The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Sky Trail, by Graham M. Dean This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org Title: The Sky Trail Author: Graham M. Dean Release Date: April 24, 2014 [EBook #45485] Language: English Character set encoding: UTF-8 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SKY TRAIL *** Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net The Sky Trail By Graham M. Dean Author of Daring Wings Circle 4 Patrol The Goldsmith Publishing Co. Chicago Copyright 1932 The Goldsmith Publishing Company Made in U. S. A. THE SKY TRAIL CHAPTER ONE Gray clouds of winter hung over the city as the noon edition of the Atkinson News roared off the press. Tim Murphy, famous young flying reporter and aviation editor of the News, pecked away half-heartedly at his typewriter trying to write a story about a minor automobile accident that had happened a few minutes before in front of the News building. The raw, damp weather and the lead-colored sky had a depressing effect on Tim. He felt earthbound, restless, and he longed to soar through the clouds in the Good News, the trim, fast biplane owned by the paper. “What are you looking so gloomy about?” asked Ralph Graves, who had been Tim’s flying companion on many an aerial adventure. “This weather is enough to give anyone a grouch,” replied Tim. “Here it is, almost spring, and we have to get a week of sloppy weather that spoils all our plans. That job of overhauling the Good News and installing the new motor will be done today but it won’t do us any good. With weather like this we won’t get any flying assignments.” “I know just how you feel,” sympathized Ralph, “Ive been out chasing the fire trucks on a couple of chimney fires and I’ve slopped through all the mud and slush I’m going to for one day. Gosh! But I’d like to hop over a few clouds in the Good News.” The telephone on Tim’s desk rang and he turned to answer. He was smiling when he swung back and faced Ralph. “Dash off your copy,” he said. “Carl Hunter, the manager at the airport, just phoned that the Good News is ready for a test flight. If we cut lunch this noon we’ll have time for a short hop. What say?” “Don’t ask foolish questions,” grinned Ralph. He hurried to his typewriter where his fingers were soon beating a tattoo on flying keys as he wrote the story of the fires. Ralph finished his story, turned it in at the copy desk, and was on his way to rejoin Tim when a deep rumble shook the building. “Earthquake!” shouted one of the copy boys as he dove under a desk. The windows rattled in their frames and the entire building shook as the terrific noise continued. Then a great pall of black smoke could be seen mounting skyward. The building ceased its trembling, the copy boy scrambled out from under the desk and the telephones voiced their sharp cries. Tim was the first to answer. From his attitude others in the news room sensed some major disaster. The managing editor, George Carson, human dynamo of the paper, ran to Tim’s desk and leaned close to the receiver. He could hear the words which were being shouted into the transmitter at the other end of the line. The managing editor turned to Ralph. “Run to the composing room,” he cried. “Tell them to stand by for an extra. The storage tanks on the Midwest Oil Company property west of town have caught fire and are exploding.” Ralph waited to hear no more, but ran to the composing room where he gave the managing editor’s message to the foreman. Then he hurried back to the editorial office. Tim was scribbling a bulletin for the extra with one hand while he listened to the first report of the explosion. Five or six men were missing. They might have been caught in the first blast or perhaps they had escaped and were too excited to report their safety. The managing editor took the story as fast as Tim could write it, wrote a new banner line for the front page, and rushed the copy to the composing room. “Who’s talking?” he asked. “One of the mechanics from the airport,” said Tim. “The storage tanks are only a mile and a half from the field and he saw the first one let go. A man from the oil company is at the field now and they are getting the story from him.” “Is the Good News in condition to fly?” asked the managing editor. “Just got word a few minutes ago she was ready to test,” replied Tim. “Is it safe to go up on a picture assignment for photos of those burning oil tanks?” “If you’ll pay for all the paint I scorch off the plane,” said Tim. “We’ll pay for it,” cried Carson. “Take Ralph with you and get all the pictures you can. We’ll want them for the city final. And whatever you do, don’t let your motor cut out when you’re over those burning tanks.” “If it does you’ll have to look for two new reporters,” chuckled Ralph. Tim turned the telephone over to another reporter and they stopped only long enough to get a camera and make sure that it had a plentiful supply of plates. The editorial office was in an uproar. Carson was shouting orders at everyone who came within hearing distance; reporters were running from the room, starting for the scene of the explosion; others were hastening to hospitals where injured might have been taken and one was delving into the files to compare the present disaster with fires of other years. A heavy pall of oily, black smoke blanketed the city and some streets were so dark the street lights had been turned on. Tim and Ralph ran to the nearby garage where the cars used by News Reporters were stored. They took the first machine available, a light, speedy roadster. Tim climbed behind the wheel and they shot out of the garage. Traffic down town was in a tangled jam that would take an hour to clear for the rumbling explosions from the oil tanks had alarmed the entire city. Many people, believing that the city was about to fall on their heads, had hurried to their cars in an attempt to flee to the open country. Now they were just as anxious to return to their homes. By sliding through alleys, Tim managed to get to a fairly clear boulevard that led to the airport. A light breeze had started to clear the smoke from the air and Tim stepped on the