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deMarchena807810_bindex.indd 613 21-12-2022 11:30:25
Mastering Structural Heart Disease
Mastering Structural Heart Disease
Edited by
Eduardo J. de Marchena, MD
Professor of Medicine and Surgery
Director of Eberhard Grube International Structural Heart Disease
Training Program at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
United States
Camilo A. Gomez, MD
Interventional Cardiologist at the Jackson Memorial Health System
and a Voluntary Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
United States
This first edition first published 2023
© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, except as permitted by law. Advice on how to obtain permission to reuse material
from this title is available at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions.
The right of Eduardo J. de Marchena and Camilo A. Gomez to be identified as the authors of the editorial material in this work has been
asserted in accordance with law.
Registered Offices
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA
John Wiley & Sons Ltd, The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, UK
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Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats and by print‐on‐demand. Some content that appears in standard print versions
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Trademarks: Wiley and the Wiley logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United
States and other countries and may not be used without written permission. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.
To God, for all the blessings; to my parents, for their guidance and constant support; to my wife, for her love and
encouragement; to my son, for the inspiration and joy he has brought to us; and to my teachers, for their knowledge,
mentorship, and opportunities.
Camilo A. Gomez
vi
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Julissa Gutierrez for her meticulous, untiring support during preparation of this textbook.
We would also like to thank Manuela Echeverri for her inspirational, masterful artwork in the preparation of the book
cover.
vii
Manuela Echeverri
Manuela is a renowned Colombian artist, internationally recognized for her work with hearts. Her art includes a variety of
colorful heart sculptures and paintings.
Artist Statement
“A piece of color, a piece of life”
I don’t recall a specific moment in my life when I began taking an interest in art. On the contrary, I feel that art has always
been a part of me, like small shapes that when put together create a larger puzzle full of color. Art gives a greater sense of
purpose to my days and fills my life with laughter, joy, and gratitude, knowing that every moment is unique and
unrepeatable.
Through art, I have learned things that are not taught in any academy.
My work is full nuances and techniques but always defined by the use of COLOR – driven by my understanding of the
world. Through my art, and through color, I have learned to be more human, more sensitive: to create from the HEART.
And as I create, inspired by love, I have always sought to develop artistic projects with people who give meaning to what I
do, supporting the causes and perspectives that I hold dear in my life. My art has enabled me to connect with and grow in
the company of beautiful people who continue to inspire me to create an impact through my work.
ix
Brief Contents
3 The Top Ten Clinical Trials in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
The Evolution of a Transformative Therapy into Clinical Practice 19
35 MitraClip Complications
Prevention and Management 281
Brief Contents xi
39 Transseptal Systems for TMVR and Transcatheter Devices for Mitral Annuloplasty 317
48 Caval Valve Implantation (CAVI) for the Treatment of Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation 391
73 Best Practices for Mechanical Circulatory Support with Impella for Acute Myocardial Infarction Cardiogenic Shock
and Selected Structural Interventions 571
74 Transcatheter Interventions for Aortic Valve Insufficiency in Patients with Left Ventricular Assist Devices 585
Index 589
xiii
Contents
3 The Top Ten Clinical Trials in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
The Evolution of a Transformative Therapy into Clinical Practice 19
1. Who invented TAVI, and where were the early studies performed? 19
2. How was TAVI evaluated in the United States? 19
Leon, M.B., Smith, C.R., Mack, M. et al. (2010). Transcatheter aortic-valve implantation for aortic stenosis in patients
who cannot undergo surgery. N. Engl. J. Med. 363 (17): 1597–1607. 20
3. Did PARTNER B affect “clinical equipoise” for randomized trials in non-operable patients? 20
Popma, J.J., Adams, D.H., Reardon, M.J. et al. (2014). Transcatheter aortic valve replacement using a self-expanding
bioprosthesis in patients with severe aortic stenosis at extreme risk for surgery. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 63 (19):
1972–1981. 20
4. When did the Heart Team develop, and what has it meant to TAVI decision-making? 20
