Part 10 (1/2)

It must be confessed that the hearts of the three boys beat a bit faster as they drew closer. Would they find the flying machine, and if so, would it be in serviceable condition or so smashed up as to be worthless?

”There she is!” burst from Tom's lips, and he pointed out into the water.

”Right down between half a dozen big rocks,” added Sam. ”Is she smashed much? How about the engine, d.i.c.k?”

”The engine is there, but I can't tell if it's broken or not. We'll soon find out.”

The big biplane lay among some rocks and bushes, the latter overhanging the water, which at this spot was less than two feet deep. By taking off their shoes and socks, and rolling up their trousers, the boys were able to wade out to the flying machine and make an inspection.

”One of the planes is broken,” said d.i.c.k. ”But as the bamboo poles are merely split I think they can be repaired with some fine wire,--just as we repair a split baseball bat.”

”But the engine?” asked Sam, impatiently.

”I think the engine is all right--at least it looks all right to me. Of course we can't be sure until we clean it up and try it.”

”Then she must have struck the water on the slant and that must have broken the shock,” said Tom; and this surmise was undoubtedly correct, for had the _Dartaway_ come down squarely on the rocks the planes and the engine must have been broken to bits.

”Do you think we can get her ash.o.r.e?” asked Sam.

”Sure we can, by the aid of the hooks and ropes, and the horses. But we want to be careful how it's done. There is no sense in breaking the machine still more.”

”We might get some planks from that old hut and roll the wheels up on them,” suggested Tom. ”I don't believe anybody uses the hut.”

”No, that ain't been used for years,” said Peter Marley. ”Ye can tear down the hull thing if ye want to.”

The boys and the farmer set to work, and presently they had several rough planks taken from the sides of the hut. They had the horses drag these down to the water, and by hard work managed to get the planks under the flying machine. As the planks were of wood they aided in floating the affair.

”By jinks! I've got an idea!” suddenly cried d.i.c.k. ”We'll want the machine on the other side of the river. Why not build a raft and float her over instead of bringing her ash.o.r.e here? There is plenty of stuff in that old hut.”

”That's the ticket!” answered Tom. ”Hurrah for a life on the rolling deep!”

”It's a good idee,” was the farmer's comment. ”I was wonderin' how we'd git over with the contraption. You kin keep on shovin' planks an' logs under till she floats, an' tie them together with the ropes ye brung along. A good idee.”

It was not until noon that they had the so-called raft built and the biplane fastened to it. The work had made them all hungry and they were glad that they had brought along a substantial lunch. They sat down in the shade of the woods to eat, was.h.i.+ng the meal down with some water from a spring back of the old hut,--or rather of what was now left of the structure. While the boys ate they talked about Josiah Crabtree and Tad Sobber and the others who were their enemies.

”They'll surely try to do something,” said d.i.c.k. ”But what it will be I can't guess. We'll have to keep on guard.”

”Who is going to go on the raft?” asked Sam. ”It won't carry all of us.”

”I'll pole it over,” answered d.i.c.k. ”The rest of you will have to go around by the ford.”

”Don't you want any help?” asked Tom.

”No, I think I can do it alone. If two of us got on the raft it might sink too deep and get stuck on the rocks.”

So it was arranged, and a few minutes later d.i.c.k set off. Peter Marley had cut for him a slender but tough pole, which he was to use in shoving the novel craft across the stream.

”Don't go overboard!” cried Sam.

”I'm going to take off the most of my clothing,” answered the older brother. ”You can carry the things for me--and don't drop them at the ford.”