accelerator. The indicator on the speedometer climbed steadily—forty, forty-five and fifty miles an hour. “Look out,” cried Ralph, “Or we’ll be picked up for speeding.” “No chance,” replied Tim. “All the police are at the fire. We’ve got to make time if we want good pictures.” Tim and Ralph were supremely happy as they sped toward the airport. They were going into the clouds again—into the clouds in quest of the news and the pictures. Barely a year before the News had purchased an airplane and Tim had been assigned the duties of flying reporter. Ralph had been selected to help and Tim had trained his friend as a flyer. Together they had uncovered some of the biggest stories of the year for the News and their exploits had become exceedingly popular with the people of Atkinson. In their first year of following the sky trails they had flown across the top of the world to prove that the ice and snow of the Arctic did not cover a hitherto unknown continent; Tim had flown down into Old Mexico and secured exclusive photographs of a rebel leader; and together they had brought about the death of the Sky Hawk, a former German war ace who had preyed on the air lines of the middle west. Now they were off on a new adventure and their hearts beat faster as they neared the airport. To their right great billows of smoke mounted skyward from the burning storage tanks and occasionally tongues of flame could be seen as the fire made some new conquest. The airport was just beyond the city limits and its administration building and hangars flanked the boulevard. Tim spun the roadster through the gate and stopped beside hanger No. 5. The broad doors of the hangar had been rolled open and the Good News, its nose pointed toward the field, was waiting for them. The metal propeller was turning slowly as the engine idled. The fuselage had been painted a brilliant crimson with the wings a contrast in silver grey. Carl Hunter, quiet, efficient manager of the field, was waiting for them. “How does the new engine sound?” asked Tim. “Mighty sweet,” replied Hunter. “I haven’t had her up for I knew you would want the first flight. However, I gave her a thorough test on the blocks and she never missed a stroke. Boy, you’ve got some plane with that new 250 horsepower radial motor. You’ll do 200 miles an hour and have plenty of power to spare.” They hastened to the plane where Tim and Ralph made a quick but thorough inspection. The biplane had been overhauled and re-rigged during the winter with a new, more powerful motor. The Good News would be fifty miles an hour faster. The flying reporters climbed into their cockpits. Ralph, who was to handle the camera, took the forward cockpit and Tim handled the controls in the rear one. Tim opened the throttle and listened attentively as he ran the motor up and down the scale. There was never a second’s hesitation. Hunter came close and shouted in Tim’s ear. “Don’t get too close to the fire,” he cried. “The heat will raise the dickens with the air and it will be pretty rocky.” Tim nodded and motioned for the blocks to be cleared away. The Good News rolled easily out of the hangar, flipped its tail saucily at the few mechanics left at the field, and roared over the soggy ground and into the air. Tim thrilled to the touch of the controls and the Good News answered even to the slightest movement of the stick. The new motor settled to its work in a manner that warmed Tim’s heart. He felt that he had reserve power for any emergency as he swung the biplane around and headed for the burning oil tanks. Tim put the Good News in a steady climb and they gained altitude rapidly. At 1,200 feet he levelled off and Ralph got busy with the camera. The oil storage lot, a large tract of level land, was dotted with a dozen large tanks. Five of the tanks had caught fire and exploded, the force of the explosion knocking off the steel tops. These tops, like great black pancakes, had been blown clear of the tract. One of them had hurtled down to crush the roof of the house nearest the fire. The walls of two of the tanks had given way and Tim and Ralph could see the firemen fighting desperately to stop the spread of the flames. Safety trenches had been a part of the protective system at the tank farm, but some of them had been weakened by the explosion and the flaming gasoline was finding the vulnerable spots. Tim swung the Good News over the blazing storage tanks and even 1,200 feet in the air they could feel the heat. The plane danced crazily and Ralph, who had been leaning far out, clutched the side of the plane and shook his fist at Tim. The flying reporter snapped off the throttle and they glided down on a gentle incline, as the propeller turned slowly. “Got enough pictures?” yelled Tim. “Three more plates left,” shouted Ralph. “Let’s go down where I can get some close ups. Make a run for the fire at about four hundred feet; then zoom up just before we get there. That will give us some real pictures.” “Also scorch all the new paint off the ship,” protested Tim. “Carson said he’d pay for a new coat,” Ralph reminded him and Tim nodded and snapped on the switches again. The motor roared into action and they shot down out of the murky sky. At four hundred feet Tim pulled back on the stick and the Good News levelled off. They were a mile west of the burning tank farm when he banked sharply and swung back toward the city. The clouds of smoke, rolling upward, were streaked with vivid flashes of flame. Tim chilled as he thought of the fate that would be theirs if their plane failed to respond to the controls. He forced the thought from his mind and took a fresh grip on the stick. Ralph glanced back and smiled. Tim motioned to his own safety belt and directed Ralph to strap himself into the plane. No telling what might happen in the next smoky-flame seared seconds. Tim pushed the Good News into several tight banks while Ralph strapped himself into the plane. Then they were ready for their picture making dash. Ralph trained his camera and glued his eyes to the sight. It would be a great action picture, awe inspiring in its power, if they could get it. Tim, one hand on the stick and the