Smith, C.R., Leon, M.B., Mack, M.J. et al. (2011). Transcatheter versus surgical aortic-valve replacement in high-risk
patients. N. Engl. J. Med. 364 (23): 2187–2198. 21
5. Were the initial concerns about stroke with TAVI justified? 21
Adams, D.H., Popma, J.J., Reardon, M.J. et al. (2014). Transcatheter aortic-valve replacement with a self-expanding
prosthesis. N. Engl. J. Med. 370 (19): 1790–1798. 21
6. What contributed to the differences in one-year mortality between TAVI and surgery patients? 21
Leon, M.B., Smith, C.R., Mack, M.J. et al. (2016). Transcatheter or surgical aortic-valve replacement in intermediate-
risk patients. N. Engl. J. Med. 374 (17): 1609–1620. 22
Reardon, M.J., Van Mieghem, N.M., Popma, J.J. et al. (2017). Surgical or transcatheter aortic-valve replacement
in intermediate-risk patients. N. Engl. J. Med. 376 (14): 1321–1331. 22
7. What have we learned about the assessment of valve durability? 22
Feldman, T.E., Reardon, M.J., Rajagopal, V. et al. (2018). Effect of mechanically expanded vs self-expanding
transcatheter aortic valve replacement on mortality and major adverse clinical events in high-risk patients with
aortic stenosis: the REPRISE III randomized clinical trial. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 319 (1): 27–37. 23
Mack, M.J., Leon, M.B., Thourani, V.H. et al. (2019). Transcatheter aortic-valve replacement with a balloon-
expandable valve in low-risk patients. N. Engl. J. Med. 380 (18): 1695–1705. 24
Popma, J.J., Deeb, G.M., Yakubov, S.J. et al. (2019). Transcatheter aortic-valve replacement with a self-expanding
valve in low-risk patients. N. Engl. J. Med. 380 (18): 1706–1715. 25
Makkar, R.R., Cheng, W., Waksman, R. et al. (2020). Self-expanding intra-annular versus commercially available
transcatheter heart valves in high and extreme risk patients with severe aortic stenosis (PORTICO IDE): a
randomised, controlled, non-inferiority trial. Lancet 396 (10252): 669–683. 25
8. What did we learn about subclinical leaflet thrombosis from this study? 25
9. What are other areas of improvement for TAVI? 26
10. What should be considered for the lifetime management of patients undergoing TAVI? 26
11. What patient subsets have yet to be studied? 27
Moderate Aortic Stenosis 27
Asymptomatic Aortic Stenosis 27
Aortic Insufficiency 27
onclusions 28
C
Bibliography 28
Contents xv
9. A patient with the pre-operative EKG shown here undergoes TAVR. No change in EKG is seen at the end of the
procedure. What is recommended for the duration of temporary pacing and telemetry monitoring? 125
10. What is the likelihood that a patient with this EKG will require a pacemaker implant after TAVR? 125
11. The patient in question 10 has no change in the 12-lead EKG at the end of the procedure. How long after the
TAVR procedure is temporary pacing recommended? 126
12. A patient who undergoes TAVR has the pre-operative EKG shown in (a) and the post-procedure EKG shown in
(b). What management decisions are recommended for this scenario? 126
13. The patient from question 12 develops the following EKG 10 hours after LBBB was noticed after TAVR. What
pacemaker configuration will maintain atrioventricular synchrony? 126
14. A patient with severe aortic stenosis and moderately reduced systolic function receives TAVR and develops the
rhythm shown here, associated with dizziness, post-TAVR. What kind of pacing configuration is less likely to
result in persistent systolic dysfunction? 127
15. Pre-operatively, an 88-year-old man has the EKG shown in (a); 48 hours after TAVR, he has the EKG shown in (b).
An electrophysiology study is performed. The intra-cardiac electrocardiograms are shown in (c). Does this patient
require a pacemaker? 128
Bibliography 129
3. What is the Heart Team approach to evaluation for mitral valve therapies? 258
4. What patients are appropriate to consider for surgical mitral valve repair vs. the TEER procedure using the
MitraClip device? 259
5. What are the current indications for the TEER procedure using the MitraClip device? 259
6. Are there any absolute contraindications to TEER? 259
7. Aside from the absolute contraindications, what are the relative contraindications to be aware of for TEER? 259
8. Is the presence of a transcatheter atrial septal defect (ASD) occlusion device a contraindication for TEER? 259
9. What are the important aspects and key questions in the pre-procedural imaging during the pre-operative
evaluation for TEER? 259
10. In degenerative valve disease including mitral valve prolapse and/or flail mitral valve leaflets, what are the
important aspects to assess during the pre-procedural TEE? 260
11. What are the anatomical considerations for percutaneous TEER? 260
12. What are the minimal MVA requirements for TEER? 260
13. What are the important aspects in the assessment of the atrial septum for adequate transseptal access? 260
14. What are the current literature and trial results using TEER for the treatment of degenerative mitral valve
insufficiency? 260
15. What are the current data for the treatment of functional mitral valve insufficiency? 261
16. Why do the results from the MITRA-FR and COAPT studies differ so significantly? 261
