“Whew! What an experience!” Bud gulped. His face was pale and dripping with perspiration.
“Good thing the natives didn’t see it,” Tom said, “or they never would use our skyway!”
“What went wrong?” Arv asked.
“Some of our side-beam reflectors may be out of position,” Tom guessed. “Let’s drop a ladder.”
The young inventor scrambled down and checked the tree to which the nearest reflector had been bracketed. To his amazement, the twin-horned device was missing!
The adjoining reflector on the opposite side of the skyway was also gone.
“No wonder we slid galley-west,” Tom said angrily, after climbing back aboard.
“Those reflectors are designed to prevent sidesway. Without them, the truck was heavy enough to put the span out of balance and heel it way over.”
“More sabotage?” Bud asked grimly.
“I don’t know-but I sure intend to find out!”
NOCTURNAL RAIDERS 133
On hearing the news after the boys returned to camp, Creel glanced suspiciously at Luke Auber.
“I seem to recall that our great hunter was supposed to protect this outfit, Auber,” he sneered. “So far, you haven’t done too well.”
Auber grinned coolly. “What about your so-called ‘field trips’ to collect specimens?
Maybe you
134 REPELATRON SKYWAY
bagged a couple of reflectors while you were at it.”
Creel tried to swing at the hunter, but Tom intervened. “Cut it out, or you’re through here, Creel!” he snapped. “Any other remarks you want to get off your mind, Auber?”
The hunter shrugged. “Try the Wangurus. I’ve noticed some of the tribesmen watching our work crews. Maybe they took a fancy to those reflectors -to use as charms or trade goods.”
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