"I reckon they're maist ready, noo, to
gie it its fling--let it go!"

It was at this moment that in the distant
island of flashlight an arm was flung up. It
was that of the professor's young assistant.

He forgot to bring it down again.

And, lo! a hush, as of a world suspended,
fell upon old Greylock,--that
grim, black mountain-top.

The long grasses ceased to whisper.
The mountain-ash trees cuddled their little
pale berry-babies in awe.

"AllR-ready! Shoot!"

Toandoah's battle-cry it was.

A roar as of a small brass cannon, the
first gun of the new conquest, responded,
as the hand of a Camp Fire Girl of America
pressed the button, triumphantly throwing
the switch in the nozzle, or tailpart, of the
mounted rocket, a hundred feet away.

Simultaneously the flashlights went out.

And in the darkness--into the blackness
the little Thunder Bird soared.

Soared with the wild red eye of its
[[235]]

p234 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p235w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p236

v?