other on the throttle, watched his air speed. It was increasing rapidly. Half a mile from the burning tanks they were going one hundred and fifty miles an hour. A quarter of a mile away and their speed had increased to one hundred and seventy-five. Then there was no more time to check the air speed. They were going fast enough and Tim knew his motor had plenty of reserve power for any emergency. Ralph, in the forward cockpit, was busy with his camera. Two exposures of the rolling, mass of smoke and flame were made in the split seconds before Tim threw the Good News into a steep zoom. The towering pillar of smoke was less than five hundred feet ahead of their propeller when Tim put the pressure on the stick. The nose shot skyward and the Good News danced upward along the outer rim of smoke. Ralph was ready for the final exposure when a terrific explosion and a wave of rag flame and heat tore the heavens asunder. The Good News leaped upward, bucking like a wild horse. Tim, his eyebrows singed and lungs burning from the scorching heat, fought the controls. Up, up, up pitched the Good News, tossing wildly on the edge of the inferno of flame and smoke. The noise of the explosion had deadened their ears and neither Ralph nor Tim could hear the laboring of the motor as Tim gave it full throttle. The new paint on the wings and fuselage curled and darkened in the heat and for a second Tim thought the gasoline tank might explode. Then above it all came the sound of a second explosion and the Good News stood up on its tail. Tim was thankful that they had used their safety belts for he was almost thrown from the cockpit. Out of the smoke hurtled a great piece of steel. Tim heard Ralph scream a warning but he was powerless. The Good News was out of control. Fascinated by the sight of the great projectile which was approaching them with terrifying speed, Tim lived an eternity. Actually it might have been a second, probably it was less. The Good News, falling tail downward, missed the deadly piece of steel by less than two feet. They were past one danger only to be confronted with another even more horrible to contemplate than the one they had just escaped. Ralph, his eyes burning in his smoke-blackened face, was looking back at Tim, trusting that the young flyer would be able to pull the Good News out of the tailspin. With a last despairing effort Tim crashed his fist against the throttle. It leaped ahead a good inch. It had jammed in the emergency and he had not noticed it. More fuel flooded into the laboring cylinders and the motor, its full power unlashed, lifted them almost vertically into the sky. When they were out of danger and in the cool, clean air, Tim brought the nose of the plane down and they headed for the airport. The Good News looked to be ready to take first prize at a fire sale. The entire ship was grimy from the heavy oil smoke and the dope on the wings and fuselage was curled and cracked from the terrific heat. Tim nosed down over the airport and idled his motor as they skimmed to a perfect three point landing and rolled to a stop in front of their hangar. Carl Hunter ran to their plane. “You crazy news hounds,” he cried. “I thought you were goners when those explosions caught you. How did you ever get out alive?” “We’ll thank the new motor for saving our necks,” replied Tim. “We were in trouble, believe me. The throttle stuck and the engine wasn’t getting all the gas. In a moment of desperation I smashed the throttle with my fist and opened it. A second later and we were climbing to safety.” “Good thing you made me strap myself in,” grinned Ralph, “Or you would have lost your passenger when we took that wild west ride.” “We were mighty lucky to get back,” said Tim. “Next time we cover a fire on an oil tank farm we’ll know enough to stay at a safe distance.” “But think of the great action pictures we’ve got,” said Ralph. “I’m thinking of my own neck right now,” replied Tim. “When the second explosion came and that piece of steel picked us out for a target I just said good-bye to everything. While we’re passing around the thanks for getting out alive we’ll have to include old lady gravity. The Good News was dropping earthward just fast enough for us to escape.” “We’d better get these pictures to the office so they can use them in the final,” said Ralph. “You take the camera and the car and go on,” said Tim. “I won’t be needed at the office for a while and I want to check over the plane and see if it suffered any serious damage. Tell Carson he’ll have to okay an order for another coat of paint.” “I’ll wait and see how the pictures come out before I tell him,” chuckled Ralph as he got in the roadster and started for the office. Tim and Hunter went over the Good News carefully, checking every joint and strut. Then they gave the motor a thorough test. It was sweet and true. “A real plane,” was the field manager’s comment when they had completed their inspection. “After a test like the one to- day you can count on it carrying you through anything short of a hurricane.” “I’m not so sure it wouldn’t do that,” said Tim. “We’d better fill up the gasoline tank,” he added. “Never can tell when we may get an assignment that will call for another quick getaway.” They refueled the ship and were rolling it back into the hangar when a car skidded through the gate. The managing editor and Ralph were in the machine and from their haste Tim knew that he would soon be in the clouds again on the trail of another big story. CHAPTER TWO The managing editor of the News jumped from the car before Ralph brought it to a stop and ran toward Tim. “Can you start on another assignment right away?” he asked. “Whenever you say, Mr. Carson,” replied Tim. “We’ve just made a complete check and the Good News isn’t hurt in the least. She’s refueled and ready to go.” “Then you’re heading for Cedar river valley,” said the managing editor. “Here’s the situation. The village of Auburn you took food and medical supplies to last spring when the Cedar was on a rampage is in need of help again. The river is causing trouble and the worst ice jam in the history of the country is just above the village. This