Airplane Boys in the Black Woods

  CHAPTER VI.

  AN OLD ENEMY APPEARS

  His Flying Buddy's announcement that he saw some one stealing about theancient ruin was made in such a startled tone, that Austin, for a momentwas deeply mystified. They had been through such a ghastly experiencethat their minds were not functioning normally, and both of them wereinstantly on the alert for additional danger. For a minute the threestood still, Mills indifferently, but the boys alert and watchful, thensuddenly Jim began to think more rationally and he drew a deep breath ofrelief.

  "It's probably some one looking for us," he declared. "Let's go alongand catch up with him." But Bob caught his sleeve.

  "Put on the curb, Old Timer, it isn't anyone looking for us," heinsisted. "Come on, let's lean against the wall as if we are resting andsee what we can see. Keep your gun where it will do the most good in theshortest time." He stepped leisurely across to the section of wall, andleaned back wearily, while his step-brother also assumed an attitude offatigue, because he wanted to get more information, not because he wasconvinced that whoever was about was not a friend.

  "What did he look like?"

  "Couldn't tell much. He's wearing a grey suit, or a dirty white one, anda dark straw hat. I saw him the first time when we crossed the Square.He was up among those trees and I thought it was some kind of wildanimal, then I saw him again when we were coming up the stairs from thelower terrace. My first idea was that it was a friend, I was going toshout, but he dodged back out of sight. When I saw him this last time,he was peeking from behind those stones as if he was watching to seewhich way we are headed. I do not believe he knows I saw him," Bob saidso softly that Jim barely caught the words.

  "Gosh--sure it isn't a native--you know they do hang around these ruinsand it may be that he is put here to look out for the temple."

  "It isn't a native. The ones who are not in the towns are all strong andstraight looking and they don't wear white men's clothing," replied Bob.They remained as they were carefully considering their next step, and asthey stood thinking, their eyes rested on Mills who was crouching at theend of the rope very much like a monkey on a string.

  "He's surely off his bean," Jim remarked, and Bob nodded his head.

  "Suppose we saunter around, and get as high on this ruin as we can so wecan see as far as possible. That's the most important thing we have todo," he said.

  "Yes. Instead of taking the side we have been following, let's go to theleft. If the snooper is really spying on us we can tell quickly enough.If he isn't, he'll go about his business," Jim proposed.

  "That's good sense. If we find out he's all right, of course we mightget some information about getting out of these woods."

  "Yes, and when we get way up we'd bet-[Transcriber's note: missing textat this point in several copies of the original book.]

  "We'll have to do it Indian fashion; by rubbing sticks, then we candirect a column that will rise high and show airmen, who are sure to belooking for us, where we are located."

  "That's our best bet. Knocks the spots off roaming about the forest in acircle, besides I expect they are so thick in these parts that even asignal fire would not help us. Come along, Mills. Gee, I feel like ablooming organ grinder. Keep eyes ahead and behind."

  "Atta boy. Don't give up the ship."

  The pair started single file with Mills going with them either on allfours or with his legs doubled and his hands fumbling about his mouth.His imbecility was uncanny and the boys would have liked nothing betterthan to be rid of him, but neither of them thought of deserting thehelpless man even though his presence added to their danger and thedifficulties they must face. Leisurely they proceeded across the terraceopposite the direction they had first taken, and although they appearedto pay little attention to the great structure they were traveling,their eyes and ears were alert. They reached the stairway, which washigher and narrower than the lower ones, but as they neared the top, itcurved wide and brought them to an enormous circular platform. Here theypaused and stood taking in the strange, wild scene.

  Behind the boys were two more terraces which appeared larger than thosethey had ascended, while in front of them stretched the ruins of theonce flourishing city which had been built with amazing skill in theshadow of the Temple. Here and there giant stones remained standingdefiantly in spite of centuries of storms, winds and rains; and in spiteof destructive hands which had sought to tear them from theirfoundations. A slight breeze was blowing. Just enough to make the cactuscreak and crackle; dead grasses rustled softly, slender trees swayedslightly, the leaves of the stronger ones waved like beckoning hands asif they would recall the lost wonders of the past.

  "I hear that tapping again," Jim whispered. They listened for a momentand then Caldwell also heard the sound.

  "It might be a woodpecker," he remarked.

  "We might believe that if our snooping friend had not shown himself,"said Jim. "Seems to be on the further side. Let's try to work around onthe further side, but first we best get higher and build that fire.Wonder if there is any wood up there."

  "Reckon there must be. This sure is the sort of place that makes onefeel creepy; the place and Mills together are enough to give a fellowthe heaves. Seems to me I smell something to eat--" They sniffed the airand as the breeze was coming toward them they made out the fragrance ofbacon being toasted.

  "Guess our friend is going to eat--" Just then Mills tugged on the rope,he raised himself to his full height, his nostrils expanding as hebreathed deeply.

  "He must be empty as a drum. Wonder if it would be safe to feed him oneof those pellets--I--" But the sentence was not finished. With a wildleap, Mills broke away, tore furiously up the nearest stairway anddisappeared at an astonishing rate of speed over the higher terrace.