17. What are the real-world experience and outcomes using the MitraClip for TEER? 262
The MitraClip Device 262
18. What are the components of the MitraClip catheter system? 262
19. What are the differences between the currently available clips? 262
20. Are there any evidence-based recommendations for using the NTR vs. XTR clips? 262
Echocardiographic Imaging 263
21. What is the role of echocardiography and TEE during TEER? 263
22. What are the essential TEE views to obtain during TEER? 263
Procedure 263
23. What are the steps involved in TEER? 263
24. What are the preferred access site and vascular closure approaches during TEER? 263
25. What equipment is necessary for transseptal puncture for TEER? 264
26. What is the procedure for transseptal puncture for TEER? 264
27. What are the optimal TEE views during transseptal puncture? 264
28. What is the optimal positioning for transseptal puncture for TEER? 264
29. How is the delivery system advanced into the LA? 265
30. How is the delivery system advanced into the LA and directed toward the mitral valve leaflets? 265
31. What are the steps for grasping the leaflets with the MitraClip? 266
32. Prior to deployment, how is the MitraClip assessed to ensure adequate position, grasp, and results? 266
33. How do you assess mitral valve stenosis during clip deployment? 266
34. What should you do if the device becomes entrapped in the chordal apparatus during TEER? 266
35. After deployment, how is the adequacy of the edge-to-edge repair assessed? 266
36. If there is residual MR after the initial MitraClip, can additional clips be placed? How does the operator decide
when and how to deliver additional clips during TEER? 269
Special Patient Subgroups and Considerations 269
37. Can TEER still be used in patients with complex mitral valve pathology? 269
38. Can TEER still be used in patients with mitral valve and/or mitral annular calcification? 270
39. What are the applications and limitations of TEER in patients with restricted posterior mitral valves, mitral valve
clefts, and/or flail mitral valve leaflets? 270
onclusion 270
C
Bibliography 270
Contents xxix
35 MitraClip Complications
Prevention and Management 281
Introduction 281
1. What is the incidence of vascular complications from the MitraClip procedure? 281
2. How can you prevent vascular complications during the MitraClip procedure? 282
Transseptal Puncture Complications 282
3. What are the complications of a transseptal puncture during the MitraClip procedure? 282
Complications from Device Navigation in the Left Atrium: Air Embolism and Thrombus Formation 283
4. What are the complications of device navigation in the LA? 283
Complications from Leaflet Grasping 284
5. What complications may occur during leaflet grasping? 284
6. What is a single leaflet device attachment? 284
7. How is SLDA treated? 285
8. How is SLDA prevented? 286
9. What is the incidence of MitraClip embolization? 286
10. How can you manage clip embolization? 286
Complications from Device Deployment 286
11. What is the incidence of residual MR after the MitraClip procedure? 286
12. How is residual MR treated? 287
13. What is the incidence of iatrogenic MS after MitraClip implantation? 287
14. What are the complications of elevated mean MV gradients post-MitraClip implantation? 288
xxx Contents
39 Transseptal Systems for TMVR and Transcatheter Devices for Mitral Annuloplasty 317
1. Is there any role for percutaneous treatment of mitral valve disease? 317
2. What are the different transcatheter MV techniques? 317
3. What is transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR), and how does it differ from transcatheter aortic valve
replacement (TAVR)? 318
4. What TMVR devices are available? 319
5. What is transcatheter MV repair? 320
6. What is transcatheter MV annuloplasty? 320
7. What are some devices for transcatheter indirect MV annuloplasty? 321
8. What are some devices for transcatheter direct MV annuloplasty? 322
9. What are some other devices for transcatheter MV repair? 323
10. What is the future of transcatheter treatment of MV disease? 323
Bibliography 324
48 Caval Valve Implantation (CAVI) for the Treatment of Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation 391
1. What is the concept behind caval valve implantation (CAVI)? 391
2. What is the initial data to support CAVI as a treatment for TR? 391
3. Who is a candidate for CAVI? 391
4. What information is needed to perform CAVI? 391
5. What are the steps in CAVI? 391
6. What are the current data with CAVI? 392
7. What is the future of CAVI? 393
8. What are the unknowns of CAVI? 393
Bibliography 393
2. What are the limitations of TTE in assessing mitral PVL? What are adjunctive quantitative measures used to
ascertain mitral PVL? 403
3. What is the next study considered after screening TTE for better visualization of the MV? 403
4. What nomenclature is used to anatomically define the PVL location? Where are severe mitral PVLs most often
found? 404
5. What echocardiographic parameters exist for grading the severity of mitral PVLs? 404
