“Struck a hole,” Gordon announced. “How’d you guess it?” Bill smiled as he began speeding up the motor. Faster and faster whirled the propeller, but the plane did not move even when he had the switch on the next to the last notch. “I’m afraid to give her the last notch,” Bill said. “How come?” Gordon asked. “It’s likely to strain her,” Bill told him. “There must be a rock or something in front of one of the wheels, maybe both.” “I’ll see,” Gordon told him as he leaped over the side of the cockpit. “I’ll say there is,” he announced a moment later after a hasty examination. “And it’s too big to move, must weigh a ton.” “If we get out do you think we can push her back?” Rogers asked. “Just a minute till I see what’s behind,” Gordon told him. “It’s in a pretty deep hole but maybe we can do it,” he told them. Rogers and Bill were out by the time he had finished speaking, the latter having shut off the power when Gordon got out. But, light as was the plane in comparison with other planes, it was too heavy for them to move under the circumstances. “She’s wedged in there for keeps, I’m afraid,” Bill panted, shaking his head. “Let’s put the cell in the other motor and see if she’ll go up straight,” Gordon suggested. “Won’t do any harm to try,” Bill agreed as they climbed back. “I was afraid it wouldn’t work,” Rogers said a few minutes later, after Bill had turned all the power into the elevator. “Maybe if you and I get out she’ll do it,” Gordon proposed. “It’s worth a try,” Rogers agreed. “Wait a minute till I slow her down a bit,” Bill ordered. Thus lightened the plane gave a lurch when Bill pushed the switch to the last notch and the next instant it shot up into the air, and reached an altitude of nearly a hundred feet before he could get the motor slowed down. “That did the trick,” Gordon declared, looking up at the plane. “Sure did,” Rogers agreed. “But look,” Gordon cried, “the wind’s taking him out.” “And pretty fast, too,” Rogers agreed. So intent had they been with the problem of getting the plane out of the hole none of them had noticed that the wind had strengthened and was blowing directly off shore. “He’s still going up.” “Wonder what his idea is.” “Maybe he thinks he will strike an ocean breeze if he goes up far enough.” As each in turn expressed an opinion the plane was rapidly mounting and soon it was up so high that it looked hardly larger than a small bird. Then, suddenly, Gordon gave a gasp. “I believe he’s falling.” “Nonsense,” Rogers told him. “I tell you he is,” Gordon insisted, and Rogers could no longer deny it. Down plunged the plane, gaining speed rapidly, and Gordon groaned in anguish while Rogers placed his arm about his shoulders in an effort to comfort him. “What could have——”