Part 27 (1/2)

”Hadn't you better go up a bit, d.i.c.k?” came from Tom.

”Just what I thought of doing,” was the answer.

The rudders were s.h.i.+fted, and swiftly the biplane mounted through s.p.a.ce.

It was now growing dark, and presently the panorama that had been below them, vanished from view.

”Huh! This won't do!” cried d.i.c.k. ”I can't see how to steer.”

”Steer by the wind for awhile,” suggested Sam.

A minute later came a fierce gust of wind, followed by a second and then a third. Around spun the biplane and then tilted up as if about to go over. Then came an unexpected ripping and tearing sound.

”It's the left plane--it's torn loose!” yelled Sam. ”Let her down, d.i.c.k, before it is too late! If you don't, we'll drop to our death!”

CHAPTER XVII

CAUGHT IN A HAILSTORM

All of the Rover boys realized their extreme peril, yet for the moment they were powerless to do anything to help themselves. d.i.c.k put out his hand to stop the engine of the biplane, then concluded that it might be more advantageous to keep the propellers moving.

Around and around spun the flying machine, tossed like a chip on an angry ocean. All grew dark about the three boys and each gave himself up for lost. It was useless to attempt to steer, so d.i.c.k held the craft as she was, so far as the wheel was concerned.

Then came a sudden, sickening drop and a tilting to one side. Sam let out a wild yell, but what he said was drowned out in the roaring of the wind and the noise of the engine. Then, of a sudden, the _Dartaway_ dove forward and the gust of air was left behind. They came into a ”hole,” as it is termed by aviators, and again they sank. But now d.i.c.k was gaining control once more and he tilted the front rudder and up they went for a hundred feet, but in something of a circle, because of the broken plane.

”Can't you land?” gasped Tom. ”We can't--can't--stand--this!”

”I'll do what I can,” replied d.i.c.k, between his set teeth. He knew that their very lives depended on how he handled the biplane.

Slowly and with great caution d.i.c.k allowed the _Dartaway_ to get closer to the earth. Each of the boys strained his eyes, to catch sight of what might be below. Then came another gust, and this was followed by a strange rattling on the biplane. Small, white objects were bouncing in all directions.

”It's hail!” cried Sam. ”We've struck a hail squall!”

He was right, and the hail continued to come down all around them, driven by a sweeping wind that carried the _Dartaway_ hither and thither. But it was one of those sudden squalls that do not last long, and soon they were sailing in the clear air again, and now within view of the ground below.

”There is a fine field--to the right,” cried Tom.

d.i.c.k nodded and, not without an effort, brought the biplane around. Then he shut off the motor, and they slid to earth quicker than they had antic.i.p.ated. The _Dartaway_ struck the ground and bounced up and down several times on its rubber-tired wheels and then came to a standstill in the midst of some brushwood. Poor Sam was thrown out heels over head into the bushes.

”Are you hurt?” sang out d.i.c.k, anxiously. It was so dark he could not see what had become of his youngest brother.

”I--I guess not!” came back from Sam, and he started to scramble out of the bushes. ”Say, that was some sail, wasn't it?” he continued.

”No more like that for me!” returned Tom, panting like a race horse.

”Are you O. K., d.i.c.k?”

”Yes, although that b.u.mping shook me up. But come, fasten the _Dartaway_ down before the wind comes up again and blows it to kingdom come!”

This warning was necessary for the wind was still fitful and there was no telling how strong it might become. All sprang forward to do what they could to save the biplane from destruction.