onflict with those
two mighty birds, on the crown of the mountain, where they had landed
with their aeroplane, and been looked upon as intruders by the eagles,
possibly under the belief that they entertained hostile intentions
toward the fledglings in their nest that was built amidst the crags,
close to the tip of the lofty peak.

Frank and Andy often spoke of that thrilling episode, but never without
some sort of little shiver, because it had been a serious time with them
since one blow from those powerful wings might have toppled them over
the edge of the dizzy height, and sent them to their deaths.

But they had succeeded in beating their feather antagonists off by the
aid of clubs which they wielded with vigor; and after the eagles learned
that no harm was intended to their young by these bold navigators of the
upper air currents, they came to have more respect for the strange
winged thing that came humming up from the earth on more than one
occasion.

When eleven o'clock came around, the boys were off again, and headed
toward the northern end of the lake.

Of course they kept close down to the treetops, because, once they
discovered the opening, they would wish to drop into it as easily as
possible.

Suddenly Andy, who was on the lookout, while Frank paid more attention
to the easy working of the motor, and the steering of the hydroplane,
uttered an exclamation of satisfaction.

"I see it, dead ahead!" he remarked, in a satisfied tone. "We made a bee
line to the place from the foot of the mountain, Frank. And unless I'm
away off in my guess, the farmhouse lies over yonder beyond the trees;
so nobody's apt to see us come down; and we can make any sort of yarn we
want, to explain just why we're here right now."

"We can do that all right, without telling anything that isn't so,"
replied the other aviator. "The farmer doesn't know us, though Sallie
will, and on that account we must be careful what we say. But the
dinner's the main thing just now. And at the same time we'll try and
pick up a little information, if Farmer Hoskins happens to know anything
that would interest two fellows of our stamp."

He passed over the opening once, to make sure that it contained all the
necessary requisites for a successful landing, and also a launching of
the airship. Then, making a graceful sweep back again, Frank allowed the
aeroplane to drop lightly to the ground. It landed in almost the center
of the field, and both boy