  "We must go after him, but keep your gun handy."

  The Sky Buddies ran as fast as their legs could carry them, but theyboth knew that Mills was setting a much swifter pace. When they reachedthe next terrace they caught a glimpse of the top of his head as hedescended in unhuman bounds, and without a word, the pals ran after him.Across the terrace they found, instead of stairs, that the madman hadgone by way of a rugged trail, partly overgrown with brush. As theyleaped after him, in sections they had to hang on to the tough shrubs,but as far as they could see, Mills rushed on without assistance andcompletely ignoring the fact that a false step would send him tumblingon the giant rocks below.

  "Watch out," Jim warned as he suddenly realized they would have to rounda bend close to the wall. Cautiously they proceeded, and in a momentthey were on a small artificially built ledge which looked as if itmight have been meant for some sort of observation post, for from itsheight was a wide open stretch over the city, and when the woods beyondwere less dense, a guard might have been able to see for miles. Here theboys had to stop for they could get no further, but Mills was nowhere insight.

  "Great guns, he must have been going so fast he went right over," Bobgasped, but Jim lay flat, wriggled to the edge and looked down. "Is hedead?"

  "No." Austin moved back and whispered. "He's all right, but it's awonder he isn't smashed to a pulp. Reckon he had a sort of bump for he'sleaning against the wall."

  "See anyone else?"

  "No. Keep quiet."

  Bob joined his step-brother and presently the boys were staring down atthe man who had escaped from them. He appeared a bit dazed, thensuddenly he started up vigorously and proceeded along the narrow waytoward a row of high stones which looked as if they might once have beena part of the great wall, but now they were standing irregularly severalinches apart. At first the boys could see no one else, then close to thefar edge of the terrace they made out a tiny wreath of smoke as if someone had built a small fire.

  "That's where the smell of cooking comes from," Bob whispered.

  "I suppose the thought of food is what started Mills off likemad--gee--wonder where--oh there he is." Another white man steppedunsuspectingly from between the rocks,
stood an instant as if expectinga companion, then he scooped something from the fire and prepared toeat.

  "Can't wait for his company," Bob grinned. "If we hadn't eaten thosepellets we'd know exactly how empty Mills must be."

  "Yes, and I was just thinking of feeding him one. We'd better not watchhere too closely, we don't want to be taken by surprise from above orbehind."

  "You bet," Bob agreed.

  "That chap is wearing some sort of dark suit, Buddy."

  "I see, so there must be two here. This can't be the one who waswatching us," answered Bob.

  "Which means that the other fellow knows, or will know in a few minutesjust where we have taken ourselves. You see what's going on down thereand I'll be ready to stem any rear attack," proposed Jim.

  "That's O.K. with me, but don't go off anywhere, we don't want to getseparated, not an inch," Bob insisted.

  "I won't," Jim promised. He placed himself so that he could see thesection which curved and not forgetting to watch above, he stood guardwhile Bob stretched out again. Austin rather expected they woulddiscover this was some friendly woodsman or hunter who would show themhow to get through the forest or to their plane, but in Bob's mind therewasn't a doubt as to the attitude of the persons occupying the ancienttemple ruin.

  Now the young fellow determined to see what was happening on the edge ofthe terrace and be thoroughly convinced of the kindliness of thestranger before he made any advance. The man he saw appeared to beconsuming sandwiches and baked potatoes and as he devoured them hewalked up and down as if anxious to finish. Twice he went beyond theboy's range of vision and came back stamping his feet angrily. Caldwellwas so interested in watching the stranger that he nearly forgot Mills,but presently he saw that worthy crouched and moving stealthily forward,dodging from stone or shrub toward the fire.

  "Poor fellow, he must be terribly hungry. Perhaps when he gets somethingto eat and drink he'll get over his craziness," was Bob's mentalcomment. He felt sorry for Mills, but there was something so menacing inthat slinking figure that he was almost tempted to shout a warning tothe stranger. However, when he thought of it soberly, Mills was weakenedby the hour's experience, the long steady tramp without food he reasonedwould not make him a very dangerous antagonist. He wanted something toeat and the boy could not imagine anyone refusing to give him food.

  "Anything interesting?" Jim whispered.

  "No. See the other chap?" Bob asked.

  "Not yet."

  Their tasks were resumed and by that time Caldwell saw the strangerwalking away from his fire. He seemed to have appeased his own appetite,but he did not put out the blaze, merely piled coals over it, left somesort of cooking utensil near by, then started briskly toward the greatstones which were all that remained of that section of the edifice. Hisjaws were working vigorously and in his hand was a hunk of bread andmeat which he doubtless determined to consume as he went. The boywondered what he was doing in the locality, then suddenly he thoughtthere was something familiar about that striding figure. He stared aninstant longer as the man drew closer, then he gave a soft whistle.

  "What is it?" Jim whispered. Bob sat up, or rather wriggled back.

  "Take a good look at that lad," he said, "I'll watch here." Theyexchanged places, and Jim scowled when his eyes rested on the hurryingman. "Ever see him before?"