6. What role does 3D TEE play in evaluating mitral PVLs? 406
7. What role does cardiac MRI play in evaluating mitral PVLs? 406
8. What role does cardiac CT play in evaluating mitral PVLs? What are some of its limitations? 407
9. What are the potential benefits of using intracardiac echocardiography in percutaneous leak closure? 407
10. What combination imaging modalities are useful when evaluating and intervening in mitral PVLs? 408
Transcatheter Closure of Mitral PVLs 408
11. What is the most common approach to mitral PVL closure? 408
Anterograde Transseptal Approach 408
Transseptal Puncture 408
12. Describe the approach an interventionalist should take with transseptal puncture. How does this change
with (a) posterior defects, (b) anterior defects, and (c) medial defects? 408
13. In what position should the fluoroscopic gantries be oriented for transseptal puncture? What techniques
or equipment should be considered when performing transseptal puncture? 409
14. Describe the retrograde transapical approach to mitral PVL closure 410
15. Describe the retrograde femoral approach to mitral PVL closure 411
Retrograde Femoral Approach 411
Hybrid Anterograde-Retrograde Approach 411
Defect Crossing and Telescoping Catheters 411
16. Describe the steps required to cross a mitral PVL 411
17. Describe the concept of telescoping catheters for mitral PVL closure 412
Device Selection 412
18. What are common devices used for mitral PVL closure? 412
Device Deployment 413
19. What technique should be used for single-device deployment? 413
20. What techniques should be considered with multiple-device deployment? 413
Simultaneous Deployment Technique (Double Wire) 413
Sequential Deployment Technique (Anchor Wire) 413
21. What technique can be used to increase stability for catheter passage across a serpiginous defect that is difficult
to cross? 413
Sequential Deployment Technique Using Arteriovenoous or Transapical Rail 413
onclusion 413
C
Bibliography 414
ltraseal 446
U
11. What are the main steps to perform a “sandwich technique”? 446
12. What other LAA anatomies can pose a challenge for LAAO? 447
13. Can LAAO be performed in the presence of LAA thrombus? 447
References 447
11. What is the follow-up for patients who undergo percutaneous intervention? 512
12. What are the short- and long-term results? 513
Conclusion 513
Bibliography 513
Instantly Frank closed the throttle, and shut off all power!
It was taking a big chance; but there was nothing else to be done.
No matter what it was Sandy had let slip, expecting that it would fall
upon the monoplane, to at least cause consternation, and in some
way lessen the speed of the smaller craft, Frank did not mean that it
should strike them, if he knew it.
Of course their speed instantly slackened; not much, perhaps, but
just enough to allow of a miss in the calculations of the unscrupulous
Sandy.
Some object whizzed past, just in advance of the now descending
monoplane. Immediately it went by, Frank, under the belief that the
danger was now over, once more carefully opened the throttle.
Joy! the faithful little Kinkaid answered to the call, and began to
renew its former volleying. Once more they were going along swiftly,
though a bit lower than when the sudden emergency had caused
such prompt work on the part of the wide-awake pilot.
Frank shot a look upward.
The biplane had not diminished its speed an iota all this while. Puss
was attending to his part of the business, leaving all other matters in
the care of his well groomed assistant.
Both of them were leaning forward, staring down and backward at
the monoplane. Even at that distance Frank could see that their
faces were as white as chalk, as though the enormity of what they
had done now burst upon them. Perhaps they may even have felt a
spasm of relief at that moment, because the sand bag which had
been dropped had missed its intended target, thanks to Frank’s
ready wit.
Now the monoplane seemed to be pushing forward with more speed
than ever, as if bent on making up for lost time. And Frank was
rising, too, for he knew he must of necessity find himself above the
crown of the mountain, when ready to alight.
“What was that they dropped?” he asked of Andy.
“Looked like a sand bag,” replied the other; “but whatever would they
be doing with such a thing in a biplane?”
“That was what I wanted to know,” replied Frank, “when I saw it tied
there with a cord; and Puss explained that he and Sandy were not
quite heavy enough. Said their experiments had proved the biplane
could make faster time with a little more weight!”
“He just lied!” burst out the indignant Andy. “A hundred to one they
took that sand bag up with them on purpose to drop it on us if we
tried to pass. And look how he kept hovering up there. That gives
him away, I tell you!”
“Perhaps he got the idea from hearing how that other sand bag
came down on our lumber pile, nearly squashing us while we slept!”
observed Frank.
“Well, he only had one, didn’t he?” questioned Andy, showing
considerable nervousness; for they were now once more directly
under the biplane.
“Only one, so the trick can’t be duplicated,” answered Frank,
confidently.
