CHAPTER XXI
A CORDITE BOMB AND ITS WORK
In a moment the boys were hauling in the rope and Ned was back inthe cabin after a new bulb which he secured and attached in thedark.
"Now give her a swing," he said as Bob again lowered the rope. "Itwill make it harder to hit."
When Bob announced that all the rope was paid out Ned snapped theswitch again. In spite of the gravity of the situation all the boyswere tempted to laugh. A brilliant green glow shot down. Anemerald circle of light flooded the ground beneath.
"If anyone sees that they'll sure think it's a drug store,"suggested Bob.
"'Or a sign of the Great Spirit, perhaps," added Ned soberly, "itmay help us in more ways than one, if Indians are--"
"Look," hoarsely shouted Alan, "there, over there!"
But his words were superfluous. The three boys saw the same thing.And then as the wide swaying of the bulb swept the gnome-likepicture in green from view Ned threw himself over and shut off theengine.
Not a hundred feet beneath the brilliant bulb the precipitous bankof the river had again shot into the circle of light. At the veryedge of the cliff stood the big freight wagon. Behind it, betweenthe wagon and the steep river bank, stood two horses. At one endtwo more lay prostrate on the ground. In front a light barrier ofboxes and barrels rose a few feet from the ground. And there, arifle at his shoulder, knelt Elmer Grissom, their friend andservant. Buck was nowhere in sight.
Their worst fears were realized.
As the dramatic picture flashed from view each boy knew that it wastime to act.
"What's to be done?" exclaimed Alan, his voice choking.
"There can't be many of them," answered Ned finally, as if thinking,"or they would pushed their attack. If we could locate them therest would be easy. Let Bob take the wheel and try to get over thewagon again; I have an idea."
The Cibola again answered the rudder and circled, Ned flashing thebulb until the river came beneath them. This required but a fewmoments, but, before the craft had gathered momentum on the wayback, there were four shots almost together about three hundredyards to the right of where they supposed the wagon stood, and aquick reply from the river bank.
"Our light did it," exclaimed Alan, "they are rushing thebarricade."
"Indians don't rush together, if it is Indians," replied Ned. "Keepon up the bank, Bob. It's risky for Elmer," he added with a huskyvoice, "but we've got to take chances."
Again the light flashed. Ned and Alan hurried to the bridge.
Within its circle and almost together, sealing the seamed and hardbank of the river, were five dark figures. As the powerful lightencircled them the crouching figures sprang backwards. But theywere not quicker than the alert and prepared Ned Napier. A smallround object shot downward from his hands. The glare of flame asthe missile struck true and the thunderous roar that hurled the bigbag of the Cibola sideways told that the cordite bomb had done itswork well.
Bob was speechless. Ned and Alan were already in hurriedconsultation. They could not count on fortunately finding the otherbesiegers all together, "'and there are at least four more," saidNed. The rescue of the lone besieged lad was not an easy problem.The boys believed themselves now just above the wagon again, butthey were afraid to draw possible fire to the barricade by showinganother light.
The hurling of the bomb overboard had shot the Cibola heavenwardlike a bird. Before they realized it the aeronauts had mounted upat least two thousand feet. They then began maneuvering to regaintheir position. But this was not so easy. A flash of the suspendedsearchlight gave them not a trace of their bearings and it wasplainly apparent they would have to use time and patience inrecovering the location of the besieged wagon. Using their bestjudgment, they put the aeroplanes to work, and, circling slowly, theCibola gradually came nearer and nearer to the ground. After tenminutes or more the car gave a sharp bound upward.
"The drag has touched the ground," exclaimed Ned.
The aeroplanes were righted, the engine was stopped, and again theballoon was drifting. There was not a sound to guide the aeronauts.The contact with the ground had broken the bulb and it was notreplaced. For aught the rescuers knew they might be again directlyover the wagon. Not a shot had been fired since the roar of theexplosion, but there was no reason to believe that the yet livingbesiegers had withdrawn.
"More likely planning a final attack," suggested Alan.
Again a council was held.
"We've got to take the risk," said Ned at last in desperation; "wecan't do anything up here."
And then, with Alan's approval, the propeller was set turning again,but so slowly that the big balloon was just moving under control.The aeroplanes were also set to bring the craft nearer the groundand, as a precaution, Bob was sent onto the bridge with an openknife to cut away ballast if sudden ascent were needed. The dragrope had been brought in. There were no means of knowing how nearthe car might be to the earth and the suspense was decidedly trying.
"I guess I can come a little nearer finding out," exclaimed Nedfinally to the others in a whisper.
Alan did not know what he meant, but he resumed his place at thewheel. Ned had disappeared in the dark.
"Where are you, Ned?" asked Alan anxiously at last.
The answer came from beneath the car.
"Only down here, but I'm going lower," Ned replied, again in awhisper. "Be ready with that ballast."
A perspiration of fear broke out on Alan's body. He sprang to theopen trap door.
Just discernible in the darkness was Ned's slowly retreating form.
He was climbing down the twenty-five-foot rope landing ladder withonly his own strong grip and the spruce rungs to save him fromdeath.
There was nothing to be said or done. Bob did not know what wasgoing on below, but he knew that he had a task set for him, and inthe long silence that followed while the Cibola settled lower andlower and drifted on and on in the dark he stood, knife in hand, atthe ballast bags.