CHAPTER VIII

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