“I wouldn’t put it past that sneak Sandy, to let a monkey wrench drop
on us, if he could lay hands on one,” cried Andy; and then raising his
voice he shouted: “Hey! don’t you dare try that trick again! Accidents
don’t happen twice in succession; and they’ll hang you for murder if
anything knocks us out. They can see everything that goes on up
here!”
Possibly this was stretching it pretty lively; but all the same Andy
meant to frighten Sandy, so that he would not dream of following up
a blunder by a second miserable attempt.
“It’s too late, anyhow!” said Frank, with a vibration in his voice that
might be caused by anticipated triumph.
“Yes, we’re passing them, as sure as you live! Look at the poor old
biplane dropping out of the race, Frank! Why, it might just as well
stand still as try to keep up with this dandy little airship, once you pull
the throttle wide open! We’ve got ’em beat to a frazzle, I tell you!
Goodbye, fellows. We’ll wait for you on top of old Blitzen and
Thunder! Sorry, but somebody’s got to eat the drumsticks of the
turkey!”
Andy was feeling immensely relieved. The monoplane no longer
ranged under its larger opponent. Superior speed, backed by careful
management, had given them the lead. And as Andy declared, it
looked as though the race might end in a real Garrison finish, the
one behind shooting to the front when on the home stretch.
No matter what they would have liked to do, Puss and Sandy were
now helpless to hinder the triumphal arrival of their rivals on top of
the mountain. Everything depended on the success that might attend
Frank, when making his drop. Should he make a bad job of it, and
shoot beyond the other edge of the plateau, possibly after all the
others might be the first to land. It was their only hope.
Frank knew what he had before him. He was keenly alive to the
chances of making a poor landing. And like a wise general he had
anticipated all such things before now, even practicing stopping
within a certain limited space when going at full speed.
“We’re high enough, all right, Frank!” cried Andy reassuringly, as
they swooped down toward the top of the ominous cliffs that had
always barred their gaining lodgment on the crown of Old Thunder
Top.
“Yes, no doubt about that, Andy,” returned the other, confidently.
“Now, be ready for your part. Remember, not to blunder, or we may
lose out yet. They are coming hotfooted after us, you know!”
“I’ll remember. You can trust me, Frank!”
Really, Andy was showing commendable grit and steadiness as the
termination of the fierce race through the upper currents of the air
drew nearer and nearer its termination. There was hope that in time
he might conquer that nervousness of his, and play his part as a
worthy successor to his famous father, the professor.
Like a great bird they sailed straight for the plateau marking the flat
top of the elevation. Frank could even see the nest of sticks and
grass that marked the home of the two great kings of the air, the bald
eagles, now circling around overhead, and evidently greatly excited
at the coming of these astonishing creatures, with their loud
crackling voices.
“Say, you don’t think they’ll tackle us, and knock us off the rocks?”
cried Andy, who had also been taking notice of the wheeling birds,
now swooping down, and anon rising higher on outspread pinions.
“Keep an eye on ’em!” was all Frank could say; for just then they
were close to the outer edge of the plateau, and his entire attention
had to be focused upon what was before him, since one little
misjudgment might bring about the ruination of his plans, however
admirably fashioned.
Andy had already clutched the little pole to which the National
emblem was fastened, so that not a second might be lost in giving it
to the breeze, once his feet touched the plateau. But his anxiety was
sufficient to cause him to reach to the tool box, and extract a rather
long alligator-jaw wrench, which he had in his mind as the most
suitable weapon of defense, in case of an emergency, in which one
of those old pirates of the air figured.
Angry shouts came from the rear. Of course it was the very last
despicable little scheme of the baffled plotters, by which they hoped
to disconcert Frank enough to cause him to make a bad landing, so
that they might come swinging along in time to fly the flag first.
But Frank was not built that way. It would have to be something
much greater than a few harmless hoots, to cause him to lose his
head, especially when so very important a result depended on his
nice judgment.
He had calculated to a fraction of a foot just how far above the
plateau the monoplane was situated, so that when he shut off the
engine they would drop lightly just where he figured.
And Andy knew how to apply the drag brake, so as to haul up in a
short distance.
All the same it must have been a moment of extreme anxiety to both
of the daring young aviators. They had victory within their grasp, and
in another few seconds it would be clinched and riveted, when their
flag flew from the crown of the now conquered Old Thunder Top, that
had so long defied all attempts at mastery.
Just as Frank had figured the monoplane glided down after the
engine was stopped, and touched the rocks as gently as ever he had
come to earth, running along on the three bicycle wheels, jolting over
the rough surface, yet gradually coming to a standstill, as the brake
got in its work.
