Tom was more fortunate the next time.  A condor, with a fluttering of his immense wings, had settled right on the tail of the machine, where he clung with his sturdy talons, threatening to prevent Paul from manipulating the rudder.  When Bob called Tom's attention to this alarming situation, the latter joined him at the rear window of the cabin.  Tom took careful aim, pulled the trigger, and the condor fell with a broken wing, uttering hoarse cries until the clouds below swallowed him up.