hat looked like one of the biplane's wings.

It must be confessed that the hearts of the three boys beat a bit faster
as they drew closer. Would they find the flying machine, and if so,
would it be in serviceable condition or so smashed up as to be
worthless?

"There she is!" burst from Tom's lips, and he pointed out into the
water.

"Right down between half a dozen big rocks," added Sam. "Is she smashed
much? How about the engine, Dick?"

"The engine is there, but I can't tell if it's broken or not. We'll soon
find out."

The big biplane lay among some rocks and bushes, the latter overhanging
the water, which at this spot was less than two feet deep. By taking off
their shoes and socks, and rolling up their trousers, the boys were able
to wade out to the flying machine and make an inspection.

"One of the planes is broken," said Dick. "But as the bamboo poles are
merely split I think they can be repaired with some fine wire,--just as
we repair a split baseball bat."

"But the engine?" asked Sam, impatiently.

"I think the engine is all right--at least it looks all right to me. Of
course we can't be sure until we clean it up and try it."

"Then she must have struck the water on the slant and that must have
broken the shock," said Tom; and this surmise was undoubtedly correct,
for had the _Dartaway_ come down squarely on the rocks the planes and
the engine must have been broken to bits.

"Do you think we can get her ashore?" asked Sam.

"Sure we can, by the aid of the hooks and ropes, and the horses. But we
want to be careful how it's done. There is no sense in breaking the
machine still more."

"We might get some planks from that old hut and roll the wheels up on
them," suggested Tom. "I don't believe anybody uses the hut."

"No, that ain't been used for years," said Peter Marley. "Ye can tear
down the hull thing if ye want to."

The boys and the farmer set to work, and presently they had several
rough planks taken from the sides of the hut. They had the horses drag
these down to the water, and by hard work managed to get the planks
under the flying machine. As the planks were of wood they aided in
floating the affair.

"By jinks! I've got an idea!" suddenly cried Dick. "We'll want the
machine on the other side of the river. Why not build a raft and float
her over instead of bringing her ashore here? There is plenty of stuff
in that old hut."

"That's the ticket!" answered Tom. "Hurrah for a life on