what with his fright, and belief that the very end of
all things had probably come for them. The lightning was flashing
savagely, and the boom of the thunder down below sounded like the
discharge of tons of dynamite.

It was just in between these sounds, when a silence of a few seconds
happened to brood over the wild scene, that Frank heard loud cries.
They came from the top of the rock close by, just where they were
heading for at that very moment.

"They've struck the rock, and been smashed!" shrieked Andy, whose face
was undoubtedly the color of a piece of yellow parchment, if the
horrible state of his feelings was any index.

Frank had already guessed as much himself; but just then it became
necessary that he give his whole and undivided attention to their own
chances for making a landing; or else, if a flaw of wind came just at
the wrong time their aeroplane might also meet with the same fate that
had overtaken that of Percy.

"Now! jump, Andy!" he called, as the bicycle wheels struck the surface
of the rocky plateau.

Even the rising wind assisted in halting their progress, and both boys
were able to drop out of their seats. Most fellows would have
immediately thrown themselves down on the rock, thinking only of saving
their lives; for there was real danger of their being swept off the
exposed plateau, should the wind become very violent, as was to be
expected at such an altitude.

Even at such a frightful time Frank's ready wits did not desert him.
He instantly seized a stout rope, and commenced fastening the engine of
the biplane to an upturned point of rock, which seemed just made for an
anchorage. Andy caught the spirit that animated his cousin, and did
what he could to secure the biplane; not that either of them had much
hope of its being spared to them.

They had hardly managed to do all that lay in their power when with a
roar the storm broke. The next few minutes would decide whether they
were to retain their grip on life, or be hurled down to the cruel rocks
below.

Frank clutched his cousin by the arm, and began dragging him across the
top of the plateau, both of them bending low so as to escape the worst
of the wind's fury. And from the confident manner in which he drew
Andy, the latter began to pluck up fresh hope; for it seemed possible
that Frank knew of some sort of refuge.

CHAPTER XXIII

THE BIRD BOYS' TRIUMPH

"Crawl in here!"

As he said this Frank Bird pushed his nea