SEEN FROM THE EAGLES' EYRIE
They were already spinning along at a lively clip, and rising too, at
the moment that shot sounded, and the leaden missile whizzed past so
close to them. Almost through sheer instinct Frank instantly shifted
his lever, and started the biplane upward on a slant that was the
limit, and approaching the danger line.
The two Bird boys turned and stared at each other. Wonder and
indignation seemed struggling for the mastery in their faces.
"Frank, he fired that shot at us!" exclaimed Andy.
"Seemed like it," returned the other. "At any rate, it came much too
close to suit my ideas of comfort. Made me think of those warm times
we had down in Columbia, when the revolutionists were after us."
"What a wicked shame!" went on the other fiercely. "And I guess the
silly fool thought he was doing something smart! That's a new danger
aviators will have to face--being shot at by every loon that carries a
gun, just like they might be some strange bird."
"Well, we're Birds, all right, but hardly strange ones," Frank
continued, with a frown on his face. "And we've been knocking around
this section of the country in our jolly little monoplane so long, that
I supposed every farmer's boy knew us and felt an interest in our work.
That makes me believe it could hardly have been done in a spirit of
what some people would call a joke."
"Good gracious! Frank, do you mean that the fellow really wanted to
hit us? Oh! that seems too terrible to believe!" cried Andy, aghast.
"Stop and think," Frank continued, steadily. "In the first place, what
would any one be doing, hunting in the middle of summer. Why, outside
of a short spell given over to woodcock, there isn't a thing the law
allows a sportsman to shoot up to Fall. And Andy, did you ever hear of
anybody shooting woodcock with a rifle?"
"Oh! Frank!"
"Well, am I right about that? It sounded like the report of a rifle to
me; and it was sure a bullet that whistled past us!" Frank pursued, in
his customary positive way.
"Yes, you're right about that. But who could be so horribly mean as to
want to injure us?" said Andy. "Why, even if that bullet had struck
our biplane in one of half a dozen places, it might have made us fall.
And Frank, that would be just criminal, you know."
"I suppose you noticed that puff of smoke below us?" Frank went on.
"It just happened that I was looking down, and I saw it burst out of a
thicket," came the answer.
"It was the same way with me," Frank continued. "I had just a glimpse
of some fellow throwing himself under the bushes but if you asked me I
couldn't say for certain whether it was a man or a boy."
"Just like he was afraid of being seen, and recognized; is that what
you mean?" asked Andy.
"It looked that way," Frank replied.
"Don't you see, Frank, he gave himself away in doing that? First, he
knew he was doing a dirty mean act; and second, he must have been
somebody we knew, or he wouldn't have been so afraid of being seen."
"That's so, Andy. Another thing, perhaps it may not have struck you
that once before you and I met with an adventure while almost over the
same spot."
Andy gave vent to an exclamation that told of excitement revived.
"You mean the time we sighted those two skulking jewelry thieves, the
fellows who had robbed Leffingwell's store, and were hiding until the
row quieted down?"
"Yes, Jules Garrone, and his pal," Frank went on.
"Jules was the one who had been an aviator over in France, and who
tried to steal our Bug, meaning to fly away, and leave no trail behind
for the hunting police. But Frank, you can't possibly believe Jules
was the fellow who fired that shot? It don't stand to reason; because
you know, he was sent to the penitentiary for ten years. Oh! no, I
guess we'll have to think up something else this time," and Andy shook
his head vigorously in the negative.
"Well, time may tell," Frank said, simply.
"Looky here, Frank, now there's no use denying it, I know you've got
some sort of idea about finding out who that rascal was," declared Andy.
"Well, perhaps there is some sort of hazy notion hovering around in my
brain, that I ought to learn more about him," the other smiled back.
"This thing of being made a target by any fool who happens to own a
rifle is something that ought to be stopped with a jerk. Yes, I do
expect to try and find out."
"And you won't tell me what's on your mind?" asked Andy.
"Not just now. It's too uncertain to speak of, yet. And perhaps,
after all, it was only some boy, who thought it would be smart to give
us a little shock; and who sent his bullet closer than he had meant to."
"You sure don't mean--Percy?" exclaimed Andy.
"Oh! no, I didn't have him in mind," laughed Frank.
"Not that he wouldn't be guilty of such meanness if the chance
came--you know that fellow isn't above anything!" declared Andy,
vigorously.