Indeed, the aeroplane had not actually come to a stop before Andy
was out of his seat, and wildly flaunting the flag that had been given
him by the head of the sports committee. He knew that every eye far
away was riveted on the spot, and that since the biplane was still
afloat, those who had glasses could readily see how the other air
craft had landed first, and hence won the race.
Of course Andy shouted like a young cowboy; he would hardly have
been human not to have found some such outlet for the pent-up
emotions that were threatening to suffocate him.
And naturally enough, those victorious whoops must have been so
like gall and worm-wood to the disheartened pair just about to alight
on the plateau, a quarter of a minute after the victors had taken
possession.
Frank knew too that there must be the added consciousness of
having attempted a nasty trick, and failed! There is possibly no
meaner feeling that can overwhelm a boy than to realize that he has
tried to down a rival through trickery, that must have been apparent
to many eyes, and failed.
But Frank’s was a generous nature. Even then he was resolved not
to press the charge against his defeated rivals. No harm had
resulted from the contemptible endeavor to delay or injure them; and
doubtless already Puss must regret that he had ever allowed himself
to conspire with Sandy to carry it out. Surely he could not have
realized what a terrible thing it was they had attempted. Let it go as
an accident then; but all the same Frank was bound to make sure
that he did not again sail the upper currents under any sort of an air
craft which either Puss Carberry or Sandy Hollingshead piloted.
The others managed to alight on the plateau, though their
momentum was enough to have carried them over the other edge
had not Frank, who had left his own machine, laid hold and held the
biplane back.
Puss looked white and confused. Sandy, on the other hand, scowled,
and clenched his hands menacingly, as though so sore over his
defeat that he was almost tempted to rush on the cheering bearer of
the flag, and have it out with him there on the very apex of Old
Thunder Top.
Possibly the sight of that long alligator-jaw wrench which Andy still
clutched in his right hand may have deterred the belligerent Sandy,
though his face continued to work spasmodically, as though he might
be saying things not at all complimentary to the object of his
aversion.
Suddenly Frank gave utterance to a shout. Faintly on the air came
the uproarious cheering of the tremendous throng, away down
yonder on the aviation field, as they saw the humiliation of the once
proud Thunder Top; but it was not in connection with this that Frank
gave tongue.
“Look out!” he cried, “the eagle!”
Sandy Hollingshead happened to be the one picked out by the angry
bird, upon whom to first try his claws and beak. The boy turned at
Frank’s cry, and just managed to throw his arm up to screen his face
from the attack. But the heavy bird struck him with tremendous force
so that Sandy was hurled over upon the rocks, and more or less
bruised and cut.
Andy ran toward him, bent on defending the prostrate lad from any
further attack on the part of the enraged feathered king of the air.
Then he stopped short, gaped at something that lay there on the
rocks, having fallen undoubtedly from one of Sandy’s coat pockets
when he was sent sprawling; and with a shrill laugh Andy snatched
the object up in his hand.
“Frank, looky here would you! Just think of me finding it up on Old
Thunder Top!”
And Frank stared, as well he might, for his chum was holding up the
missing little aluminum monkey wrench for which he had so long
searched everywhere.
CHAPTER XXIII.
PROVEN GUILTY—CONCLUSION.
“Hurrah! found at last! Didn’t I tell you I’d run it down sooner or later,
Frank? And just to think that this sneak had it all the while; grabbed it
some time when perhaps it fell out of my pocket. It’s the greatest
thing ever! I’m glad I came up here!”
So Andy kept on crying, to the secret amusement of his cousin.
Evidently the other found more real joy in the sudden and
unexpected recovery of his missing monkey wrench, than in the
great victory which the little monoplane had won.
“Look out! There come both of them, Andy! Drop flat!” he yelled, as
he saw the circling eagles start to swoop down again.
Andy just saved himself by following directions, for one of the eagles
barely missed him. Sandy was sitting up, and rubbing the back of his
head, where it had come in contact with the hard rock. He appeared
half dazed, and evidently there was little use demanding any
explanation as to how the precious tool chanced to be in his
possession. Truth to tell, Andy never did find out, and had to jump at
conclusions.
The great birds continued to wheel and dart at the intruders, so that
all of the boys were soon engaged in defending themselves.
“They think we mean to rob their nest of the two eaglets you can see
there,” was Frank’s explanation. “Perhaps if we go over to the other
side of the plateau they may haul off, and let us embark again. I
wouldn’t like to hurt them, boys.”
