All of them strained their eyes to try to see better. Unfortunately a cloud passed over the sun just then, rendering it difficult to make sure of anything.
"What's the verdict?" sang out Tom presently, keeping a wary eye on the straining motors.
"Looks to me as if that further part might be the highest ground," was
Jack's decision.
"I agree with you there!" instantly echoed Beverly.
"That settles it! Here goes to make the try," Tom announced, again swinging in and shutting off all power.
He continued to glide downward, approaching the ground at a certain point which he had picked but with his highly trained eye as apparently the best location for the landing.
Suspecting what might happen, Tom held back until the very last, so that the big bombing plane was not going at much speed when its wheels came in contact with the ground for the first time.
Something happened speedily, for it proved to be a bog, and as the rubber-tired wheels sank in and could not be propelled, the natural result followed that the nose of the giant plane was buried in the soft ground, and they came to an abrupt stop.
Tom was the first to crawl forth, and Beverly followed close upon his heels. The third member of the party did not seem as ready to report, which fact alarmed his chum.
"Jack, what's wrong with you?" he called out, starting to climb aboard the smashed plane again.