changeable weather has kept the river thawing and then freezing and thousands of tons of ice are piling up behind the jam. I want you and Ralph to make a trip there this afternoon, survey the situation, get all the pictures you can, and report to me. When we know the size of the jam we can plan to get relief to them.” “We’ll be on our way in ten minutes,” promised Tim. “The people at Auburn helped me when I was working on the Sky Hawk mystery and I’ll be glad of the chance to do another favor for them.” “In the excitement of this new story,” said the managing editor, “I almost forgot to tell you how much I appreciate your fine work in getting the pictures of the fire at the oil tanks. I’ve never seen anything like them for action. They were so good we put out an extra with nothing but pictures on the front page. Biggest selling extra ever published in Atkinson.” “They may prove fairly expensive by the time you pay the cost of a new coat of paint for the Good News,” said Tim. “Hang the cost of the paint,” exclaimed the managing editor, “Those pictures were worth $500 to the paper. Why the one showing that piece of steel hurtling up out of the smoke and flame is the best action picture ever taken.” “The what!” said Tim. “The picture showing that piece of steel coming toward you,” repeated Carson. “I’ll explain,” said Ralph, and he turned to Tim. “We had a lucky break,” he continued. “When that explosion caught us I had only one plate left in the camera. In the excitement I snapped the shutter and it so happened that the camera was aimed to get that steel plate that almost wrote 'finish’ for us.” “We’ll be able to sell that picture all over the country,” said the managing editor, “And I’ll see that you boys get half of whatever the paper makes on it.” Carl Hunter came out of the administration building to report that the weather in the direction of Cedar Valley was fair. “Better get into some heavier clothes,” he warned, “For it will be pretty breezy up there if Tim decides to step on the gas.” “Our winter flying outfits are all in town,” said Ralph. “Guess we can make it this way.” “I’ve got some spare clothes,” suggested Hunter. “Some of them belong to 'Tiny’ Lewis but they’ll keep you warm at least.” The young reporters laughed at the thought of wearing “Tiny” Lewis’ flying togs. “Tiny,” was the exact opposite from his name. He was as round as a barrel and not much over five feet six in height. The boys followed Hunter back to the administration building and made their way to the pilots’ room. Hunter opened several lockers and finally found the clothes he sought, heavy fleece-lined coveralls especially designed for cold weather flying. When the boys had donned their ill-fitting clothes they looked like a pair of aerial scare crows for their legs projected awkwardly from the suits, which were far too short for them. “Throw a couple of robes over your legs and you’ll be all right,” suggested the field manager. “Not for me,” grinned Tim. “Ralph can bundle up all he wants to but I’m not going to have a blanket tangled around the stick just about the time I have to get into action.” When the boys returned to No. 5 hangar the mechanics had the Good News warmed up and on the line. The managing editor looked at his watch. “Just a few minutes after one-thirty,” he said, half to himself, half to his star reporters. Then aloud he said, “You won’t be able to get to Auburn, snap your pictures and get back here in time for the city final. However, if you get some good shots we’ll put out a five o’clock picture extra so step on it all the way.” “We’ll be back in less than two hours,” promised Tim. “Wouldn’t be able to do it with the old motor in the ship, but with this new power unit we’ll do 180 an hour steady over and back. The trip is about 125 miles each way and with the time it takes for the pictures we’ll make it in two hours easy.” “Then I’ll have the engravers and the composing room stand by for a five o’clock picture extra,” said the managing editor. “This will be a red-letter day in the history of the News—two picture extras in the same day and believe me, boys, that’s what the readers want. Pictures, action, and more pictures. Now get going.” Ralph lifted his big camera into the front cockpit and settled himself for the trip. He wrapped a heavy robe around his legs for he knew Tim was going to tear loose on the trip to Auburn and even though it was moderately warm on the ground the air at two thousand feet would be chilly. Tim checked his instruments, waved for the mechanics to get in the clear, and opened his throttle. The Good News lifted her tail off the muddy field, splattered the water out of half a dozen puddles, and then shot up into her own domain. The new radial motor, tested in flame and smoke little more than an hour before, leaped to its task and they sped away into the east. Behind them the fire still raged at the oil tanks, but firemen appeared to have checked its spread. Tim pushed the throttle steadily forward until the air speed indicator registered 175 miles an hour. At 2,000 feet the ground was a dull, gray checkerboard beneath them. In places there were splotches of dirty snow, a last vestige of winter. Creeks, silver ribbons winding through the countryside, were running bankfull of water. Several times they sighted streams in which the outgoing ice had jammed around some bridge or sharp curve. Behind these jams the stream had spread out until it formed a small lake. None of them were of major importance but at one bridge half a dozen men were busy trying to dynamite the mass of ice which was threatening the safety of the structure. As they neared the valley of the mighty Cedar the country became rougher and there were fewer fields for an emergency landing. A plane in trouble in the valley would have small chance of making a safe descent. They were fifteen miles from Auburn when they caught their first glimpse of the river, a great lake stretching for miles up its valley. Then they saw the jumbled mass of ice above the village. The towering blocks had jammed at a sharp bend in the river and hundreds of tons of ice, born by the spring