Jump
Terry turned to the doctor who had just come in. She tried to speak, but
words would not come.
The doctor approached with a smile of sympathy. "I guess this fellow was
born under a lucky star," he said. "He's pretty well shaken up, but
there is nothing serious that we can find. A few broken bones! The shock
of a fall like that is always bad. He'll be flying again in a few
months!"
Terry did not wait to ask questions. She flew to Syd and Prim to tell
them the good news.
Allan was alive! He would fly again!
Terry set out for South America two days later with a heart full of
gratitude that Allan was not seriously hurt. The morning after the
accident he was able to talk to her and while he looked worried to think
of the girls flying alone into the dangers of a strange country, he did
not try to keep them from going on.
Terry was getting nervous. The day set for taking up the option was
almost there. The work she set out to do must be done quickly.
From his bed in the hospital Allan watched the plane soaring away from
the field. It remained a tiny speck in the sky for a long time in that
clear air.
"I feel as if we should have stayed to look after Allan," said Prim
through the earphones. "Do you think Syd can do everything that's
needed?"
"Allan is in a good hospital," replied Terry. "He's well cared for and
there's nothing we can do right now. We'll get this job through as
quickly as we can and get back."
Following the airway down the coast, Terry had no difficulty in reaching
the town of Trujillo in the northern part of Peru, at which point she
was to turn inland to Majora, a settlement of adobe houses and stores,
the center of supply for a number of mines in the mountains.
Over an early breakfast at Trujillo, their spirits rose once more. The
trip inland was not far and they should reach the foothills in an hour.
"South America is different from what I expected," remarked Terry, as
she drank her breakfast coffee. "I thought that most of this country was
jungles and tropical vegetation. Did you see that strip of brown sand,
along the coast? It's like a desert."
"Which shows you didn't study your geography very well or you'd have
remembered that all along the coast, especially from here down, there's
a strip of desert, and in places it never has been known to rain,"
replied Prim. "I always remember that, for it was one place I never had
any desire to go. But here I am!"
"We'll just give it a good look and fly high! I don't like desert
country either. But we'll soon get to the foothills."
"Let's hurry, Terry! I'm anxious to get to the mine. I wonder what Peter
Langley and his wife will be like? I hope they won't turn out to be
friends of Joe Arnold." Prim picked up her belongings and hastened
toward the door of the restaurant.
A few moments brought them to the flying field, where their plane had
been refueled and stood ready for the take-off. There was no wind and
Terry taxied across the field to get plenty of speed for the rise. As
usual Prim had insisted on the parachutes. The harness always annoyed
Terry, but she did not make any objection. Anything that would make Prim
feel satisfied was worth doing.
The rising ground beneath them told that they were getting into the
foothills. They saw the jagged peaks far ahead. Terry was glad that she
would not have to cross the Andes on this trip. She had had enough
excitement for a while; that could wait for another flight.
Seeing a small settlement ahead, Terry recognized it by the description
given her of Majora. She flew straight toward the town, circled and came
down on a wide, smooth field. Although it was not intended as a flying
field, Terry had seen worse places to alight, and brought _Skybird_ to a
neat three-point landing.
But here the girls met disappointment. Ed Jenkins, an American
storekeeper in the settlement, told them that it would be impossible to
land a plane in the mountains near Peter Langley's mine.
"There isn't a square foot of level space anywhere in these hills. That
pair of fools who went up there in a plane this morning will meet sudden
death. They're bound to!" exclaimed Jenkins.
"Two men went up there in a plane this morning!" cried Terry excitedly.
"Who were they?"
"I can't say, Miss," replied Jenkins. "One had red hair and the other's
eyes were funny! A queer looking pair of crooks!" Ed Jenkins was
fumbling in his pocket. "Here's a message. I guess it must be for you.
The man with the squint said to give it to two girls in a plane. I
reckon that's you!"
Terry ripped open the envelope and read these words scrawled on a scrap
of paper: "He laughs best who laughs last!"
"Come on. Prim, let's go!" Terry's face flushed, then set in
determination. "That's a challenge! If Joe Arnold thinks I'm through,
he's mistaken!"
But Ed Jenkins was pointing to the mountain, where a few stone huts were
visible. "That's Peter Langley's mine up there! You can see for yourself
there's no place to land among those peaks!"
But Terry had already started the engine. The propeller was spinning.
And with a wave of her hand to the storekeeper, she sent her plane
across the field and into the air. Circling for altitude, she pointed
straight toward Peter Langley's mine.
"I believe that man is right," said Prim a few minutes later, as the
hills became more rugged and menacing with their sharp peaks.
Terry flew slowly over the hills, watching for a spot to put her plane
down. If Joe Arnold and Bud Hyslop could find a place, surely she could.
She brought her plane as low as she dared above the mountains but there
was no sign of level ground, and soon she saw little figures running
about and waving at her excitedly.
"They're warning us not to try a landing," Prim called to her sister.
"i'm afraid it's no use."
"Then I'll have to use the parachute! Come over here and take the
controls. I'll have to jump," cried Terry.
"Don't, Terry. It's a terrible chance to take!" pleaded Prim.
