"Then hold it steady while I examine the tank," said the lieutenant. He leaned over, and almost immediately exclaimed: "The connection is shot away." "I will make a long glide if you can fix it in the meantime," said Ralph. "No; I will connect the other tank," was the reply. It required less than a minute to perform this operation, but despite the repair the engine would not turn. After another examination the lieutenant looked up from the pit, and said: "It's all up now. The other tank is also empty." The barometer now showed that they were only a little over three thousand feet above the earth. A landing must be made, that was evident; but where? Alfred pointed to a forest, directly east. "That might be a good place to come down, because there doesn't seem to be any houses there." "Just the place if we can find a spot big enough," said the lieutenant. With his field glasses he scanned the forest. "Do you see that strip of dark green a little to the left? That is a clear space, I am sure. Steer for that after circling around. We are still high enough to enable us to make a careful observation of the spot." The machine descended in its regular glide, and they passed over the indicated spot. "That is a dandy place if you can hit it right," said Alfred. It was narrow, not more than a hundred feet wide, but it extended diagonally up the hill, not the most desirable place to land, by any means, but it was the only thing to be done. "Where shall I land?" asked Ralph. "Try to strike the second clump of brush; do you see what I mean?" asked the lieutenant, his words tumbling over each other in his haste. "I can do it," was the reply. "May you have good luck," said the lieutenant. They approached the end of the open space between the trees. Fortunately the wind was not blowing, and the fuselage struck the first clump of brush, but they passed over it without difficulty. Ralph then threw up the elevator sharply, and the front end tilted, while the body of the machine sank down gently, and the landing was made without a jar. "That was the most beautiful thing I ever saw. You deserve great credit for that piece of work," said the lieutenant, as he leaned back and patted Ralph. They leaped from the machine, and for a moment stood there helpless with the reaction which set in, the boys, particularly, being influenced by the great strain. The lieutenant was the first to speak: "Well, here we are in a pretty fix; but it might be worse," he said. "No; we haven't a drop of petrol left," said Ralph ruefully. "Both tanks were perforated."