freshets, had built a great dam which was impounding the waters of the river. The bed of the stream below the ice jam carried little more than a trickle of water when compared to the usual volume. From the position of the jam Tim could see that unless the pressure was relieved soon the water behind the ice, spreading out over the valley, would soon creep around the wings of the jam and sweep down on the village. The Good News slid down out of the clouds and swung over the scene of the impending disaster. The village was practically deserted. Men and women were at the jam, working side by side in what appeared a futile effort to start the thousands of tons of ice moving down stream before their own homes were destroyed. Tim guided the Good News up the valley, over the jam, and on up stream. The jam of ice extended nearly a half mile above the village. The river above that point, running free, was piling more ice on the jam, adding to the pressure which hourly threatened to let go and sweep everything before it. Ralph, leaning far over the side of the plane, was busy with his camera. He motioned for Tim to return to the village. There they took pictures of the practically deserted town and Tim dropped low enough for Ralph to get some good flashes of the men and women working along the edge of the ice jam. Just a year before the villagers had helped Tim when he was on the trail of the Sky Hawk and he felt that he owed them a real debt. They gazed upward as the plane sped over them but they did not recognize the scorched, blackened plane as the Good News. Tim and Ralph waved eagerly, but there was no reply. The villagers were weighted down with despair. Ralph indicated that he had used the last of the plates in the camera and Tim swung the Good News into the west. He headed back for Atkinson at 180 miles an hour, the motor singing as they shot through the greying sky. The clouds were dropping on them and by the time they were half way to Atkinson they had a ceiling of less than six hundred feet. Tim tried to rise above the clouds, but they were massed solidly. He climbed to the five thousand foot level only to find himself lost in swirling vapor and with the air growing colder every minute. Ice started to form on the wings of the Good News and Tim realized the danger. The plane was harder to handle, slower to answer the controls. Ralph sensed the danger of the higher altitude and motioned for Tim to dive, but the flying reporter shook his head. He was too experienced an airman for a power dive when ice was gathering on his ship. To have nosed the ship down at 180 miles an hour might be fatal for both of them. With the ceiling probably down to nothing they would flash out of the clouds at high speed with only a few hundred feet of clearance. Normally they could get away with it but with the wings weighted down with ice one of them might snap off when he pulled back on the stick. It was too dangerous to risk. He decided to take his time, come down gradually, and fight the ice as best he could. The next ten minutes were an hour to Tim as he eased the Good News toward the ground. Little by little they lost altitude. The ship was loggy now with its burden of ice but he managed to keep it out of a dive and they finally levelled off at two hundred feet. Even at that low altitude the clouds were brushing their wings but the air was warmer and the ice gradually disappeared from the wings. For a few minutes Tim had been too busy with his own troubles to think about those of the villagers back at Auburn, but the danger of the ice past his mind returned to them. It had been plain to him that unless something was done in the next few hours the massed ice would give way and march down the valley, sweeping everything before it. As towns went Auburn wasn’t much to brag about, but its people were friendly and the village was home to them. Tim, an orphan, knew what it meant to be without a home and he resolved to do everything within his means to help the villagers. They roared over the suburbs of Atkinson, sped across the heart of the city, and skidded over the ground to roll to a stop in front of their own hangar. The managing editor was waiting for them. “Get the pictures O. K.?” he cried. “Camera full of the best ice photos you ever saw,” grinned Ralph as he eased his cramped legs over the side of the plane and dropped to the muddy ground. “How is the situation in the valley?” asked the managing editor. “Critical,” replied Tim as he shut off his engine. “I never saw so much ice in my life. The jam is at a sharp bend in the river just above the village. Thousands and thousands of tons of ice has piled up there and the river is bringing down more every hour. The flow of water below the jam is practically shut off and it’s spreading out above the ice. By tomorrow morning the whole thing will let go and that will be the end of the village.” “What are the people doing?” Carl Hunter wanted to know. “Everything they can do,” said Ralph. “All the men and women are out at the jam, working side by side. I saw them plant several charges of dynamite and they might just as well have been five inch firecrackers for all the good it did. There isn’t enough dynamite in this part of the state to move that jam. They couldn’t get it planted in time.” “I wish we could do something to help them,” said the managing editor thoughtfully. “If you really want to save the village,” said Tim, “I think I’ve got a plan that will work. Listen.” In a few words he outlined his plan. The managing editor listened thoughtfully. “Sounds like it is the only chance of saving them, but you’ll be running a mighty big risk, Tim.” “I’m willing to take the chance if you’ll let me have the Good News. I’ll have to cover nearly a thousand miles before I can really start work.” “The Good News and anything else you need is yours,” promised the managing editor. “Then I’ll get ready and start at once,” said Tim. “Count me in,” added Ralph. “Not in this first trip,” said Tim. “I’ve got to fly fast and far and the less weight the faster I’ll go. When I’m ready to start for Auburn again I’ll need you. In the meantime you see that we