The Thunder Bird Read online

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  THE THUNDER BIRD'S LAST FLIGHT FOR JOHNNY

  Over North Island the high, clear notes of the bugle sounding reveillewoke Johnny. Immediately afterward a guard appeared to take him incharge, from which Johnny gathered that he was still being "detained."He did not want to be detained, and he did not feel that they had anyright to detain him. He flopped over and pulled the blankets over hisears.

  "Here, you get up. Captain wants you brought before him right afterchow, and that's coming along soon as you can get into your pants. Youbetter be steppin'."

  "Aw, what's he want to see me for?" Johnny growled. It would be muchpleasanter to go back to his dream of Mary V.

  "Why, to shoot you, stupid. Whadda yuh think?"

  "I'd hate to tell yuh right to your face, but at that I may forcemyself to it if you hang around long enough," Johnny retorted, gettinginto his clothes hurriedly, for the morning was chill and bleak."Where's that chuck you was talking about? Say, good golly, but you'rea sorry looking bird. I'm sure glad I ain't a soldier."

  "Whadda yuh mean, glad? It takes a man to do man-size work. That'swhat I mean. Wait till about twelve of us stand before yuh waiting forthe word! Lucky for you this sand makes soft digging, or you wouldn'thave pep enough left to dig your own grave, see."

  "You seem to know. Is yours dug already? They musta had you at itlast night."

  The guard grinned and suspended hostilities until after Johnny hadeaten, when he led him out and across to where Johnny's inquisitor ofthe night before awaited his coming. Captain Riley was not soterrifying by daylight. For one thing, he betrayed the fact that hewore large, light-tan freckles, and Johnny never did feel much awe offreckles. Captain Riley also wore a smile, and he was smoking a cigarwhen Johnny went in.

  "Good morning, Mr. Jewel. I hope you slept well."

  "I guess I did---I never stayed awake to see," Johnny told him quiteboldly for a youth who had blushed and said "sir" to this man lastnight.

  "You landed pretty hard last night, I hear."

  "Why--yes, I guess I did. It looked to me around here last night asthough I had fallen down bad."

  "And what has made you so cheerful this morning?" Captain Rileyactually grinned at Johnny. He could afford to, since Johnny was notin service and therefore need not be reminded constantly of thedifference between officer and man.

  "I dunno--unless maybe it's because the worst is done and can't behelped, so there's no use worrying about it."

  "Well, I can't agree with you, young man. You may possibly do worseto-day. Last night, for instance, you brought in a man who has beenvery much wanted by the government. We did not know that he was theman until you landed with him, but certain papers he carried furnishedwhat proof we needed. You spoke of another--a man named Schwab. Now Iam not going to ask you to bring him in. He is in Mexico, and the lawsof neutrality must be preserved. I shall have nothing whatever to dowith the matter. I wish he were on this side, though. There's quite agood-sized reward offered for his arrest--in case he ever does get backon our side of the line."

  "Mhm-hmh--I--see," said Johnny, in his best, round-eyed judicial manner.

  "Yes. He's a criminal of several sorts, among them the crime ofmeddling with the government. He's over there now--where he can do themost harm.

  "Y-ess--he's over there--_now_," Johnny agreed guardedly.

  "However, I can't send you over after him, I am sorry to say. It isimpossible. If ever he comes back, though--"

  "He'd be welcome," Johnny finished with a grin.

  "We'd never part with him again," the captain agreed cheerfully."Well, that Thunder Bird plane of yours had quite a jolt, from thereport. You cracked the crank-case for one thing, and broke the tail.I had the plane run in and repaired last night, so it's all ready nowfor you to go up. We really are much in your debt for bringing in thisman Lowell; though your manner of doing it was rather unusual, I mustadmit. Are you--er--ready to fly?"

  "Fly where?" Johnny nerved himself to ask, though he knew well enoughwhere he intended to fly.

