Evening star., 1932-07-10

Planes had secuted the country for miles
during the days succeeding the planes loss
between Vegas ard Sal. Lake City Now, with
the Summer on. the company preparing
to dispatch small observation planes TO cover
the country. Jack Horton was plotting the
observing plane chat SKINNED the mesa floor.
In the west mass of clouds was moving
toward them. 1t had slipped On them so grad
ually while they we're watching the ground that
the pilot knew he could not reach Vegas before
1t broke.
Skimmng the Yucas. locking for landing
place to ride out the storm, Jack was startled
to hear his observer call. Some one below"
What do you see?" yelled Jack back.
Looks ike two men an girl; they were
waving at u.s.
Have to see who they are, but it isn't them;
there's no girl with them"
Six hard weeks of searching for a pass
through the mountains ended in the three
from the Valley of Ancient Men finding a
narrow, twisting. dangerous path up over the
high cliffs, and descent to the western side.
The long fight had taken their supplies. The
top of the mountain was waterless, the west
side treeless and barren. Huge black, dinty
lava rocks barred their way. They had passed
into desolate, burned-out world.
On the wide mesa at the foot of the steepest
portion of the mountain they passed into acres
of Yucca and Joshua trees. Moses leg tor
mented him continually; he pleaded with Paul
to leave him there to continue alone. Their
last scant supply of food was gone, they were
gaunt with hunger. The men were dirty, un-
shaven. Hunger, thirst and binding white
were fast doing their work. Anita's hne,
sensitive face was tanned and drawn. WearIy
she sank in the meager shade of a Joshua
tree
THE Brother-Gods are angry. We must die"
she said. She looked appealingly into Paul's
tense face. "Oh why did we Gomez"
That's bosh," broke in Nose. His face was
twisted with pain but he was not losing his
grasp on realities yet. Paul did not look so
sure however; during the long rest periods his
mind travelled many times back to the speech
of the old chieftain. He was not so sure now
that it had been wise to faunt the legends OF
the ancient venerable chieftain and his people
'Rain!" cried Nose joyfully, as he sprang
up and looked. toward the western rims, far
across the sun-baked blistering desert floor
below them, where dark, omnous clouds were
massing in battle array.
Lets get some shelter rocks or some
thing" Nose pointed toward an arroyo OPEN
ing toward the desert floor.
Paul carried the half -fainting, frightened girl,
and assisted Nose, whose leg was constant
torture now As they rested brief moment,
they were astounded to see bursting from among
the angry clouds a swift moving plane. 1t
passed directly over them, close to the floor,
as If seeking landing.
Its one of ours" cried Paul, leaping to his
feet and wildly waving. He recognized the
small, swift plane by the number on the wings
NIREcTLY before them in the arroyo soh-
- tary crucifxion tree was standing, silent,
repellent, alona-every branch and twig a
spiny thorn. Silently they moved toward 1t,
sank down in it's meager protection
Directly from the angry clouds streak OF
awesome, fearful lightning zigzagged as though
searching for medium of reaching the drench-
ed earth. 1t f1ared, flashed, found the lone
crucifxion tree. Followed crashing roar and
chaos
The humTning of the starting motor of the
searching plane followed the storms swift
passing. Small washes that had lain dry for
months were now raging waterfalls, rushing
TO the desert floor below, unhindered by trees
or grass.
I'VE can run an hour yet" Jack Horton
announced to his observer as they took off,
"then we must go in for gas Let's try TO
locate those people first"
He sent the plane skimming over the wide
mesa, darting this way and that, circled and
returned to the same location.
Something below; think it's them; down
there" cried the observer.
Better land around here then," observed
Jack he swerved the plane, turned and
alghted close to a shattered crucifxion tree.
The two. bird-men quickly disengaged them
selves from the plane and rushed toward the
three inert figures.
MY God! It's Paul, an Nose, an girl"
cried Jack as he stopped to examine the grimy,
gaunt figures before him.
That lightning just hit this tree; now amt
that the devil Wonder where they came from?
Where they got the grip" the observer ratified
wildly
They're alive yet-badly stunned" said Jack
lifting Pauls head and shoulders. Catch hold
here, weIl put em in the plane and hike to
Vegas quick"
Twenty minutes later the swift plane dropped
easily to the rain -drenched air field at Vegas
Jacks urgent cries brought officials and at
tendants running
From Los Angeles went out the thrilling news
that an aviator had at last accomplished the