Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-15
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seemed TO me a sheer impoSsibility, but
Carter appeared to be more sanguinc.
We cemc Gown much lower, till we were
almost level with the tops of the hills,
and the pilot began to search for suit
able landing place.
Presently VIC caught sight Of what
seemed to be q iat valley bounded by
rocky hills rising sheer above 1t. II
looked horrible place to land, but there
seemed to BE- nothing better. Carter,
with perfect GOODNESS, shut Off the en-
CINE: we made a dive for the entrance
| TO the vallsy. bumped. Swayed violently,
and finally came TO an abrupt stano3tfll
against q large rock Carter jumped
out.
mo damage done, I think" he said,
with great relief, but you must help
me right her"
We found that the plane was firmly
wedged CT q sianting angle between two
boulders, with one wheel OF the ground.
machine and push It on 10 level ground
again. We wiped the perspiratkon Oh
our foreheads. and then. while Carter
tinkered with the engine, made hasty
survey Of our surroundings. A more IN
hospitahle place 1t would be impossible
to imagine.
We had evidently landed In q nniiah,
or oried-up water course, which In the
summer was raging torrent, carrying
rocks, stones and driftwood towards the
plains. Now. however, 1t was as dry as
q desert and terrificaiiy hot. The noon
day sun beat relentlessiy on our backs
and our Threats were parchcd with
thirst
At the end of half an hour, Carter
grtmy, dusty and thoroughly disgruntled,
tRaAk h. A.asA l. A.sk
We should have 10 return at once, IF
we don't get back now" he added. she
won't last out"
Starting off again, however, was easier
said than done. In order to get fiat
run. We had to pull up various bushes
that we're in the way and remove sew
eral boulderS. Deep ruts had to be filled
up with stones, and In one place q guam
tfty of rubble from landslide had to be
iaboriously moved, bit by bit. IT was q
task worthy of Hercules and the sun
was already beginning to dip behind the
mountains before the work was done
Finally Carter announced that all was
ready and told me to get into the plane
/ found It was necessary for him to re-
main outside In order to start her up,
and was accordingly given directions
rs to what to do.
i got IN. Win some trepA0AIt0n, ana
sat ready while the pilot grasped the
propeller. He swung it round once or
twice, there was moment Of suspense
and then the engine started. The next
instant the plane gave Q jump that
b0wled Carter over, and before I real
lied what had happened the machine
was careering along the bottom OF the
nullah.
Carter, meanwhile, had picked him
self up and ran after the plane, shouting
directions TO me, but his voice was
drowned In the roar Of the engine. AS
the pace increased, the horror OF the
situation deWned on me, for I knew
nothing whatever about flying. For one |
CHASTITY moment realized that we had !
left the ground. Then ] jumpedl
There was q deafening crash as |
fell through one Of the wings and |
tllmbied TO the ground In q heap. |
had a dim recollection of Carter rush.
ing past me and catching up the air. |
plane as it bumped along the ground, |
but when / sat up and locked around, |
the machine was high In the air, mere
speck in the distancei
\
/ MUST have been In q semi-stupifed
condition, for 1t was some time be-
fore the full horror OF my position
dawned upon me. Here was /. alone In
hostile territory, and likely at any min
ute TO get bullet through met