  "Fly away from North Island," smiled Captain Riley, who was not to becaught. "Civilian planes are not permitted here."

  "If I come back would I be shot at?"

  "Oh, no--I think not, so long as you come peacefully."

  "I'll come peacefully all right; what I'm wondering now is, will theother fellow?" Johnny looked toward the door suggestively.

  Captain Riley laughed and rose to his feet. "Young man, you seem toknow a sure way of making men peaceful! They tell me that Cliff Lowellcame to himself about two o'clock this morning. For awhile theythought you had finished him."

  "Well, it's time all good flyers were in the air; I'll go with you andsee you start. I'm rather curious over that Thunder Bird of yours. Iwant a look at her."

  In his youth and innocence--John Ivan Jewel wondered why it was thatthe soldiers looked astonished even while they saluted their commandingofficer. He did not know that he was being especially honored byCaptain Riley, which is perhaps a good thing. It saved him a good dealof embarrassment and left him so much at ease that he could talk to thecaptain almost as freely as if he had not worn a uniform.

  "Good-by--and good luck," said Captain Riley, and shook hands withJohnny. "I'll be glad to see you again--and, by the way, I'm justkeeping that money until you call for it."

  Johnny climbed in and settled himself, then leaned over the edge wherethe bullet had nicked so that his words would not carry to the manwaiting to crank the motor.

  "I'll call for that money in about two hours," he said. "I ain'tsaying good-by, Captain. I'll see yuh later."

  Captain Riley stood smiling to himself while he watched the ThunderBird take the air. That it took the air smoothly, spiraling upward asgracefully as any of his young flyers could do, did not escape him.Nor did the steadiness with which it finally swung away to thesoutheast.

  "That boy's a born flyer," he observed to his favorite firstlieutenant, who just happened to be standing near. "They say he neverhas had any training under an instructor. He just _flew_. He'll makegood--a kid like that is bound to."

  Up in the Thunder Bird Johnny was thinking quite different thoughts."He thinks I won't be able to deliver the goods. He was nice andfriendly, all right--good golly, he'd oughta be! He admitted right outplain that they wanted Cliff bad. But he's hanging on to my money sohe'll have some hold over me if I don't bring in Schwab for him. Andif I don't, and go back for my money, he'll--well, firing squad won'tbe any kidding, is what I mean.

  "O-h-h, no! Captain Riley can't fool me! Wouldn't tell me to getSchwab over here--didn't dare tell me. But he makes it worth a wholelot to me to get him, just the same. He knows darn well if I don'tI'll never dare to go back, and he'll be over seven thousand dollarsbetter off." Johnny, you will observe, had quite forgotten thatreceipt in his pocket, which Captain Riley might find it hard toexplain if he attempted to withhold the money.

  His doubt of the Captain increased when, looking back, he spied twoswift scouting planes scudding along a mile or two behind him. Thatthey might be considered a guard of honor rather than spies sent out tosee that he did not play false never occurred to him.

  "Aw, you think maybe I won't do it!" he snorted angrily, his youngvanity hurt. "All right, tag along and be darned. I'll have Schwaband be flying back again before you can bank around to fly hack andtattle where I went. That's what I mean. I ain't going to be doneouta no seven thousand dollars; I'll tell the world I ain't."

  Getting Schwab was absurdly simple, just as Johnny had felt sure itwould be. He flew to where he would be expected to cross the line hadhe come from Los Angeles. Schwab would be impatient, anxious to get inhis fingers the money Cliff was supposed to bring. He did not wait atthe house, but came out to meet the Thunder Bird. Johnny had been surethat he would do that very thing.

  To keep the nose of the Thunder Bird toward Schwab so that he could notsee that only one man retur
ned with her was simple. Until he was closeSchwab did not suspect that Cliff was not along. Even then he was notsuspicious, but came hurrying up to know why Johnny came alone. Schwabwanted that money--they always do.

