Secrets of the Andes Page 9

  CHAPTER IX

  A Fearful Discovery

  Never in their lives had the explorers witnessed anything like theterrible onslaught that followed. The violent, ruthless wind dashedthe monoplane about dangerously, threatening at every moment to tearit to pieces. It was but a frail, man-made machine when caught inthose forces of nature.

  Karl's ability as a pilot promised to be tested to the utmost. If hecould keep the ship straight it would be nothing short of miraculous.The less skillful aviator would send his craft dashing down to thefoamy water below. But Karl was by no means a novice. He had had wideexperience in piloting passenger monoplanes on schedule across theUnited States.

  "Sit tight!" he called through the telephone, suspecting that hisfriends were frightened. "We'll get out some way--I hope."

  Every gust of wind tossed the 'plane about hazardously. It seemedthat a plunge would be inevitable.

  In the cockpit Karl Sutman was determined to bring his friends andhimself safely through the danger. With nerves of steel, he hung ondesperately to the stick and the rudder bar, keeping his keen eyesglued to the horizon.

  It was indeed a race between life and death, as the staunch 'plane wasswung about at the mercy of the storm. Many times before had themachine proved itself capable of withstanding the assault of theelements, but this was the supreme test. If it could weather this, itwould indeed be a strong machine.

  Inside the cabin, the youths and the naturalists were pale with anawful fear that this would be the end. They could not conceive ofpassing safely through such a hurricane as this. They were only tooaware that many an aviator had gone to his doom in a tropical storm.

  Now, to add to the terrible scene, a heavy rain began to fall, comingin great gusts with the wind. It pattered ominously on the wings,bearing the monoplane down with the added weight.

  "Oh!" groaned Joe, almost giving up in despair. "I suppose the worstis yet to come."

  "Cheer up," said Mr. Holton, who was inclined to be hopeful, as henoticed that the wind was blowing more evenly. "It can't last so verymuch longer."

  Despite this expression of optimism, the hurricane continued at fullforce, although a bit smoother than at first. Now the wind, instead ofcoming in great gusts, blew steadily.

  This made it slightly easier to handle the 'plane and took some of thesevere strain from Karl. But he still was forced to use all his energyin keeping the craft at as even keel as possible.

  All knew that a tropical storm was usually over a wider area than onein the temperate zone. It was this that had made it impossible forKarl to steer the 'plane to safety before the gale struck.

  Only gradually did the monoplane pass through the clouds, whichextended many miles in every direction.

  Finally, when a clear sky again became visible, the explorers utteredcries of relief. They had at last escaped what seemed like certaindisaster.

  Bob moved over to the transmitter.

  "You were wonderful, Karl, old boy!" he praised. "If most anyone elsehad been in your seat, we wouldn't be in the air now."

  "Oh, there are plenty others that could have done it," the aviatorreturned, his voice sounding a bit nervous. "I just saw that I had toget out some way and did everything I could."

  The storm had served in no small measure to heighten the explorers'admiration for their pilot. If the latter could safely guide themthrough such a display of the elements, he could be depended upon foralmost any crisis.

  The brilliant sun was now rapidly showing itself in full view, castinga sparkling reflection on the ocean. All evidences of the storm werecovered up, even the heavy foam caps having disappeared. It was asthough nature were repenting of her arduous activities.

  As they flew on, the explorers had a strong hope that the weatherwould remain calm during the remainder of their journey. They werenearing land now, and they wished to finish the trip in a cloudlesssky.

  At last, when they were becoming weary from seeing nothing butboundless water, they suddenly caught sight of a dim shape thatcovered the whole of the horizon. That shape became larger and moreplain, until it took on the form of land.

  "Hurrah!" cried Bob joyfully. "South America at last!"

  "I believe you're right," came from his father. "It----"

  "Announcing our arrival at the great continent of South America!"Karl's voice, coming loudly through the telephone, broke off with alaugh.

  As they came nearer, the aviator guided the machine to a loweraltitude, although still high enough to see many miles in everydirection.

  But it was a long while before they could make out plainly the detailsof the coast. Fog made it necessary to fly very near in order to seeanything distinctly.

  "I believe I can make out the Andes," said Joe, gazing out at thedistant horizon.

  "Don't be sure," laughed Mr. Wallace. "Those mountains are a long wayoff."

  Before long they had passed the coast and headed over the land, almostdirectly above the Magdalena River, whose course they could easilymake out.

  For the most part, the country they were flying over was rugged anduncultivated, but there were occasional towns and villages that dottedthe valleys and clearings.

  "Bogota is the first large city we'll see," announced Karl. "We oughtto get there by tomorrow noon."

  "Where will we spend tonight?" asked Joe, as he noticed that darknesswas not far off.

  "Suppose we land before long and put up our tent," suggested Mr.Holton, stepping up to the telephone transmitter.

  "I was just getting ready to do that," Karl answered him, and thenadded: "Here's a good spot now."

  There was a wide, level field directly below them. Karl sent themonoplane off to the west and then headed it back and downward.

  A perfect three-point landing was made in the tall grass, the shipcoming to a stop at the very edge of a frowning jungle.

  Once more the explorers got out and stretched their legs.

  Bob and Joe had just started over to the jungle when they heardsomething that made them turn about quickly.

  "There's a leak in the gas tank," Karl said ominously, "and the gas isalmost gone. We landed just in time."