Part 22 (1/2)
CHAPTER XVII
THE LIEUTENANT'S INVENTION
While the others speculated upon various means of escape, and in turn found every one of their suggestions useless, Lieutenant Mackinson had remained silent and in deep thought. Finally, his countenance showing that he had arrived at a conclusion, he turned to the others.
”Come with me,” he said simply, ”it is the only way.”
”Where are you going?” Joe asked quickly.
”Back to the tractor,” the lieutenant replied. ”Hurry! We still have time, but none to waste.”
”But we can't repair the tractor,” Frank argued.
”No, we can't,” Lieutenant Mackinson admitted, ”but we may do something even better than that.”
”What?” queried all the lads at once.
”Come with me and we'll see what can be done.”
And without granting them any further information then, Lieutenant Mackinson swung his share of the burdens to his shoulder and started down the rough mountain road, the others following, and likewise bearing the various necessities which, only a short time before, they had labored so industriously to carry up the mountain.
As they neared the point where they had left the wrecked machine the young officer turned to Joe, who was nearest to him.
”Do you remember,” he asked, ”seeing that wire of the old telegraph line just about a hundred yards below where we ran the truck into the wall?”
”I saw it,” Joe admitted, ”but I didn't pay any further attention to it.”
The others had come up within hearing distance.
”Well,” the lieutenant responded, ”if you had traced its course you would have seen that it is swung from this mountain to the one directly to the south, just at the point where the valley between narrows down to little more than a deep ravine.”
”But it doesn't run into our lines,” Frank objected again.
”That's true,” Lieutenant Mackinson admitted again, ”but it may serve our purposes just the same.”
”How?” Slim asked entreatingly. ”Tell us what your plan is, Lieutenant.”
”No,” replied the young officer in teasing tones, ”I don't want to raise your hopes until I determine whether it can be accomplished.”
And he plodded on toward the tractor, refusing to answer another question. Indeed, it is doubtful if he heard them, for he was busy with some important mental calculations--problems that required his engineering knowledge and ability, and that had directly to do with the personal safety of every man in the party.
”What tools have we here?” he asked of Frank Hoskins, as they arrived at the wrecked wireless tractor.
Frank opened up a tool chest that showed a great variety of implements in almost every size and shape.
”Good,” said the lieutenant, as he looked up from where he was rummaging in another part of the car. ”Here, Jerry,” he commanded, ”let me have that mallet and cold chisel and then help me rip a couple of these boards off the floor.”
He had laid aside a large pulley wheel, several nuts and bolts and some heavy copper wire. With the aid of the mystified Jerry he tore two stout boards up from the floor of the tractor.
”Now we've got to work rapidly, fellows,” he said, ”for it will soon be dark, and we don't want to attract attention to ourselves by making a light.