rly exhausted cousin into a
narrow crevice of the rock. It was a retreat which he had noticed on
their first visit to the crown of Old Thunder Top. At that time Frank
had made up his mind that if ever he were marooned on that lonely
mountain crest, he would seek temporary shelter there.

Little had he dreamed of what the future held for himself and Andy; and
that one day he would have good cause to remember with thanksgiving
that same split in the massive rock.

A surprise awaited them, and of an agreeable nature. Andy had not
crawled five feet inside the shelter than he gave utterance to a loud
cry.

"Percy, is this you?" Frank heard him say, with positive relief in his
voice.

"Yes, all that's left of me," came a reply. "We got banged awful hard
on the rock, when my machine played that nasty trick on me. It was all
I could do to crawl here; and Sandy had to help pull me. I reckon my
leg's broke."

"Is Sandy there, too?" demanded Frank.

"Yes, and banged up some too; but mighty glad he didn't go kerflummick
down to them rocks when Percy foozled," grumbled another voice.

"Aw! let up on that, won't you?" the other snarled. "I tell you it was
all the fault of the blamed cranky engine; it went bad on me just at
that time the flaw struck us on the side. Keep a still tongue between
your teeth, Sandy Hollingshead."

That was Percy all over. Even in this grave crisis he would not admit
having made an error of judgment; but was determined to lay all the
blame upon the faulty construction of the aeroplane.

But Frank was mighty glad that both boys had escaped the terrible fate
to which they had seemed doomed at the time their machine smashed down
on the plateau.

"We're all lucky, fellows," he said cheerily; "and since we've got to
bunk together for some time, let's make the best of a bad bargain.
Here, Andy, take this bit of candle, after I've lighted it, and hold
over while I look to see if I can do anything to help Percy. We ought
to be able to tell whether his leg is broken or not, and perhaps
relieve his suffering some."

This they did, and after a close examination both declared that beyond
a severe wrench and some bruises there was nothing the matter. Any
ordinary lad would have felt grateful for this intelligence. Percy
only growled the more, declaring that if his leg was not broken it felt
worse than such a condition would bring.

"What can we do, Frank?" asked Andy, apprehensively, as he li