"Well, just at present I can imagine that Percy and his crony Sandy
Hollingshead, are using up every minute of their precious time
assembling the parts of their new aeroplane. Consequently, Andy,
neither of them would be apt to wander away up here, miles from
Bloomsbury, and carrying a rifle."
"Guess you're right," grumbled the other, as if loth to entirely give
up the idea that had flashed into his mind. "But it strikes me, Frank,
after this, when we're out for a spin, we ought to give that region of
the old charcoal burner's shack a wide berth. It spells trouble for
the Bird boys."
"Oh! I don't know; perhaps the trouble may later on be all in store
for the fellow who held that gun. But look up, Andy; we're getting
along toward the peak at a gay old pace. Say, what do you think of the
biplane now?"
"She's a peach, that's what!" burst out Andy, impulsively. "I thought
the little Bug was the whole thing, and then some; but honestly, Frank,
she wasn't in the same class as this new machine."
"And yet," Frank laughed, "remember that with her we beat Percy and his
biplane, manufactured by one of the best firms in the market. That
ought to be glory enough for the Bird boys. Now, get ready for your
part in the landing; because, you know the plateau isn't extra big on
Old Thunder Top."
"I see our old friends, the white-headed eagles soaring around. D'ye
think they'll tackle us again, like they did last year?" Andy asked.
"Oh! I hope that by now they've grown used to us, and consider that
we've got just as much right up here as they ever had. Besides, we
gave 'em an awful walloping you may remember. And this time we've been
smart enough to fetch along a couple of fine sticks to repeat the dose
if necessary. Careful now, Andy. Here goes for a snug drop on the
rock!"
Almost as lightly as a thistle-down the biplane alighted on the small
table rock that constituted the apex of grim Old Thunder Top. High
cliffs completely surrounding this summit had kept it from ever being
reached, up to the time Frank and his cousin landed there, in winning
the race for a silver cup; and planted the Stars and Stripes there for
the first time on record.
Since then the boys of Bloomsbury, not to be wholly outdone, had set to
work, and actually carved a set of rough steps, that were hardly more
than footholds, in the uneven rock; so that the most daring had been
able to climb up; and with the aid of a friendly rope carried along for
this purpose, get down again in safety. But in the annals of
Bloomsbury the Bird boys would be set down as the pioneers who led the
way to the peak.
Frank and his cousin were soon walking around the rocky plateau, using
their fieldglasses to observe the many things that lay stretched out in
every direction. It was well worth all the trouble it cost to enjoy
that magnificent view; for they could see for many miles in every
direction.
Andy more than once turned the glasses toward the quarter where they
had had their peculiar little adventure that morning. But of course he
saw no sign of the unknown party who had fired the shot. The dense
forest would naturally prevent their sighting him when miles away.
Half an hour they spent in this manner; and then Andy suggested that
they might just as well be starting for home.
"I notice that the wind is beginning to come up quite some," he
remarked. "And at such a height I rather guess it can blow for all
that's out, when it wants. Besides, we've got a number of little
things we had expected to attend to at the shop."
"All right," replied Frank, who was using the glasses at the time.
"I'll be ready to join you in a minute or so."
"You seem to be interested in taking in our practice field," remarked
his cousin. "See the boys; and are they watching us right now?"
"I was wondering what was going to happen," said Frank, taking the
glasses down.
"Happen--to us, do you mean?" Andy asked, instantly taking the alarm,
because he saw from Frank's manner that the other meant something by
his remark.
"Here, have a look, and then tell me if you recognize it."
Andy immediately accepted the glasses, and clapped them to his eyes.
He had no sooner done so than he gave vent to an exclamation.
"I know now what you meant, Frank," he remarked.
"Well, what do you make of it?" asked the other.
"The same car, beyond a doubt; and it's stopped in the road right in
front of the bars where we enter our field. Yes, and there's that
mysterious Mr. Marsh going into the field right now. Frank, he knows
we're away, for he must have seen us sailing around up here. And
that's why he's heading for our shop. Perhaps he believes it's
unguarded, and expects to get a chance to spy around. Now, what do you
think it all means? Oh! I wish we had started back long ago. What if
the boys fall to his dope, and let him see everything with those sharp
eyes of his? Frank, let's be going home!"