  "Where's my man?" he demanded of Johnny, who had brought the landinggear against an old fence post used to block the wheels, and shut themotor off as much as he could and keep it running.

  "Your man is sick." Which was true enough; Cliff was a very sick manthat morning. "You'll have to come to him. Get in--it won't takelong."

  Schwab hung back a little, not from fear of Johnny but because he hadno stomach for flying. "Well, but didn't he send--"

  "He didn't send a darned thing but me. He wouldn't trust me to bringanything else. Get in. I'm in a hurry."

  "What's the matter with him? He was all right last night." StillSchwab hung back. "I'll wait until he can come. I--I can't leave."

  Then he found himself looking up into the barrel of Johnny'ssix-shooter. "I was told to bring you back with me. Get in, I said."

  "This is some trick! I--"

  "You get--_in_!"

  So Schwab climbed in awkwardly, his face mottled and flabby with fearof the Thunder Bird.

  "Fasten that strap around you--be sure it's fast. And put on this capand goggles if you like. And sit still." Then he called to thelanguid Mexican who was idly watching him from afar. "Hey! Come andpull the block away from the wheels."

  The Mexican came trotting, the silver of the night before clinking inhis overalls pocket. Grinning hopefully, he picked up the post andcarried it to one side. But Johnny was not thinking then of tips. Helet in the motor until the Thunder Bird went teetering around in a widehalf circle and scudded down the level stretch, taking the air easily.

  "This is an outrage!" Schwab shouted.

  "Where are you taking me?"

  "Oh, up in the air a ways," Johnny told him, but the roar of the motorso filled Schwab's unaccustomed ears that he could hear nothing else.And presently his mind became engrossed with something more immediatelyvital than was his destination.

  They were getting too high up, he shouted. Johnny must come down atonce--or if he would not do that, at least he must fly lower. DidJohnny mean to commit suicide?

  For answer Johnny grinned and went higher, and the face of Schwabbecame not mottled but a sickly white. He sat gripping the edges ofthe cockpit and gazing fearfully downward, save when he turned toimplore, threaten, and command. He would report Johnny to hisemployers. He could make him sorry for this. He would make it worthhis while to land. He would do great things for Johnny--he would makehim rich.

  From five thousand feet Johnny volplaned steeply to four thousand, andSchwab's sentences became disconnected phrases that ended mostly inexclamation points. So pleased was Johnny with the effect that he flewin scallops from there on--not unmindful of the two scouting planesthat picked him up when he recrossed the line and dogged him from thereon.

  "I suppose," snorted Johnny to the Thunder Bird, "they think they'reabout the only real flyers in the air this morning. What? Can't youshow 'em an Arizona sample of flying? What you loafing for? Thinkyou're heading a funeral? Well, now, this is just about the proudestmoment you've spent for quite some time. This man Schwab---he cravesexcitement. Can't you hear him holler for thrills? And don't youreckon that Captain Riley will be cocking an eye up at the sky aboutnow, looking to see you come back. Come, come--shake a wing, here, andshow 'em what you're good for!"

  Whether the Thunder Bird heard and actually did shake a wing does notmatter. Johnny remembered that he had yet some miles to fly, andproceeded to put those miles behind him in as straight a line aspossible. Schwab's voice came back to him in snatches, though thewords were mostly foreign to Johnny's ears. Schwab seemed to beindulging in expletives of some sort.

  "Don't worry, sauerkraut, we'll show you a good time soon as we getalong a few miles. There's some birds behind us I'm leading homefirst."

  "My God, don't go straight down again! It makes me sick," wailedSchwab.

  "Does? Oh, glory! That ain't nothing when you get used to it, man.Be a regular guy and like it. I'll _make_ you like it, by golly. Comeon, now--here's San Diego--let's give 'em a treat, sauerkraut. Younever knew you'd turn out to be a stunt flyer, hey? Well, now, how'sthis?"

