Part 1 (2/2)
Operative Carnes of the United States Secret Service bent over a large-scale map of Maryland, spread open on a table. With the aid of the navigating officer, he spotted on the map the point over which the plane was flying.
”There goes Burleigh's s.h.i.+p!” cried the executive officer.
There was a gasp from the occupants of the flagplane's cabin. Far below them, one of the crippled planes had slowed down until it had lost flying speed. Whirling like a leaf, it plunged toward the ground.
Two small specks detached themselves from the falling ma.s.s. They hovered over the falling plane for an instant. Suddenly a patch of white appeared in the air, and then another. The two specks fell more slowly.
”Good work!” exclaimed General Merton. ”They took to their 'chutes just in time.”
”We'll be taking them in a few minutes if our motors don't pick up!”
replied the executive officer.
Far below them, the doomed plane crashed to the ground. As it struck there was a blinding flash followed by vivid flames as the gasoline from the bursted tank ignited. The two members of the crew were drifting to the east as they fell. It was evident that they were in no danger.
”Where is Lightwood's plane?” asked General Merton anxiously.
”It's still aloft and making its way slowly north. He intends to try for an emergency landing at the Aberdeen Proving Ground field,”
replied the executive officer.
”That's where we had better head for,” said Dr. Bird. ”I hope that the charge on Captain Lightwood's plane discharges through the tail skid when he lands. If it doesn't, he'll be in serious danger. Follow him and we'll watch.”
Five thousand feet below them, the crippled plane limped slowly along toward Aberdeen. It was gradually losing elevation. Two specks suddenly appeared in the air, followed by white patches as the parachutes opened. Captain Lightwood and his gunner had given up the unequal fight and taken to the air. As the s.h.i.+p struck the ground, again there was a blinding flash, followed by an inferno of roaring flames.
”We're not in much better shape than they were, General,” said the executive officer as he came back from the control room where the pilots were heroically striving to keep their motors turning over fast enough to keep up flying speed. ”We'd better get into our 'chutes.”
”The Proving Ground is just ahead,” said the doctor. ”Can't we make it by sacrificing our elevation?”
”We're trying to do that, Doctor, but we're down to four thousand now and falling fast. Get ready to jump.”
Dr. Bird buckled on the harness of the pack parachute which the executive officer offered him. The rest of the crew had hurriedly donned their packs and stood ready.
For another five minutes the plane struggled on. Suddenly a large flat expanse of open ground which had been in sight for some time, seemed to approach with uncanny rapidity.
”There's the landing field!” cried the General. ”We'll make it yet!”
Lower and lower the plane sank with the landing field still too far away for comfort. The pilot leveled off as much as he dared and drove on. The motors were laboring and barely turning over at idling speed.
They pa.s.sed the nearer edge of the field with the flagplane barely thirty feet off the ground. In another moment the wheels touched and the plane rolled to a halt.
”Don't get out!” cried Dr. Bird.
He looked around the cabin and picked up a coil of bare antenna wire which hung near the radio set. He wrapped one end of the wire around the frame of the plane. To the other end, he attached his pack 'chute.
”Open the door!” he cried.
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