Finally, when a clear sky again became visible, the explorers uttered cries of relief. They had at last escaped what seemed like certain disaster.
Bob moved over to the transmitter.
“You were wonderful, Karl, old boy!” he praised. “If most anyone else had been in your seat, we wouldn’t be in the air now.”
“Oh, there are plenty others that could have done it,” the aviator returned, his voice sounding a bit nervous. “I just saw that I had to get out some way and did everything I could.”
The storm had served in no small measure to heighten the explorers’ admiration for their pilot. If the latter could safely guide them through such a display of the elements, he could be depended upon for almost any crisis.
The brilliant sun was now rapidly showing itself in full view, casting a sparkling reflection on the ocean. All evidences of the storm were covered up, even the heavy foam caps having disappeared. It was as though nature were repenting of her arduous activities.
As they flew on, the explorers had a strong hope that the weather would remain calm during the remainder of their journey. They were nearing land now, and they wished to finish the trip in a cloudless sky.
At last, when they were becoming weary from seeing nothing but boundless water, they suddenly caught sight of a dim shape that covered the whole of the horizon. That shape became larger and more plain, until it took on the form of land.
“Hurrah!” cried Bob joyfully. “South America at last!”