“And I’d kill the whole outfit, if I had my way,” grumbled Sandy,
whose clothes were torn and marked with blood, where the sharp
talons of the furious bird had clawed along his person.
“Oh! well, we’ll leave you here to clean ’em out, if you say so,”
remarked Puss, who was himself anxious to get down from that
dizzy height as soon as possible, and feeling ugly toward all
creation, as fellows who make a bad mess of things usually are.
“Not much you don’t,” said Sandy quickly. “I’m going when you get
good and ready, bet your life on it. Wouldn’t ketch me staying up
here alone. Wow! even if I had a rope long enough to reach down,
I’d be afraid to chance it. Come along, Puss, we ain’t got no call to
stay here any longer. Let’s vamose.”
The biplane was the first to start off, and Frank was a little nervous
as to whether the thing could be successfully navigated in so short a
space. But nothing went wrong, and presently those who manned
the other aeroplane also took their places and made the trial.
The flag had been left fluttering in the breeze, Andy having fixed the
short pole in a crevice of the rocks, where he could wedge it fast.
With the aid of any fairly decent glasses it could be seen from town;
and would doubtless serve to stimulate many boys in the endeavor
to accomplish some similar feat of daring.
The eagles were still soaring in great circles, now rising, and again
swooping down on their broad pinions. Frank even feared that they
might take a notion to strike the strange bird that had dared invade
their eyrie home; but evidently the eagles had come to the wise
conclusion that they need fear nothing from the visit of the two
aeroplanes, for they followed them but a short distance, to return,
and perching on a crag give utterance to what might be called a
victorious scream.
“Say, what d’ye think of that?” demanded Andy, laughing as the
sound floated to them while speeding along. “They reckon they’ve
licked us, good and plenty.”
“Well,” said Frank, quickly, “so they have in one sense, for we gave
up the field to them. But looks to me as though Puss and Sandy
somehow don’t want to return to the aviation field. They’re veering
off as if they meant to go home.”
“Humph! guess that’s the best thing they could do anyhow, after
what happened!” grunted Andy.
“Meaning that sand bag they let drop?” remarked his cousin. “If I
were you, Andy, I wouldn’t say anything about that, unless asked.
Perhaps it was an accident, and they didn’t mean to do us any
harm.”
“Accident! You know just as well as I do, Frank Bird, that it was
meant, every time,” exploded the impulsive Andy. “It’s just the kind of
dirty trick Puss and his cowardly shadow are always playing on
those they don’t like.”
“Well, could you swear to it?” asked Frank.
“On general principles, yes I could,” answered the other, shaking his
head in an obstinate fashion.
“Then you saw Sandy unfasten the cord, or cut it loose?” Frank went
on.
“No—no, I can hardly go as far as that. He seemed to be handling
the bag, and I just guessed what he had in mind,” Andy admitted.
“Well, since we couldn’t prove our assertion it would be better to
keep mum on the subject. They’ll hatch up a story, and swear they
were just going to cast the bag over-board, thinking they might hit up
a faster pace, and didn’t see us below. You ought to know Puss
Carberry by this time; did you ever see him wanting a good excuse
for anything he did? And he can put on such an innocent face, too.
Let it drop, Andy. We won, and can afford to be generous, you
know.”
Andy could never stand out against this convincing tone of Frank’s.
“Oh! all right, if you say so, Frank, though I think you’re by long odds
too easy on the skunks. Why, if that bag had struck us in a certain
way, we might be as dead as herrings long before now. Makes me
shiver every time I look down. And after a fall of more than a
thousand feet, a fellow wouldn’t look good at his own funeral. But
since you say forget it, I’ll try to.”
When they hovered over the big field there was a whirlwind of shouts
that must have been pleasant music to these two young victorious
air voyagers returning from their recent exploit.
The next half hour was filled with plenty of excitement all around.
Frank had to guard his precious little monoplane from the crowds of
curious and applauding people who had witnessed their plucky race.
And the silver cup was indeed a beauty, well worth all the effort they
had put into their work. No one was more extravagant in praise than
Colonel Josiah Whympers, who toddled around with crutch and
cane, telling everybody he met what wonderful things Andy and
Frank were going to do some day. While most people were of the
opinion that he “put the cart before the horse” when using those two
names in that fashion, still they could forgive him, because Andy was
naturally everything to the doting old man.
Of course after that it was demanded that the Bird boys give a few
exhibition flights, just to let the gaping crowd see to what an
astonishing degree the modern aviator could guide his novel craft
through the air.
So Frank ascended to a height of nearly fifteen hundred feet, boring
his way upward after a fashion much in vogue among these pilots
who lead the world in aerial navigation; after which he descended in
spirals, being averse to attempting the risky stunt known as
volplaning, until he had learned the ropes better.
