Airplane Boys in the Black Woods

ts of Bl

hich the lads had discovered that they had made a circle in their wanderings and had returned to their starting point. Numerous pipes had been lighted and permitted to go out during the recital, and when Jim finished, Captain Seaman str

d from Chili to Quebec if some of the pilots had discove

ould," Ji

Bob asked their host, but before th

owed to express an opinion, to let h

utterfly passes?"

last butterfly passe

rve," Seaman objected, but he m

in himself. He found a fire lighted and will probably have sense enough to keep it going. Even if he doesn't, he

wild animals-"

molest him,"

him are they likely to be in

he first white men who have been through the Black Range Woods, seen w

he Butterfly Flight ever came out. As a matter of fact, I understan

ucky," Jim

ill you?" He glanced about the room. "I'm sure we should all be glad

nd upon us,"

ld glanced a

which are very close to his people," Manwe

e glad to have this opportunity to talk of them now if we will not be interrupted." He glanced at the captain. Imm

here for a time. Is

garden party, and the servants

the boys keep watch outside

s s

nk y

friend in the great Laboratory, and he wondered if this young fellow might not be receiving some of his training in one of the marvelous underground schools. He recalled that Don Haurea had told him that the world was ready for some of the information those scientific men had proved and it was possible that this lad, because of his advantages as a doctor's son might have been chosen to bring out f

making a rather long day of i

a little of the truth of the Black Woods and the Dam, we can go to sleep in peace

hen they heard the two guards pacing back and forth

l set," the ca

Doctor Manwell adopted me when my mother died.

t part?" the doct

will understand," he said, then went on, "They have brought me up as carefully as if

om, you young rascal,

some of my own race have been near me. It has always been my privilege to visit them and they too have instructed me. I am e

oy, m

rrupt. That's not

don

erbs which grow hereabouts, the chemicals that can be extracted from them,

n to me is new to medical science, and has proved of great value

le ruin the boys visited earlier this morning. It was an ancient city long before the Spaniards visited these shores, had a large population, while many of its leading men knew of the Ynca Empire to the south. The tribes frequently traded with each

ome of the ru

the Andes mountains which separated us from the southern empires was, and still is, a great barrier. There were no horses, wagons or other means of building, but construction was going on constantly. Then our ancient prophets who foretold many thing

ew their onions," Bob rem

as unknown. Each new generation studied the signs, and although many of the people were discontented because of the activities carried on, which were in opposition to their own desires, the younger prophets continued to verify the findings of the old men, so that no change was made in the plan. The people who did not believe that it was possible for a strange race to come here and survive, s

spirit," Bo

ticks, and threw red hot stones which caused everything they struck to crumble and fall. They dressed in a shiny metal and mounted themselves on strange animals they called horses, whose hoofs tra

bit those middle-ag

buried their treasures, made circuitous passages through the thick forests and filled them with spiked traps, deadly snakes, vipers, and treacherous bridges which would fall as soon as any weight was put upon them. They deserted their city and temple, and stripped it of it

y had gone when the goi

inue their journey, but they discovered that a solid wall rose in front of them and that behind it a stream had formed a good-sized lake. Some of the men went to locate a route around this. While the others waited, the white men appeared with their guns, armor, horses and blood thirsty dogs. The

dreds of years ag

mmunity. Their prophets had foreseen the disaster and these men were on their way to help their people if they could. When they reach

tough,"

t was day; a great comet shot across the sky, leaving a long pathway of green light which did not fade for many hours. By this sign the men knew that their prayers were answered. They cursed the place again, willed that the spirits of their slaughtered companions sho

Bradshaw and he m

"That while the spirits of those men of the temple walked the earth, if one of them gazed on a white man, met his eyes, that man should go mad, should live the life of an animal, so t

," whispe

job of it while they were

as digging in," added Bob, and

added, "I have seen two men in the forests who seemed to be doing the

He would fight you like a demon, probab

he dwarf and tossed him about as if he

e had some dealings with them in Canada, powerful woodsm

ences," said Seaman. He smoked t

avoided; many legends have grown up about it, and neither the natives nor the negroes will go into it at this time of the year. You are in charge of this section of the c

aptain answered, and he gave no sign of doubting the strange tale.

emanded. "Surely those old fellows ought to be s

le have to be a par

. "The Black Woods and range are really a small area of land, probably ab

th safety," said Seaman. "It happened to be on the edge of my province and I'm willing t

es. "In spite of my son's story I can see that your lids are heavy. You must not make your bodies pay too

replied, and he did have d

was all about. We have to hang around here for a few days until our plane is in ship shape again. She bumped her n

en you have waked perhaps the Captain will send up an

. "But I'll have the boys run our own flag