In the cockpit Karl Sutman was determined to bring his friends and himself safely through the danger. With nerves of steel, he hung on desperately to the stick and the rudder bar, keeping his keen eyes glued to the horizon.
It was indeed a race between life and death, as the staunch ’plane was swung about at the mercy of the storm. Many times before had the machine proved itself capable of withstanding the assault of the elements, but this was the supreme test. If it could weather this, it would indeed be a strong machine.
Inside the cabin, the youths and the naturalists were pale with an awful fear that this would be the end. They could not conceive of passing safely through such a hurricane as this. They were only too aware that many an aviator had gone to his doom in a tropical storm.
Now, to add to the terrible scene, a heavy rain began to fall, coming in great gusts with the wind. It pattered ominously on the wings, bearing the monoplane down with the added weight.
“Oh!” groaned Joe, almost giving up in despair. “I suppose the worst is yet to come.”
“Cheer up,” said Mr. Holton, who was inclined to be hopeful, as he noticed that the wind was blowing more evenly. “It can’t last so very much longer.”
Despite this expression of optimism, the hurricane continued at full force, although a bit smoother than at first. Now the wind, instead of coming in great gusts, blew steadily.
This made it slightly easier to handle the ’plane and took some of the severe strain from Karl. But he still was forced to use all his energy in keeping the craft at as even keel as possible.
All knew that a tropical storm was usually over a wider area than one in the temperate zone. It was this that had made it impossible for Karl to steer the ’plane to safety before the gale struck.
Only gradually did the monoplane pass through the clouds, which extended many miles in every direction.