  "Surely," Jim answered excitedly.

  "The thoughtful lad who carted the gas to the plane when we were on theIsland coming down with your dad?"

  "I'll say so," Jim answered. He distinctly remembered the day in Montegowhen he had gone to the little town to purchase extra gas. A group ofchildren had been tormenting a hunch-back but had been stopped in themidst of their sport by a military-looking chap who had vanquished themin short order by the effective use of his cane. Later, the seeminglykindly man had volunteered to cart the heavy cans in his automobile towhere the plane was roosting. He was most cordial and obliging, but theFlying Buddies later discovered that he had secretly brought not onlythe gas but the powerful dwarf, who stowed away in the "Lark" when hegot a chance. Hours later, when they were over the Caribbean Sea, heattacked them viciously. Jim had been the one who fought and finallysent the rascal off the "Lark" but it had been one experience heexpected he should never forget, and now he was staring at the man whohad made such a villainous attempt to prevent Mr. Austin from reachingCuzco. The recollection made him shudder and he wondered how the fellowhappened to be in this particular section of the globe.

  "He won't be a friend of ours," Jim said softly.

  "Reckon he lost a bunch of money by not getting his little schemethrough, so, if he should happen to discover us we're out of luck."

  "And how!"

  "Reckon we'd better leave Mills and get away from here as fast and asfar as we can. Shouldn't like to run into that lad--he'd be mighty uglyand we'd have no choice but to use the guns and not miss." They bothglanced over again, and then caught their breaths sharply.

  The man from Montego had stopped in his tracks, while Mills, suddenlyappeared in front of him. The insane fellow's hand shot out, he grabbedthe food, stuffed it into his mouth ravenously, but instead of realizinghow desperately hungry he was, the Montegoean furiously resented losinghis meal and landed a resounding punch on Mills' head. While he used onehand for the food, Mills grabbed the other by the front of his shirt,backed him as easily as if he had been a small boy, toward his own fire.Twice he planted kicks in the other's legs, and his powerful hand wastwisting the cloth tightly about his throat. Desperately the fellowtried to free himself, kicked and struck with his hands, then suddenlyhe filled the air with shrill shrieks of terror, but these were promptlychoked off and he was backed more swiftly. In an incredibly short spaceof time they were both at the edge of the cliff, then Mills raised hisvictim, shook him as if he were a rat, then with a powerful punch,hurled him out into space.

  Something went flying over the Buddies' heads and they glanced up intime to see a small figure rushing down among the rocks. He did notappear to notice the boys, but raced recklessly over the steep incline,leaped down the wall, and leaped like a mad animal across the terrace.The commotion he made seemed to pass unobserved by Mills, who was calmlyraking the fire and helping himself to the food which had been left.

  "Great Scott, that's the dwarf," Bob exclaimed, and sure enough thetwisted figure was even more unmistakable that his master.

  The dwarf leaped at Mills, who rose just as the rush was made, but hisfeet were planted firmly, well apart. He did not permit his meal to beinterrupted by the attack, but caught the little man much as he had thebigger one. However, instead of hurling him over the cliff, he spreadhim out face down on the ground and proceeded to sit on him. The dwarfstruggled, kicked, bit and screamed but his efforts were futile.

  "I've read that an insane man has the strength of half a dozensometimes," Jim said softly.

  "Looks as if it's true," Bob answered.

  "One thing is certain, we have to thank Mills for bringing our boyfriend out of his hole. He must have been stalking along behind us andif it hadn't been for the fight and the yells, he'd have landed on us.That's the way I figure."

  They sat quietly and had it not been for the seriousness of thesituation and their own difficulty they would have indulged in a goodlaugh. The squirming, kicking dwarf, the undisturbed Mills pinning himto the ground while he ate a hearty meal. Finally he was satisfied, thenhe lifted himself, one hand clutching his victim while the other fumbledabout the wriggling body. Presently he produced a cigarette and heresumed his former position while he enjoyed the smoke. He appearedrational enough and the boys were wondering whether they would be wiseto go and speak to him.

  "Reckon we'd better let him alone," Bob announced quite as if they hadbeen discussing the matter.

  "Gee, look!" Jim exclaimed. They saw a tall Indian striding across theterrace and presently he stood in front of Mills, who glanced up, thencringed in terror. It made the Flying Buddies think of the hour when theband had been marching with thei
r treasure and the last man had pausedto look at the bandit.

  Now he touched the chap on the shoulder and the two got to their feet.Then he beckoned them to follow, which they did as if they dared notdisobey. The three hurried across the terrace to the great stones, andthen the boys saw the man point to the bottom of one of them. The dwarfstooped, twisted and pulled something heavy out. As nearly as they couldsee it was a sort of ancient strong box with a heavy cover. Millsdragged it eagerly several feet away, and then Bob clutched Jim's arm.

  "That stone, look at it," he gasped. "Look out," he shouted. But it wastoo late. The huge stone which had been undermined groaned, tipped, thendropped forward with a mighty crash, pinning the dwarf under its tons ofweight.