“It’s up yonder,” a man said, pointing up at the high spire which crowned the summit of the tower of the structure.
It was just getting towards dusk, but as Will looked upwards he could make out a white fluttering object. It seemed to be impaled upon the pointed vane of the spire, and Will, straining his vision, made out that it resembled a large ocean bird.
“Flew against the point, I guess,” replied the man.
The dying daylight gleaming down the valley showed the bird making frantic efforts to release itself.
Its strange, weird cries could be faintly heard from where Will stood.
The crowd kept increasing every moment, and among them Will noticed a strange, well-dressed, gentlemanly looking person who seemed very much interested in the aerial scene above.
“It’s a fine specimen of a bird,” he remarked. “Is there not some way of releasing it from its plight?”
“Yes, climb up and catch it,” responded a pert young man.
The stranger was not discomfitted at the jeering proposition.
He calmly took out his pocket book and drew from it a ten dollar bill.
“Why not?” he asked complacently. “Suppose you try, since you suggest it. I will willingly give that money for the bird.”
The crowd laughed. It became the young man’s turn to look embarrassed.
“Well, I guess no one in this crowd cares to risk his neck, even for ten dollars.”
“Oh, he’s left town after fixing the spire.”
Will Bertram, an interested listener to all that had been said, stepped forward impulsively.
His heart beat more quickly as he thought of how much good the money might do his family, yet he trembled at his own boldness, as he asked:
“I’ll earn it. I’ll get the bird for you.”
“Here, come back! I don’t want a reckless boy to risk his life,” began the stranger, alarmed at the result of his careless offer.
But Will was gone, and a moment later after disappearing in the basement, appeared on the ledge of the third story of the building, waving his hand to the people below.
A new element of excitement was awakened by his rashness. When he appeared in view again at the base of the tower an apprehensive hush fell over the throng.
He glanced down once at the upturned faces and then looked upwards. But that he did not care to expose himself to ridicule and the charge of cowardice he would have returned below.