"Nonsense! I've made lots of parachute jumps!" Terry snapped
impatiently. "Don't waste time! We have less than ten minutes to get
there. Peter Langley can't close a deal with Joe Arnold until twelve
o'clock. Our contract holds until then."
Prim's face was white as she climbed into the pilot's seat, protesting
nervously. "Don't jump, Terry! Don't take such a big chance!"
But Terry was studying the ground below her and she answered, "I'll jump
when we are directly over the mine. You take the plane down to Jenkins'
store and wait for me there. I'll be down after a while. Bye!"
Then at sight of Prim's tragic face, she laughed and began crawling out
on the wing. Terry watched the ground beneath her, then with a catch in
her breath, stepped out into space.
No matter how many times Terry jumped, she never could get used to that
long drop. Her mind was clear, every sense alert to what she had to do.
In a few seconds she pulled the rip cord but there was no response from
the parachute.
Had something gone wrong? Terry was falling with terrific speed toward
those jagged rocks. "This is the end," she thought. But suddenly she
came up with a tremendous jerk as the parachute opened above her head
and she began sailing gently downward. Working with the shrouds, the
girl steered the parachute toward a safe landing.
At the sight of a figure hurtling through the air, Mary Langley had
screamed, "Oh Peter, Peter! A man has fallen from the plane! Help!
Help!"
Horror-struck, Peter Langley watched the falling figure, then gave a
lusty cheer as the white parachute opened, the little figure in the sky
was righted and came sailing down gracefully.
"I was hoping she'd break her neck!" muttered Joe to Bud Hyslop. "Just
as I was getting the did man interested, she had to spoil everything!
But I'm not through! He's got to take my word against hers!"
"Sure!" answered Bud. "Terry Mapes is no good at a business deal. She'll
not convince Peter Langley!"
While Bud and Joe looked on sullenly, Terry landed on the mountain at
some distance from the astonished old couple, who hurried along the
trail to reach her.
"He's a brave man whoever he is," said Mary Langley. "Jumping from the
sky like that! It scares me to think of it!"
"I wonder why he's coming here?" asked Peter Langley.
Terry was just picking herself up and rubbing a bruise on her arm, as
the old couple scrambled up the rocky ledge.
"Bless me, if it isn't a girl, and a pretty one! Did you _have_ to jump
out of that plane?"
"Yes," replied Terry with a laugh. "I _had_ to jump! I had to get here
before twelve o'clock and that was the only way I could do it. I'm Terry
Mapes and I've come to take up the option on the flying field."
Peter Langley stared at the girl in astonishment. "You did that? You
brave, brave girl!"
Mary Langley was brushing Terry off and helping her to get out of her
parachute harness. "Come along to the house," she said. "I'll make you a
cup of good strong coffee to brace you up, though goodness knows it
would take more than that to bring me to, if I'd jumped from a plane!
What are girls coming to! When I was young I'd never have dreamed that
girls could do a thing like that!"
"Times are different!" agreed Peter with a shake of his tousled white
head. "And you made it without an accident, which is more than my other
two visitors did."
"Were they hurt?" asked Terry.
"Not much! They landed their plane somewhere down the slope and broke
the propeller. Joe Arnold has a sprained ankle and a bruised shoulder,"
replied Peter. "He isn't feeling very good."
Terry looked at the old man anxiously. "You haven't signed any papers,
have you, Mr. Langley?" She looked at her watch. "It's just one minute
before twelve. I still have time to take up that option. Here's your
check!"
Peter shouted with laughter. "What a girl!" he exclaimed. "No, I haven't
signed any of his papers!"
"And what's more you _won't_ sign any of them!" Mary Langley cried. "I
don't like the looks of those two men!"
"No more do I!" agreed Peter.
As they reached the ledge of rock where their cabin stood, Peter was
confronted by Bud Hyslop. "Don't have anything to do with that girl!" he
stormed. "She's been in more crooked deals than you can count. You'll be
making a great mistake."
Peter gave a quiet laugh that was more provoking than if he had stormed
at the men and accused them of fraud. He turned to Terry. "Come right
in, Miss Terry," he said with a deep old-fashioned bow, "I'll just sign
that paper and close the deal!"
Joe Arnold bit his lips in rage. His face was deathly white. Terry had
never seen the man so angry before. Joe had staked everything on this
trip to get the flying field, and he had lost. Even his plane was a
wreck and he was miles from a railroad.
Joe Arnold's brain was working hard on a new plot. How could he get
_Skybird_? And how could he get those stolen papers back? Perhaps they
were still in the plane, maybe the girls had overlooked them! But that
was not likely. Terry and Prim were too clever to miss a chance like
that!
Joe studied the sky. Far down in the valley he could see the plane, with
Prim at the controls, just making the landing by the store. Terry noted
the look of hatred and villainous hope and her eyes followed his.
Suddenly she understood. Already Joe was talking to Bud. They were
preparing to leave.
"Stop them, somehow!" said Terry to Peter Langley. "He's going to try to
reach Majora and get our plane. My sister Prim is down there! Don't let
them go!"