have at least a dozen flares ready to take with us for it will be midnight or later by the time we reach the valley again.” Ralph promised to have the parachute flares ready and then followed the managing editor to one of the New’s cars. An extra was being held up for the pictures in Ralph’s camera and after all his duty was to the paper first. Tim turned the Good News over to the Mechanics for refueling and went over to Hunter’s office to get warm and map out the course of his next flight. The field manager unfurled a roll of maps and helped Tim check his plans. “You’re going to get plenty of hours in the air today,” he grinned. “I know it,” smiled Tim, “And only a little more than three hours ago I was grumbling because there wasn’t more chance for any flying assignments this week.” Tim took a ruler and laid out his course, an air line from Atkinson to Fort Armstrong, the nearest army post. It was a good five hundred miles and with certain weather ahead Tim knew that he would have to count on three hours for the flight. He should be at the army post by seven o’clock. If he allowed himself one hour at the post he ought to be able to start back around 8 o’clock. Three more hours and he would be back in Atkinson at 11 o’clock. A stop to pick up Ralph, make final arrangements and then into the air again for Cedar river valley. Every minute counted and after carefully checking his course Tim hurried back to his plane. “Aren’t you going to telephone the Fort you’re coming?” asked the field manager. “Carson promised to do that,” replied Tim. “I’ll need his political pull to get the material I need at the Fort. You phone Carson when I take off. Have him tell the army people I’ll drop in on them about 7 o’clock, wind and weather allowing.” “You’ll make it all right, Tim,” said Carson, “But look out for ice if you go too high.” “I had a taste of that coming back from the valley,” said the flying reporter. “No more of that for me if I can help myself.” Enough gas for a four hour flight had been placed in the tanks of the Good News. The engine, still warm, caught on the first turn and roared into action. Tim adjusted the pack parachute Carson had brought from the office, settled himself on his seat, and motioned “all clear.” Water and mud sprayed from the wheels as the Good News picked up speed. Then it lifted off the heavy field, shook itself free of the mud, and climbed the low-hanging clouds. The ceiling was less than five hundred and by this time the afternoon was grey and a sharp breeze was zipping down out of the north. It would be a nasty night for flying over an unmarked and unlighted course. Tim followed the air mail trail for half an hour and then turned to his left. Fort Armstrong was now almost straight south on an air line. With prairie country the flight would have been easy but Tim knew that 200 miles out of Atkinson he would run into the Flint hills, a branch of the Great Smoky Mountains which wandered out into the prairie at a most inconvenient angle. If the ceiling was low over the Flint hills, he would be in for a nasty half hour of flying. The first hour slid away as Tim roared southward at nearly 200 miles an hour. The thunder of his motor roused prairie villages from their winter lethargy and stampeded cattle on lonely farms. Occasionally some farmer, surprised at his chores, shook his fist angrily as Tim sailed over the chimney tops. The ceiling was still six hundred when Tim sighted the first low ridge of hills that marked the Flint range. He had flown over the territory only once before and that time when he was returning the year before from Old Mexico with exclusive pictures of a rebel leader. The hills were really ridges of rock, rearing their sharp, bleak heads into the air—a trap for any unwary flyer. To crash on those inhospitable crags would have meant the end for plane and pilot. Tim lifted the Good News until his wing tips were brushing the massed clouds. Six hundred and fifty was the highest he could go without burying himself in the clouds and flying blind, something which he did not relish. Tim throttled down to half speed as he reached the first ridge of the Flint hills. He cleared the tops of the crags by two hundred feet and was congratulating himself when another ridge loomed ahead of his spinning prop. The second one bulked higher and beyond he could see a third which buried its head in the low-hanging clouds. Tim slid over the second ridge and then swung sharply to the right. Perhaps he would find a gap in the third ridge which would let him through. For five minutes he sped along, hunting for some opening that would let him through. He was almost ready to make a blind attempt through the clouds when he caught sight of a break in the hills. It was not more than 200 feet wide but Tim took the chance, banked the Good News sharply, and dove for the opening. The hills closed in on him and dismal masses of rock on each side waited for him to crash. But he slid through the narrow break and found himself again over the prairie, the hills in the background. The rest of the trip to Fort Armstrong was easy going compared with the task of getting through the hills and Tim sighted the lights of the army post at five minutes to seven. Markers on the landing field flashed on when guards heard the sound of his motor and mechanics were waiting to guide his ship into a hangar when he landed and taxied up the runway. Tim’s body ached from the cold and his legs were stiff and cramped. A mechanic reached up and gave him a hand as he clambered out of the cockpit. An officer with a captain’s bars on his shoulder, strode into the hangar. “We were expecting you, Murphy,” he said. “Your managing editor telephoned that you were on your way and we’ve tried to have everything ready for you. How did you find the Flint hills?” “They gave me the shivers for half an hour,” admitted Tim, “But I managed to find a gap in the third ridge and got through without burying myself in the clouds.” “You were lucky,” commented the army man who introduced himself as Captain John Nugent, in command of the air force at Fort Armstrong. “Better come over to my quarters and get