the gravel to the foot of the great
gray granite obelisk. As they neared it they could see that the dot at the
summit took more and more the shape of the ace of clubs, the mouth of the
cave appearing as if cut by the hand of an artist, into gothic form. The
Indians were awe-stricken spectators, scarcely able to raise a hand to
work, so impressed were they with the preparations.

Some seven hundred feet of strong, but light manila rope had been attached
to the lower frame of the machine, and to guard against accidents as much
more had been coiled under the seat. It was Gerald's intention to rise
over the obelisk, and trail the rope over the rock between two of the
pinnacles, thus affording means for the raising eventually of a block and
tackle and a rope ladder by which they would be able to reach the summit.
But the "best laid plans o' mice and men" and even Boy Scouts, "gang
agley," as Burns says.

They found a patch of smooth gravel, clear enough of boulders to allow the
aviator to make an excellent start, and after trying out the engine to
find that it was working without a flaw, Gerald got a fine running start
and mounted into the air. Working west half a mile, mounting all the time
to raise his trailing rope from the ground, he turned and circled around
the mighty mass of rock looking for the most likely point on the top over
which to trail his line. As he passed he caught a glimpse of the interior
of the cave, and saw that it was much larger than it looked from the
ground to be.

Turning again, he concluded to pass between two of the pinnacles, and
immediately volplane down on the other side. As he approached the rock he
shut off the engine, and the aeroplane began to slow down. The propellor
stopped, and the plane sank perceptibly. One plane struck the side of a
pinnacle and crumpled up, the weight of the engine carried the middle
section, and the machine sank down a wrecked mass of canvas and wires upon
a narrow plateau between two of the points. Gerald was scarcely jarred
from his seat by the impact and soon freed himself from the wreckage to
find himself marooned upon the top of a perpendicular rock three hundred
feet from the ground. The Scouts and the Indians set up a cry of dismay
when the possibility of the disaster became apparent, but as soon as he
had freed himself, Gerald assured them of his safety, and of the fact that
he had plenty of room to stand and move around upon. Another thing that
relieved