Peter stood in the path in front of Joe Arnold. "You have a few things
to clear up before you leave, Mr. Arnold," said the old man. "I'll not
let you go until you explain some of the stories you've told me about
Dick Mapes and his family."
"Get back!" shouted Joe Arnold furiously. "Out of my way!" His voice
cracked in rage. Suddenly his fist shot out. Bud landed a second blow
and Peter Langley reeled and staggered back, shouting for help.
There was a sound of running feet and the next moment a gang of miners
rushed at the two men and tied their hands. After their struggles had
quieted the pair were thrown into a corner and ordered to behave or take
the consequences.
Terry looked anxiously toward the valley where she could see a small
figure on horseback. It looked like Prim coming to her rescue.
"What shall we do with these crooks?" asked Peter Langley.
"Lock them up until Prim and I have time to get away," Terry begged.
At Langley's command, the miners dragged the two rascals to a stone
shed. The heavy door had a strong lock.
"There they'll stay until I'm sure you girls are safely home," said
Langley. "I've a notion to have them jailed!"
When Prim arrived in camp she was greeted as if she belonged to the
family. She and Mary Langley were soon like old friends. They had many
interests in common. And while Prim was being shown over the house,
Terry and Peter Langley were exchanging stories of their adventures.
"Wait till I show you this!" said Peter going to a shelf in the corner.
"Here's a map I made on one of my trips. I went through the Land of the
Incas with a native guide. We were looking for a lost temple. It is said
that there's a sacred emerald in the altar. Now the temple is lost, no
one knows where it is. If I were young and had an airplane, I'd go and
find that temple. Besides there's treasure there."
"I'd like to find it myself," said Terry eagerly.
"Why don't you? It's a wonderful country down there. You'd see new
sights and have new adventures and maybe you'd find the treasure."
Terry's eyes were dreamy as she studied the map. "Would you be game to
go with me?" asked the girl. "This map is like a challenge. I'm going to
do it!"
"Going to do what?" asked Prim.
"First I'm going to Panama and after that we'll go on a treasure hunt in
the Land of the Incas."
Mrs. Langley laughed. "Peter has been showing her his map! I do believe
he'd start out himself to find that treasure, if I'd let him."
"Maybe I will," replied Peter. "Terry says she'll take me along. And
I'll trust myself to her any time. After seeing her jump from a plane I
know she'll get what she goes for, so I've given her my map."
Terry rose to go. "We've got to get started! I wish I had more time to
look around, but some day I'm coming back."
Mrs. Langley threw both arms around the girl. "Promise me that you will.
And next time don't be in such a hurry to arrive. Come up the mountain
on horseback. I was scared to death, almost, when I saw you falling."
Peter saddled his own horse for Terry with instructions to leave it with
Ed Jenkins, who would see that it got back. The girls waved at the old
couple as long as they could see them and when they reached the store in
Majora, Prim ran to the plane and got the binoculars. Looking back to
the mine she saw the two old figures still standing on the rocky ledge
and waving their hands.
As they took off. Prim suggested that Terry fly once more over the
mountain, but Terry shook her head.
"Not this time, Prim. We must get back to Panama. But if Allan is all
right and doesn't need us, I would like to take that trip to Peru on a
treasure hunt," replied Terry.
From Trujillo, where they stopped for fuel, she sent a cable to her
father and also one to Allan and Syd, who would be anxiously awaiting
word.
Then as they headed up the Pacific it seemed to Terry that _Skybird_
knew that she was facing homeward, the engine hummed and the country
unrolled beneath them, like a great moving picture.
They found Allan recovering rapidly, although it would be many weeks
before he could be moved. Terry and Prim were making their plans for the
trip to Peru.
But Allan seemed troubled, and after much questioning Terry learned the
cause of his worry. Some one was needed to follow up on that business
deal. Dick could not attend to it all from his wheelchair and the other
men about the field were not dependable.
"So you want me to go back?" asked Terry. "Is that it?"
"No, I don't _want_ you to go back! I _want_ you here!" replied the boy.
Terry was quiet for a long time, she was thinking hard. Again she stood
where duty called. She had to choose between her own pleasure and her
duty to those she loved. There was a fierce struggle in the girl's soul.
Why did she always have to give up her own desires?
Suddenly she rose and held out her hand to Allan. "I'm starting home in
the morning," she said simply.
Allan looked troubled. "But Terry, your trip to the Land of the Incas!
Your hunt for treasure!"
"Oh, that's nothing. That can wait!" she said with a laugh.
Even Allan did not realize how great had been that inward fight. Terry
wanted to get away from all the problems of the flying field, the
conflict and jealousy of Joe Arnold and Bud Hyslop. She wanted a month
of freedom, just flying around and enjoying herself without any thought
of duty or business details. She wanted to fly for her own pleasure.
The next morning she was on her way north. She circled her plane high up
into the clear air. Ten thousand feet above the earth she could forget
the problems of life. She could dream undisturbed for Prim always knew
when to keep quiet.
But little did Terry dream that in the Land of the Incas, the Girl
Flyers would endure many hardships, face grave dangers and many times
would escape with their lives only by a hair's breadth.
THE END