Part 19 (1/2)
”Yes, but--”
”Oh, there's no use givin' in to 'em,” interrupted Abe. ”If you give 'em half a loaf, they want two. Th' only way is t' be firm. I'll tell 'em we can't accommodate 'em.”
Thereupon he began once more to talk to the Indians in their own tongue. His words were at first received in silence, and then angry cries came from the natives. The chief made a gesture of protest.
”Well, if you don't like it, you know what you kin do!” declared Abe. ”We've got th' best part of our journey before us, an' we can't give away our supplies. Go hunt food if you want it, ye lazy beggars!”
The peaceful demeanor of the Indians now turned to rage. The leader dropped the rag that had served for a flag of truce, and took back his gun.
”Look out! There's going to be trouble!” cried Tom.
”Well, we're ready for 'em!” answered Abe, grimly.
There was a moment of hesitation among the natives. Then they seemed to hold a consultation with the chief. It was over shortly. They broke into a run, and quickly advanced toward the cave. Tom and the others held their guns in readiness.
Suddenly the Indians halted. They gazed upward, and pointed to something in the air above their heads. They gave utterance to cries of fear.
”What is it; another storm coming?” asked Tom.
”Let's look,” suggested Ned. He and Tom stepped to the mouth of the cave--they went outside. There was little danger from the natives now, as their attention was fixed on something else.
A moment later Tom and Ned saw what this was.
Floating in the air, almost over the cave, was a great airs.h.i.+p--a large craft, nearly the size of the RED CLOUD. Hardly able to believe the evidence of their eyes, Tom and Ned watched it. Whence had it come? Whither was it going?
”It's a triplane!” murmured Ned.
”A triplane!” repeated Tom. ”Yes--it is--and it's the airs.h.i.+p of Andy Foger! Our rivals are on our track!”
He continued to gaze upward as the triplane shot forward, the noise of the motor being plainly heard. Then, with howls of fear, the Indians turned and fled. The rival airs.h.i.+p had vanquished them.
CHAPTER XV
THE RACE
Astonished and terrified as the Indians had been at the sight of the big-winged craft, high in the air above their heads, Tom and the others were no less surprised, though, of course, their fear was not exactly the same as that of the Alaskan natives.
”Do you really think that is Andy Foger?” asked Ned, as they watched the progress of the triplane.
”I'm almost sure of it,” replied Tom. ”That craft is built exactly as his was, but I never expected him to have such good luck sailing it.”
”It isn't going very fast,” objected Ned.
”No, but it can navigate pretty well, and that's something. He must have hustled to get it together and reach this point with it.”
”Yes, but he didn't have to travel as far as we did,” went on Ned.
”He put his s.h.i.+p together at Sitka, and we came from Seattle.”
”Bless my memoranda book!” exclaimed Mr. Damon. ”The Fogers here!