps forty-four boys never before worked so industriously.
There was little use of expecting them to do much of anything else
during the period and consequently Dr. Byrd wisely suspended temporarily
the ordinary routine of the school. The institution was transformed into
an airship factory for several days, the work progressing slowly in
order that a thorough study of aviation might be made along with the
mechanical construction.
Finally the task was completed, and a temporary hangar was put up at one
corner of the campus. In fact this structure was the last, or finishing
shop of the factory, for it was here that the final preparations for
flying were made.
Mr. Miles was able to walk with the leg that had been broken, but he
still used a crutch, and did little but superintend the job. One morning
the new air vessel was wheeled out of the hangar and onto the campus,
and as the forty-four Boy Scouts circled around and gazed upon the
result of their work, a ringing cheer of triumph awoke the echoes of the
distant hills.
"Fly, Mr. Miles, fly!" yelled one youthful enthusiast.
"Not yet," replied the convalescent aviator. "Wait until these bones
mend good and solid, and then I'll soar around those mountains like an
eagle. I'll explore Flathead and I'll find the mountain lion too, if he
hasn't left this part of the country."