warm and have a snack to eat,” suggested the army man. Tim readily agreed for he was chilled to the bone and hungry. “I know you’re anxious to start back,” said Captain Nugent, “But you’ll be more alert if you rest a few minutes and fill up with some hot food. I’ve had my boy keep things hot for you.” “That’s mighty nice of you,” said Tim, “And I expect I’ll save time in the end if I take a few minutes rest here.” When they reached the captain’s quarters, the army man insisted that Tim take off his things and enjoy a good meal. “Have you planned your trip back?” he asked. “Looks like I’ll have to try the Flint hills in the dark,” said Tim. “I’ve got to be in Atkinson before midnight if my plan to help the people at Auburn is going to work. I’m sure that ice jam will go before morning and if it does it’s goodbye to that town.” “If anything goes wrong with your ship in the hills with the load you’ll be carrying, it will be curtains for you,” said the army man. “I haven’t had time to think about that,” confessed Tim. “As far as I can see it is the only way to get back in time. I’ll have to bore up into the clouds and take a chance.” “Columbus took a chance and was lucky,” said Captain Nugent. “However, you’re not Columbus and you’ve had just about your share of luck for one day. Don’t tempt fate too much.” “I won’t deliberately tempt fate,” said Tim, “But time counts tonight.” “Would half an hour make a great deal of difference?” “It might,” replied the flying reporter. “Half an hour isn’t long when it comes to considering your own life.” “But I must think of the people of Auburn.” “If you crash in the Flint hills it won’t help them.” “True enough. But what else can I do?” “Go around the hills.” “That would take too much time.” “Not more than an extra half hour,” countered the army man. “Look at this map.” They bent over the map on the table and the army officer pointed out what he considered Tim’s best route for the return flight to Atkinson. “You’ll have to swing to the east of the hills,” he said, “But your flight will be over level country and you’ll have a chance if anything goes wrong.” “I believe you’re right,” agreed Tim. “The last thing I’m looking for tonight is a crack-up.” An orderly came in to announce that Tim’s plane was ready for the return trip. Captain Nugent put on a heavy coat and accompanied Tim to the runway. The Good News, outlined in the field’s floodlights, was waiting for Tim, motor idling. Captain Nugent climbed up to the forward cockpit and made a thorough inspection of the contents. Satisfied that everything was ship-shape, he dropped back to the ground. “You’ve got an even dozen demolition bombs,” he told Tim. “The men didn’t have time to rig a bomb rack on your plane but they did the next best thing. They put the 'eggs’ in a hammock that will carry them without danger unless you happen to crack-up.” “Pleasant prospect,” smiled Tim. “But I don’t think you’ll have any trouble if you swing out around the Flint hills,” said the army officer. “Say, what the dickens have you been doing to this plane?” he demanded as he noticed for the first time, the smoke- blackened condition of the wings. Tim explained what had taken place earlier in the day and the army officer whistled as the flying reporter told how they had been caught by the explosion of the oil tanks. “If you’ve had a narrow escape like that today,” said Captain Nugent, “I guess flying the hills at night won’t bother you.” “I’ve decided not to risk it,” said Tim. “I’m going to go around.” “The air is getting sharper,” said the army man. “Sure you’ve got warm enough clothes? We’ll be glad to lend you some extra togs if there is anything you need.” “Thanks a lot,” said Tim. “You’ve been mighty good to let me have these high explosive bombs. I won’t need anything more and now I think I’d better get under way.” Tim climbed into the rear cockpit, tested the motor, and after waving farewell to Captain Nugent, sent the Good News skimming down the lighted runway. The motor barked lustily as the plane gained altitude, the lights of the Fort Armstrong were soon lost in the night. Tim followed the course Captain Nugent had helped him lay out. For more than an hour he sped over the right-of-way of the Southwestern Railroad. Mile after mile he was guided by the dim streaks of steel which were barely discernible in the darkness. The railroad skimmed the east end of the Flint hills and when the lights of Macon showed in the distance Tim knew he was around the worst barrier. The dreaded hills now lay to his left and behind. He glanced at his watch. He was making good time. With no unforeseen emergencies he would be in Atkinson by eleven. The sky had lightened somewhat and Tim now had a ceiling of 1,000 feet. With a greater margin of safety, he opened the throttle wide and the Good News bored into the night. In the dim light of the instrument board Tim could see the needle on the air speed indicator hovering near the 200-mile an hour mark. He was making more than three miles a minute. That was time! It was faster than Tim had ever traveled. Then the indicator crept on up. Two hundred and five and then it wavered at two hundred and ten. The motor was not turning over any faster than a minute or two before so Tim knew he must have picked up a good tail wind. Let’er go! The sooner he reached Atkinson the sooner he would be on the last lap of his trip to Auburn and the nearer the completion of his plans for the salvation of the village. On he roared through the night and the lights of small towns were little more than blurs in a magic carpet. Far ahead the lights of Atkinson reflected against the clouds and four minutes later Tim was throttling down the motor preparatory to gliding into the airport. For the first time since leaving Fort Armstrong the load of high explosive bombs which he had obtained at the army post worried him. Supposing he struck a mud puddle and nosed over? One blinding, shattering blast and it would be all over. So much depended on the success of his landing that he dared not think of failure. The flood lights came on and bathed the field in a chilling blue brilliance. Tim cut his