  "Whee-ee! See the town right down there? Head for it and keepa-goin', old girl! _Whee-ee_! Now, here it goes, sliding right upover our heads! Loop 'er, Thunder Bird, loop 'er! You're the littleold plane from Arizona that's rode the thunder and made it growl it hadenough! In Mexico I got yuh, and to Mexico you went and got me aregular jailbird that Uncle Sammy wants. You're takin' him tocamp--whoo-ee! Give your tail a flop and over yuh go like a doggonetumbleweed in the wind!

  "Come on, you little ole cop planes that thinks you're campin' on mytrail! You'll have to ride and whip 'em, now I'm tellin' yuh, if youwant to keep in sight of our dust! Sunfish for 'em, you doggoneThunder Bird! You're the flyin' bronk from Arizona, and it's your dayto fly!"

  With the first loop Schwab went sick, and after that he had no wishexcept to die. Whether the Thunder Bird rode head down or tail down heneither knew nor cared. Nor did Johnny. As he yelled he looped and hedived, he did tail spins and every other spin that occurred to him.For the time being he was "riding straight up and fanning her ears,"and his aerial bronk was pulling off stunts he would never haveattempted in cold blood.

  He thought it a shame to have to stop, but North Island was therebeneath him, a flock of planes were keeping out of his way andforgetting their own acrobatics while they watched him, and Johnny,with an eye on his gas gauge and his mind recurring to his partingwords with Captain Riley, straightened out reluctantly and got hisbearings. There was room enough for one more nose dive, and he took itexuberantly, trying to see how many turns he could make before he mustquit or smash into a building or something.

  There was the field, just ahead of him. He flattened, banked, and camedown circumspectly enough, considering how his head was whirling whenhe finally came to a stand. He crawled out, looking first at Schwab tosee what he was doing.

  What Schwab was doing has no bearing whatever on this story. Schwabwas not feeling well, wherefore he was not showing any interestwhatever in his surroundings and probable future. John Ivan Jewellaughed unfeelingly while he beckoned a guard who was coming up at atrot and needed no beckoning.

  "Here's another man for your boss to take charge of," Johnny announced."And lead me to him right now. I've got a date with him."

  This guard was a new guard and looked dubious. But presently thecaptain's orderly appeared and took charge of the situation, so Johnnystraight-way found himself standing before Captain Riley "Well, I'mback," he announced cheerfully. "And I've got Schwab out there."

  Captain Riley dismissed the orderly before he unbent enough to reply.But then he shook hands with John Ivan Jewel just as though he had notseen him a couple of hours before. He was a very pleased CaptainRiley, as he showed by the broad grin he wore on his freckled Irishface.

  "Schwab," he said, "will be taken care of. He's a deserter from thearmy, you know. Held a captaincy and disgraced the uniform in variousways, the crowning infamy being the sale of some important information,a year or so ago when things were at the touchiest point with Mexico.We nearly had him, but he deserted and got across the line, and sincethen he has been raising all kinds of cain in government affairs. Ofcourse, his capture is a little out of my line, but I don't mindtelling you that it's a big thing for me to have both these men turnedover to me. I can't go into details, of course--you would not beespecially interested in them if I could. But it's a big thing, and Iwant you to know--"

  The telephone interrupted him, and he turned to answer it.

  "Yes, yes, this is Captain Riley speaking. Yes, who is this, please?Who? Oh, yes! Yes, indeed, no trouble at all, I assure you. Yes, Iwill give the message--yes, certainly. I shall send him right over.At your command, believe
me. Not at all--I am delighted, yes; just onemoment. Would you like to talk with him yourself? Just hold the line,please."

  One should not accuse a man like Captain Riley of smirking, but hissmile might have been mistaken for a smirk when he turned from thetelephone. He straightened it out at once, however, so that he spokewith a mere twinkle to Johnny.

  "Some one in San Diego," he said, "would like to speak with you. Ijudge it's important."