But it was all a grand circus for the thousands who viewed these
wonderful feats for the first time. And great was the uproarious
applause that greeted the young aviators after they had landed
again.
Before evening came the Bird boys once more went up, and headed
for the home field, tired but satisfied.
Dr. Bird had insisted that Frank come home for the night, since he
had been away so very long now.
“I guess there’s no danger about the monoplane,” Frank remarked,
as they locked the doors, and Andy for the twentieth time drew out
his recovered little monkey wrench to examine it carefully. “You know
Chief Waller nabbed those two men, Jules and Jean, and has them
locked up tight. Besides, now that the race is over, Puss and Sandy
will have no reason to want to injure our machine.”
“Perhaps not,” said Andy, “but Colonel Josiah ain’t going to take any
risks. He told me he had hired a watchman to sleep here in the shed
every night, just as long as we want. I’m going to hang around and
wait for him. I don’t trust Puss or his crony one little bit.”
“Well,” said Frank, as he prepared to depart on his wheel, “we’ve
had a grand day of it, old fellow; and I doubt if we ever see such a
great time again.”
“Just what I was thinking,” replied Andy, half regretfully, as though he
felt badly because all pleasant things must have an end. “There’ll be
no more races for us to win, and things will get mighty humdrum,
unless something turns up shortly.”
Little did either of the Bird boys, fresh from their victory of the air,
dream of the astonishing adventures that were soon to fall to their
portion, beside which those they had experienced, as narrated
between the covers of this book, would appear almost insignificant.
In good time the reader may be taken into our confidence, and
allowed to share in the knowledge of those stirring times that is in
our possession.
A few days later Frank and Andy happened to be among a group of
boys gathered on the campus in front of the high school building.
Although school had long since been dismissed for the summer
vacation, still the boys often congregated here by the famous
Bloomsbury school fence, to talk over things in general, such as
interested lads in a country town.
Baseball matters were being discussed, and the possibilities of a
good football season in the Fall. Frank and Andy were not so deeply
interested in these matters as usual though they did not see fit to tell
their friends just why.
Frank had been watching for an opportunity to carry out a little
scheme he had in mind, and which he had talked over with Andy,
Elephant Small, Larry Geohegan, and one or two other good fellows.
“Here he comes, Frank!” said Andy finally, as Puss Carberry and his
eternal shadow, Sandy Hollingshead, were seen approaching from
the direction of town.
Just as they were passing Larry stepped forward.
“I say, Puss, does this belong to you?” and he held out a card—none
other than the one which had been found in the hangar of the
monoplane the day after that trick of cutting the canvas of the planes
had been accomplished.
Puss was for once taken off his guard.
“Why, yes, I believe it does, Larry,” he said, immediately pulling out a
pack of fine cards. “You know I brought these up with me from the
city. See, it has the Indian on the back, and the words ‘Red Hunter.’
I’ll run them over, and see if the jack of spades is missing.”
He did so in an adept manner that told how accustomed he was to
handling such things.
“You see, it is missing,” he said triumphantly, “so I’ll thank you for
returning my black jack to me. Where did you pick it up, Larry?”
“Oh! you’re not indebted to me for its return,” declared Larry, turning
up his nose in disgust. “Frank here found it; he can tell you just
where.”
And Puss grew fairly scarlet, he hardly knew why himself, as he
turned his gaze upon the accusing face on the one whom he had
done so much to injure.
“You dropped it out of your pocket the night you visited our hangar,
and cut the canvas of our monoplane wings to flinders. I have been
saving it for you. Thank you, Puss, for admitting that you were the
author of that dirty trick,” and Frank turned his back on the confused
rogue.
Unable to frame a reply, Puss and his crony walked hastily away.
And before night the whole of Bloomsbury knew of what they had
been guilty; because Larry and Elephant refused to keep it to
themselves.
But it was not to be expected that this would cause such fellows as
Puss Carberry or Sandy Hollingshead to see the error of their ways.
On the contrary, it was only apt to make them the more bitter against
the Bird boys; and in time to come they would wish more than ever
that they could find some way by means of which they might injure
those who had so skillfully guided their little air craft to victory in the
race to the crest of Old Thunder Top.
Whether that opportunity would ever come, as well as many other
things in the line of adventure which were fated to befall the Bird
boys, must be left to another volume, which the reader, who has
followed our venturesome young aviators thus far, will be pleased to
know has already been issued under the title of “The Bird Boys on
the Wing; or, Aeroplane Chums in the Tropics.”
The End.