Part 11

“What did you do to their guns?” Jim demanded softly.

“That is something I have not learned yet, Jim Scout, but when you are in the laboratory again, ask my esteemed father. You have been having some troublesome adventures,” he added so softly that Carlos could not overhear. “You may introduce us to your companion as friends from Vermont.”

“All right.” It was done in a moment, and Carlos thought the “tourists” had merely happened along at a timely moment, heard his yells and hastened to their assistance. He thanked them with great politeness, and urged them to pay a visit to his home. It did not occur to him to inquire how they got there and they made no attempt to enlighten him.

“Gee, I wish we were staying on while you are here,” Bob said cordially. “But we probably have to start Dad home day after tomorrow.”

“We are leaving, tonight,” Corso told them. Just then they heard an angry snarl, turned quickly in time to see the small man lower himself over the edge of the cliff and disappear from sight. The other chap had not moved, and now Corso went to him but there was nothing he could do.

“I saw that fellow drop this,” Jim picked up the piece of paper. It was the same sort that he had found in the old room dug from the root cellar at the Gordon’s ranch, and he whistled as he examined the piece. There were a number of dim lines, like some old-time diagram, and only a part of one word--“an” was left. Quietly the boy handed it to Corso. The man looked at it, then smiled.

“This is the part he should not have lost,” he announced as he tucked it into his pocket. “Thank you.”

“Think he’ll get down?” Bob asked.

“He may and we will do nothing to injure him while he is trying,” Corso told them.

“We should throw a rock down on him,” Carlos declared hotly. “I wonder who the fellow is.”

“I believe that he is the last of a gang which was apprehended in Texas a few months ago. At that time he escaped--”

“Well, he’ll dash his brains out going down that cliff without a rope,” Carlos declared. “I know what it means to get to the bottom.”

“Expect we better spread our little wings and fly, my brother,” Bob proposed.

“We’ve lingered here quite a while,” Jim agreed. “Hope we meet you again, Yncicea and you too, Corso.”

“It will be a pleasure.” The Flying Buddies were anxious to get away before Carlos became too inquisitive about their touring friends, so the three hurried along the wild-S and finally reached the “Lark.” They piled into the cock-pits, waved to the two who were still standing by the ancient rocks of Amy-Ran, then the motor roared, the plane lifted, circled, leveled out, and started back to the plantation.

“Is it what you would call the completion of a--”

“The end of a perfect day,” Bob laughed gayly, then added, “Only it isn’t the end, it’s only the middle.” Soon the outlines of Cuzco began to roll toward them, and selecting the broad drive of the De Castro plantation, the Sky Buddy began to bring the “Lark” down. He gave a happy sigh as she touched the ground, then, his eyes turned toward the north.

“It’ll be great to get home,” he said to Jim, who had leaped out of the rear cock-pit and was standing under the shelter of the broad wing.

“You bet,” Austin nodded.

THE END

Transcriber’s Note:

Spelling and variations in hyphenation have been retained as they appear in the original publication. Punctuation has been standardised. Changes have been made as follows:

Page 14 forward to joining His Flying Buddy _changed to_ forward to joining his Flying Buddy

Page 30 demise of her Highness were sad ones _changed to_ demise of Her Highness were sad ones

Page 44 no entrance er exit _changed to_ no entrance or exit

Page 56 put in quckly _changed to_ put in quickly

Page 59 partiton of wide planks _changed to_ partition of wide planks

Page 70 Coudn’t you get _changed to_ Couldn’t you get

Page 88 “Yet, sir,” Carl agreed _changed to_ “Yes, sir,” Carl agreed

Page 103 note the late arrvals _changed to_ note the late arrivals

Page 108 move whch he knew _changed to_ move which he knew

Page 116 they found is was equipped _changed to_ they found it was equipped

Page 157 Forida has any number of _changed to_ Florida has any number of

Page 159 white tipped-billows beneath _changed to_ white-tipped billows beneath

Page 171 Jamacia Island lay half hidden _changed to_ Jamaica Island lay half hidden

Page 213 them woud not be concluded _changed to_ them would not be concluded

Athough he scanned _changed to_ Although he scanned

Page 227 books examined wth great care _changed to_ books examined with great care

Page 242 there was a violent exposion _changed to_ there was a violent explosion