motor and sidled down, killing speed every second. He glanced at his watch. Ten fifty-five; five minutes to the good. He was less than two hundred feet above the field when the deafening roar of an incoming tri-motored passenger and express plane drowned the sound of his own motor. Tim looked up and froze at his controls. The tri-motor was coming in from the left, and their paths would cross in less than 300 feet. CHAPTER THREE Tim could see lights gleaming from the windows of the tri-motor. It was the westbound transcontinental more than an hour late and its pilots were bringing it in fast in an attempt to make up every minute possible. The distance between the planes narrowed rapidly. The Good News had almost lost flying speed, was drifting in, when Tim first sighted the tri-motor and he was powerless to change his course. He jammed the throttle open and the motor coughed as the raw fuel leaped into the white-hot cylinders. There was only one chance; that he could get up enough speed to throw the Good News into a nose dive. He could avoid the tri-motor that way but his own chances of coming out of the dive would be slim. In that split second Tim made his decision. He would attempt the dive. There were probably women and children on the tri-motor for the night plane usually carried a heavy passenger list. If the two planes met they would all be blown to eternity. The Good News picked up momentum again and Tim shoved the nose down. Just as he pushed the stick ahead he heard the engines of the tri-motor quicken their stride. Evidently the pilots of the big ship had seen him and were making a desperate effort to avert the collision. Tim hoped they would have enough sense to climb. The Good News quivered under the sudden strain of the maneuver and Tim saw the ground race up to meet him. The undercarriage of the tri-motor almost brushed the upper wing of the Good News. Then the planes were clear but the Good News was diving toward the field. Tim had only one hope. He pulled back on the stick and closed his eyes. He could feel the ship falling, then the pitch of the descent lessened. He opened his eyes. The Good News was skimming along the field with its wheels less than five feet from the ground. Tim looked up for the tri-motor. It was circling, waiting for him to land. The flying reporter lifted the Good News up again for he was going too fast to attempt a landing. He swung around and then dropped down on the field, checking his speed with a delicate hand lest he bump hard enough to set off the “eggs” cradled in the forward cockpit. The Good News rolled to a stop in front of its hangar. Carson, Hunter, Ralph and a group of mechanics were waiting for Tim. They were white and shaky for they had seen how death had ridden on the wings of the two incoming planes only a minute before. “Tim, Tim,” cried Ralph in a choked voice, “I thought you were a goner.” “So did I,” admitted Tim, and for once he found it hard to smile. “I’ll report those flying yahoos,” stormed the usually mild-mannered Hunter. “They’ll be grounded for thirty days for pulling a reckless landing like that. You had the right of way and they attempted to cut in on you. Here they come now.” The tri-motor had come to a stop on the concrete apron in front of the administration building and its pilots sprinted toward the No. 5 hangar. They were red-faced and shaking with anger. “What’s the idea?” stormed the first one as he addressed Tim. “You crazy, flying fool, you almost wrecked us. I’ve a good notion to beat up on you.” “Shut up!” The words whipped through the night and the angry pilot turned to face the field manager. “But this nut almost wrecked us,” he protested as he pointed at Tim. “Shut up!” cried Hunter and he almost choked with rage, “if anybody here is going to get a licking you’re one of them. You cut in on Murphy. We had given him the right-of-way and you barged down and almost ran him into the ground. As it happens he was on special duty tonight, flying in here from Fort Armstrong. You may have something to explain to Uncle Sam and the least you’ll hear about this will be thirty days on the ground without pay.” “You can’t get away with that,” protested the second flyer. “Why this kid was trying to beat us in.” “I’ll get away with it and I may have your skins to boot,” promised Carson. “You’re so all-fired smart, suppose you step over here and take a look at the load Murphy is carrying tonight.” The pilots of the big transport followed Hunter to the Good News where they peered into the forward cockpit. “Bombs!” exclaimed one. “We’d have been blown to pieces if we had met in the air,” gasped the other. “Which is just exactly the reason Murphy took such a desperate chance to avoid hitting you,” exclaimed Hunter. “Do you still want to beat up on him?” “Not on your life,” said the transport pilots and they turned to Tim to offer their apologies. “We are lucky to be here,” said Tim as the tri-motor men stammered their appreciation. Ralph, who had gained control of his emotions, busied himself loading a dozen parachute flares into the forward cockpit. By 11:15 the Good News had been refueled for the flight to Auburn. “What are the latest reports?” asked Tim. “The ice is piling up every hour,” said the managing editor. “People in the village have started to move their belongings and they expect the town will be swept away before morning.” “Have they been warned to watch for us and get in the clear when we start dropping the bombs?” “Everyone has been ordered to be in the clear by midnight. Before they leave they will build large fires along the bank of the river to guide you.” “That’s a good idea,” said Tim. “All set,” he called to Ralph, who had taken his place in the forward cockpit, squeezed in between high explosive bombs and parachute flares. “All ready,” replied Ralph. “Only take it easy. I don’t want to be part of another explosion today.” “Don’t worry,” said Tim. “I’ll handle the ship like we were carrying a basket of Easter eggs.” Tim settled himself for the flight to Auburn and a minute later the Good News was winging its way into the east. The safety of the village depended on the suc...