The brilliant white light revealed a scene majestic in its power yet terrible in its uncontrolled fury.
Thousands of tons of ice were moving down stream, sweeping everything before them but they were moving in the direction Tim had planned. The ice was piling over the banks of the river, leveling great trees, crushing the few barns and small buildings on the far side of the river, but the village itself was safe and already the villagers were starting to return to their homes.
A dozen men who had come down to the river bank to watch the ice go out waved their thanks at the flying reporters.
With his goal reached and success at hand, Tim felt a great drowziness creep over him. His hand lost its firm grip on the stick and his eyes closed in spite of himself. He managed to shake off the fatigue and shouted to Ralph to take the plane.
Ralph fitted the extra stick in the control socket in the forward cockpit and waggled the controls, indicating that he was ready.
The Good News turned away from Auburn, away from the tumbling mass of ice in the Cedar River, and sped toward home. Tim, exhausted by the strenuous experiences of the day, dropped into a deep slumber and did not awaken until Ralph plopped into a mud puddle on their home field.
CHAPTER FOUR
The story of the flying reporters and their successful effort to break the ice jam which threatened Auburn was the front page news the next day. Tim and Ralph collaborated in writing the story of their night flights and the managing editor wrote a front page editorial praising them for their heroism and devotion to duty.
A telegram from the mayor of Auburn, in which he expressed the appreciation and gratefulness of the residents of the village, was also printed in a box on the front page.
Dan Watkins, the veteran chief of the copy desk, smiled at Tim when the first edition came off the press.