Evening star., 1933-05-14

under his jumper Betty found leather coat
several sizes too large for her. and they both
got helmets. Then they strapped their 'chutes
on with care and hurried out to the line.
A few moments later they had tucked them
completed his quick but thorough examina-
ton Of the plane. Indy sat at the controls.
listening to be sure that the motor sounded
exactly right This wasn't the best ship 0n
the field by . whole lot, but Indy vas per-
fectly familiar with 1t, having used 4 for most
Of his lessons. and he felt entirely confident
- he waved . hand to Bob Gore and gave
her the gun.
With . preliminary lurch the ship got under
way Across the sloppy field it rolled. gath
erng speed. Then Indy nosed hsr o6 ths
ground, swung her about. and headed for ths
limo Of hills behind which the Beaver Basin
tragedy had occurred.
Lindy's experience vas somewhat hnttod,
and never had It included such an mpleasank
hop - this. The rain beat into his face, and
he was soon thoroughly wet. In spite q hi
protecting clothes. The air was fun o( pockets.
especially when they got over the hills. which
were . hAaard to flying At best, end The trip
was . succession Of sickening slips and 1oaeS.
Betty. In the front cockpit. was damp and un-
comfortable and slightly III. but she stuck Il
out grtmly and managed 10 smile Whenever
she glanced back over her shoulder At Indy.
RURING the arst half hour Il ~ Asht
- Indy kept close TO the ground because
o( the low ceiling. but when The hlls Vsse
reached he had to climb. and from tAsa On
he was practically nying blind. BsSoW h1n
were almost solid banks Of gray cloads, ~
although he had flown this WY before. hs
knew that there would be real danger when he
went down to try to locate Beaver Bas4n md
make . landing.
But when he judged he must be close 10
his destination. he carefully nosed tAe sh1p
down into the cloud banks. Lower and lower
he dropped. while the gray mist vhiried about
the little ship.
Then suddenly he dived through one Ayee
Of clouds. And his heart almost Knocked tAe
ROOT. out Of his mouth. Directly In front oe
him WAS the side Of . hill. and the vhesb
OF the plane were almost brushing ths tFse
topsl
Franticauy, he jerked hack ths stisk anA
climbed, scooting over the hin With ltttle n0cs
than inches to spare. But the a1r Wa0 ~
clearer nov, and ahead and T. The III h
could see . scene that told him ~ destlna-
ton had been reached.
n two hills that 1t formerly had joined stood
what was left Of the Beaver Basin Dam. Ard
below It the brown waters still swified near
the ruins Of the village. Indy had time for
only one sudden flash Of horror at the scene
Of destruction. then his eye found the place
where the other planes had landed. and his
mind leaped back to the problem Of getting his
own ship down.
Cautiously he drifted down over the ex-
panse of mud that had served the other dyeEs
as q landing field. He gased down intently.
studying the six ships that he could sc theEe.
I'D i~ lSp~
Those ships had been flown by the best pilots
at tho airport, yet two Of the six showed ded-
mite signs Of having cracked up in landing.
One was nosed over, with . broken propeller.
while the other dropped like . wounded bird.
ground.
Betty glanced around 1t Indy. She smiled
confidence and encouragement. He, Indy Ste-