Air Wonder Stories, May 1930 — page 11: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“Got you O.-K,, chief,” the reply came in strong and clear, “Tl soon see -how things: look, Your signals-are a bit weak. The storm is probably interfering with my reception. Am about -fifty miles. from Skeleton Valley.” “Tf Weldon passes over the valley at a low altitude, then your air bandits, if :such-they are, will have less trouble in-hear- “ing his ship go over than if he rose higher, Also it'll put him within easier range of their ray or other weapon,” Tom spoke up, as the voice of the lone pilot ceased. O one replied, and for a few minutes no sound was heard in the room brit the intermittent outbursts of the buzzer. “Listen,” the sharp curt voice of the chief froze the others in their tracks, “The buzzer.” “Tt—it’s going,” Jim spoke in-a nervous voice, “There, hear that?” a note of excitement rang in Watson’s voice, “The buzzer is faltering, The sounds are not clear and . sharp—they. are hesitating.” The chief of the-airport was right. The clear musical note. of the little instrument was gradually becoming coarse and uneven. Occasionally it- would seem-to freeze and skip a note, carrying on again with the greatest difficulty, emitting split and broken sounds in a seemingly desperate attempt to keep going. “Maybe it’s the buzzing device here,” Jim offered half- heartedly, But no oné replied. All attention was being drawn by the ufmistakably dying sounds coming from the small instrument on the wall, _ Watson was now pacing the floor of the room in a nervous state. “He'll neyer make it,”° he muttered more to himself ; than to the others, “He'll never make it2” Then pausing in his tracks a-moment, he suddenly turned-to the two pilots: “T'll call him back whether he. thinks he can make it or not, < and not another man-of mine will fly this damn line on a: night if run again until we find out what's at the bottonr of this. Some- t thing is playing havoc with. our guiding beam and instruments, i That's. certain.” ‘s “?’'m with you on.that, chief,” Roger said. A “And I’m behind you to the last,” was the eager chorus of Curtiss. ~ The “buzzer was now making attempts to continue, but was sending out only one-of every five or six notes, With alarm showing on his: face,Watson grabbed the trans- mitting unit and throwing the switch, spoke into the mouth piece. “Hello, Weldon,” he spoke, “This is the chief calling, An- swer me if you hear me” Putting down’ the mouth piece, he now changed the switch to the reception side, and the three men waited with nerves on edge for a reply. Would Weldon’s voice come through? Was he still on the beam? Had he reached the valley yet? Such thoughts ran through the minds of the group in the little office of the Kimberley air field as they waited. with swiftly beating hearts for a reply; for a word from the lone pilot out there fighting his way against odds over the vast expanse of storm torn jungle. A Rescue Party HE musical hum of a transmitter generator came from 5 the speaker and three: pairs of eyes were riveted on the wireless receiver. Three men stood as statues facing the loud speaking unit, “Hello, chief,” the familiar yoice of the pilot broke through a curtain of static, a voice that sent the blood pounding through the veins of the three men and brought the nataral color back to their pale cheeks, “I have lost the beam,” continued the | ~ voice, “It kept weakening as I approached the valley. Also my wireless receiver is out of-order and I cannot receive on it, " eee My compass is frozen tight and has-a tendency to. point almost straight down-and up although I have removed it from all elec- ‘trouble in riding out this storm which is mild, Continuous trical instruments to make sure that they were not throwing it out, Storm is unusually high and I am flying below it. There ‘is little wind but-torrents of rain. I will have: little lightning -flashes help mein keeping my bearings at- present. Will-call you again soon and report, but cannot receive for my receiver is out.” Picking up-his desk phone, Watson spoke into the instrument ; “Hello Jake, this is Watson. Get my Benson speedster ready to go up; I may need it any minute,” “What now?” Tom asked as the other hung up the phone receiver. “Just this. If Weldon doesn’t come through I’m going out there and find out why,” “Tt isn’t your job, chief. If he goes down you'll have lots to do right here asthe boss of this field, Listen, Watson, I’m ready to take the air whenever you say. You-can do more than-I can by remaining here, but you can’t do any more than I on a trip of this nature.” “Tam relief pilot this week,” Jim spoke-up, “So I guess that automatically: puts me-in line for the job, Weldon is-a close side kick of mine, and if he comes down I'nr-going after him whether I get permission or not.” “All right boys,” Watson replied quietly, “If there’s any need of it, I'll let you both go. But we'll wait for: further develop- ments,” “But the buzzer has stopped altogether now,” protested’ Jim, “And: that’s enough to tell you: that something’s wrong out there, Besides, his radio has gone bugs and the compass has frozen on him. Good heavens, man, isn't that proof enough that he’s running into the same trap that got the other fellows?” “That’s enough, Jim. I know how you feel, bit: under the ms circumstances we must be sure of our actions before we make :f a move,” os “The buzzer signals weakening, means that his small trans- tg mitter is unable to break through,” commented Tom. “There's : something mighty queer about the whole thing, Watson.” A sound from the radio receiver silenced all parties. The next moment Weldon’s voice came through, but at a much fainter strength than before. ~ “Approaching close to Skeleton Valley. Flying low. Rain falling in torrents, Radio transmitter working poorly and compass still tends to point up and down. Extretne left motor r missing slightly. Sickening feeling in the air, as if some in- ha visible force was sapping one’s strength away,” = ‘© sooner had the set finished the message than Watson whirled around in’ his. chair : “Get into your duds, you guys, you're going through and going damn-quick.” Grabbing the plione, he pushed a : button and spoke into the instrument : “Hey, cook, Hello! Hey, where's that—hello, say, bring over an etnergency ration kit and step on it. If it’s not here in one minute you'll be looking for a new job.” Slamming the receiver on the hook again, the airport chief pressed another button and again lifted the earpiece: “Hello, Jake. Say, run the speeder out onto the field. She's going up pronto.” As he replaced the receiver, the two pilots re-entered. the room, buckling on their helmets-and parachutes as they came, ~ “Hello --ief,” Every: man stopped dead in his tracks as the radio spit out the words amid a rain of static, They were weak and broken. “Transmitter working poorly, hope you get me O, K. Left motor missing bad now—centre left—starting— weaken, Am—king for landing place. Over the valley—feel sick—weak—drawing my ‘strength—.” The voice ceased fora ~ moment, then continued: “Rain coming down heavy. —treme right—missing—only two left now. Will have—leave ship and jump.”