Certain that he was free of at least the first line of the advancing bandits, the boy jumped into the forward cockpit, swung the plane about, and facing the few remaining rebels, gave the ship the gun, taxiing forward, and smiting down the terror-stricken men before they had time to run to a protective covering. Taxiing his ship to a take-off, a look of grim determination appeared upon the boy’s face that finally broke out in a broad smile of triumph as the ship gained altitude. He turned about and saw that Panama was just coming to, cognizant for the first time that Lefty was piloting the plane. “I did it!” the proud mechanic boasted over his successful feat in making a perfect take-off, “I got her off the ground this time!” Panama, despite the excruciating pain caused by the wound the rebels had inflicted, smiled broadly and shouted: “Atta boy!” CHAPTER XX During the hour that Lefty proudly piloted the ship across mountains, rivers and an impenetrable jungle, conscious of the pleasant task that rested upon his shoulders, he enjoyed a good ceiling and clear sailing. The only thing that darkened his sudden touch of glory was his deep concern over Panama’s condition. “What a terrible, unfair Fate it would be,” he thought, “if anything should happen to old Panama now, after all we have gone through?” He looked back to make certain that the sergeant was comfortable and cognizant of what was going on around them. Each time he turned his head, his eyes met those of the wounded man’s who smiled back gamely, pantomiming to the boy to watch his stick and keep the ship leveled. It was dusk by the time the lone plane circled over the field at Managua. The major and his aides, as well as Elinor and a group of ground men, stood watching the approaching mechanical bird flying toward them. “That’s Williams’ ship all right,” Harding announced, “and he’s got somebody with him!” Elinor, consumed with thrilling suspense, listened eagerly to the major’s disclosure. Next to where she stood, an officer was focusing a pair of army binoculars upon the plane now circling the field. Without as much as an apology, she excitedly grabbed the glasses from the man’s hands and leveled them on the ship, her heart action increasing by leaps and bounds as she joyfully shouted: “It’s Lefty! It’s Lefty and he’s flying the ship!” The major gazed at the girl with an expression of doubt, accepting the binoculars as she held them out to him and focusing them upward on the plane. By that time, several other pilots had reached the field and joined the excited group as they watched Lefty pilot the ship with a masterly hand. Panama looked down at the crowd below, then leaned forward with great exertion and screamed into the pilot’s ear: “They’re all there watching you. Go ahead and show ’em you can do something!” “But how about you?” the boy yelled back. “You’re badly hurt!” “Never mind me,” the sergeant laughed hoarsely. “Give ’em a real show!”