Evening star., 1932-07-10


plane changed rapidly to a
it burst from the skies, cleared the
mountain and circled the airport;
then gracefully Strengthened and
dropped to the runway Of the field
and stopped in cloud of dust near the warm
ing outbound plane The Western mail was in.
Attendants quickly transferred the sacks Of
mail from the newly arrived plane to the gi-
gantic airliner that would fly it eastward,
across the Serras, across the burned-out world
to the East. Pilots were testing, talking, idly
looking on.
"All donel"
At the magic word the pilot and his me-
chanic seated themselves in the monster Bird
motors revolved in increasingly rapid revolu-
tions, mounted to a sullen roar. The plane
moved slowly down the runway, moved more
swiftly lifted and circled above the narrow
port hemmed in between the two gray, drab
mountains. Above the port it Strengthened
eastward toward the mountains, toward the
land of deSolaton-of hunger and thirst,
rainless land. Another mail was gone.
For two hours the pilot, Paul Morton, few.
picking up the lights of the airways and fol-
lowing them. Toward the pass fine bits of
snow swirled about the closed cabin AS he
mounted higher it grew heavier-more of it.
Beacons below were erased from sight by the
fine. biting flakes. The altimeter gave the
height as 5000 feet; the sides of the plane
were caking with ice and sleet.
youthful face plainly exhibited worry he
brushed back his tousled sandy hair. At times
he was busy with the many instruments that
lined the comfortable cabin; again he peered
restlessly downward searching for the lights
of the airway route.
Were off our course, Nose, that's all"
voiced the pilot to the puzzling mechanic He
stated the fact as if it were a mere opinion
of something of no especial worth.
Sure we are" replied Nose. Il believe
we're south Of it, maybe by now east of Vegas
somewhere"
80 do T." responded the pilot as he swerved
the plane slightly toward the north. We
should have seen the lights of Vegas some
time ago"
The country was treacherous; bald noun
tains to the south, east and north. The tree
covered mountain park country of the Charles
ton Range, topped by the magnificent snow
capped Charleston Peak to the west Eastward
the bald, waterless, treeeSs Norman Range,
beyond that the great land of unknown lying
it always lay-silent, forbidding, man
hess, waiting, always waiting
After an hours circling, Paul Morton gave
up the search for the Vegas Port. He could
not find any place where the angry snow did
not blot out the vision of the earth below.
A SHARP splutte- of the motor brought Nose
" to dynamic attention. The tank was
them and an enforced landing. Blinded by
snow, among mountains they had never seen,
through which probably no plane had ever
before flown. they knew they faced imme-
diately the crucial test of the airmans last
ride
TRY it! We've got to go down." hoarsely
spoke Nose He fumbled with the ring of
his parachute, to get familiar with the rings
location. Paul strapped his chute TO him and
dropped the plane lower-and lower.
Then JOY The snow stopped swirling about
them; below. they could not figure how far,
they the dim, whitened earth
They were too close to use their chutes now
The earth looked fiat from above stay with
it an brace yourself called Paul as he spiraled
the silent motor toward the ground. Grad
ually, yet swiftly. the plane dropped EARTH
ward. The uncanny stiffness following the
dying of the motor was weird Below Paul
perceived twin range. The plane dropped be-
tween the walls of a narrow canyon The
WhealS touched SopnN hieb a'AsA~- Sn~L. lAan~>