Part 23 (1/2)

Then, after they had in some measure recovered from all this intense excitement, the boys sat down to tell what a miracle had been wrought, bringing the message to the home in far away Bloomsbury. With an arm still encircling the form of his boy Professor Bird listened and asked many eager questions.

”And to think,” he said, finally, ”that little messenger you saw going up just now was constructed of the very last fragment of the old balloon silk. I made a fire with flint and steel, filled it with hot air and sent it up with prayers, believing that it was my forlorn chance. And then I heard the exhaust of your motor. I feared my mind was giving way under the terrible strain. When I looked up and saw an aeroplane sail into view I fell down on my face, believing I had gone mad. But it was a blessed reality, thank G.o.d!”

Plans were soon under discussion looking to leaving the valley as soon as possible. About this time Andy happened to think of something and began to fumble at his pocket.

”Oh, how I hoped and prayed when I bought that, father, that I might have the happiness of seeing you smoke some of it,” he said, as he drew out a little packet of tobacco, on which the late prisoner pounced with all the delight of an inveterate user of the weed, who had long been deprived of a pleasure.

”I have been using dried leaves of a wild grape and some other things,”

he admitted; ”but after all they were only vile subst.i.tutes. It was thoughtful of you, my boy, to remember my weakness.”

And Andy snuggled up close to him as he commenced to puff at his pipe, using a match for the first time in many moons and smiling whimsically when he struck the same, as memory played queer pranks within.

Meanwhile Frank wandered around to survey the scene of the professor's imprisonment and figure how they were ever going to get out with the aeroplane.

CHAPTER XXII.

RESCUED.

”What's the hurry?” asked Andy, when once they began to talk over their plans for leaving the valley.

For once Frank agreed with his chum. They had plenty to eat along with them and it might be just as well to wait for another day. By that time all of them would have recovered to a great extent from the excitement that had told upon them, particularly the professor, none too strong.

So it was finally concluded to stay right where they were until another morning, when one at a time Frank would endeavor to convey them out of the valley, not daring to risk two pa.s.sengers at once with such a poor field for the start.

The time pa.s.sed quickly enough, for there were a thousand things to tell on both sides. The aeronaut described his accident and related how he had lived through all the dreary months that had gone. Fortunately there did not happen to be any fierce wild beasts in the cliff bordered valley, and while he had had adventures with venomous serpents, fortune had stood by him.

He showed numerous little contrivances by means of which he had secured game enough to supply his needs. There were nuts in abundance and some wild fruits which, as a scholar, he knew the value of.

Water could be had in plenty, as a lovely stream flowed through the valley, diving down at one end and vanis.h.i.+ng in the rocks, to find an outlet such as the human prisoner prayed for daily in vain.

Why, it was evening almost before Andy realized it, so quickly had the hours sped along. How proudly had his father asked all about the monoplane, which he examined with the most intense interest, knowing it to have been mostly made by the two enterprising Bird boys.

Prom the way in which he smiled and nodded his head after this survey it was evident that he was very well pleased with what they had done. And he also made them tell all about that famous race through the air to the hitherto unsealed crown of Old Thunder Top, which he remembered very well.

”And now, let's think of having a jolly little meal,” said Frank, as the shadows began to lengthen down below the lofty cliffs, which was a pretty good indication that night could not be far away.

”Count me in,” said Andy, jumping up, for it was his duty to get busy when the time came to make a fire and prepare a repast. ”I guess we've got coffee for a few times yet, and I smuggled a can of Boston baked beans along when Frank wasn't looking, knowing that father used to be right fond of 'em.”

”Coffee! Beans! Why, you fairly take my breath away!” exclaimed the one who for so many months had been deprived of all the comforts of civilization and forced to sustain his life in the most primitive manner.

When supper was cooking the professor made some excuse to wander off. Frank knew, though, what ailed him.

”It's the aroma of that blessed coffee, that's what,” he said to Andy, who had looked a little troubled at this action on the part of his father. ”It's been so long since he's smelled it that it just makes him wild. I know, because I had a little experience that way myself once, only it was two weeks I had to go without when we were camping and not many months. When supper's ready he'll come with a rush, mark me, Andy.”

And he proved to be a true prophet, for no sooner had Andy lifted up his voice to call that the meal was ready than the professor broke through the bushes and hastened to take his place.

Frank lost not a second in filling a tin cup of the amber liquid and handing it to the late prisoner of the valley.