FORCED LANDING

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 266, 9 November 1937, Page 19

FORCED LANDING

By KATHLEEN REDMOND STRANGE.

Short Story

Concluded

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTER. Synopsis of Previous Chapter. Drake Jackson a pilot in Grand Northern AirSfc?: k n i a n ,fa B a .orT r co U O n n tr > a to make a bogus forced landing for pubjS^o'^Ct'howeVerl'h^rrie , . 0 bu! real engine trouble develops, and ho' has to land the 'plane in the snow-bound o*r "#.% \Z Drake makes camp and starts a fire, know- ' n oi^d a^hrnexll 7aV deP A n fter on . SlSf ,2£ crawl into the tent, while wolves howl dismally in the near distance. Read on. The next morning Jo.ie came back to consciousness slowly .and at first ehe was unable to realise what had happened. Her whole body ached intoler.ui. „„ t, j j c i. , ably. Her hands and feet were numb . * ncic uuuiu with cold. Her mind was befogged. She struggled upright and looked around. A momentary panic assailed her when she discovered that Jackeon was gone from the tent. Outside, the morning air was crystal clear in the sunlight. It was cold, but the wind had dropped. She saw Jackson cooking something in a pan. Taking a towel from her suitcase and going behind the tent, she dug her hands into the snow and scrubbed her face vigorously. When ehe looked in her mirror she found she had natural colour in her cheeks and that her eyee were enining. fcne drew a comb through her honey-coloured hair, replaced the tightly-

o f splintere. The eecond time it etuck > n l^e tough bark and she had to wrench it free. But the third time a bou ff h .napped off. She almost laughed aloud with relief. , Slowl *. hut A ™ th ™™*™S dexterity, sl,e continued her labours, until presentlv she had a small pile of goodsized branches to show for her pain*. "CJood work, Joeie," Jackeon com-"-nded when ehe had thrown herself wearily down in front of the fire, h c saw t h a t tears were running down Sff- she said simply. "You're acting like a darn good little scout, Josie." Kurlv the following morning they , j 1 * -i licard an aeroplane go over a few miles to the west of them. Josie threw a lot of the green wood on the fire, but the emoke wae apparently unseen, for JJj o "™* "" '** "* Jackson was worse, Joeie knew. During the night he had talked wildly an d now, although his head wae clear, l> e was suffering intensely. With inexpert hands she made their meals and continu ed fitfully to gather In " r . e wo<xL . , • Blm be ? an to eet ' wae comln S °» agam. Adding to the Headlines, All at once ehe heard the Bound her ears had been straining for all day. The sound of an aeroplane, that increased

fitting fur cap, and went over and joined Jackson. "Good morning," he said shortly. "Feeling all right?" "Y-e-s. A bit cold—and very hungry." "There's bacon, hardtack and tea." After they had eaten he cut and carried more wood. She trudged back and forth beside him, helping him a little, getting in his way, alternately irritating and amusing him. In the afternoon he commenced work on the engine. What had happened, he explained to her, was a typical winter trouble, caused by moisure in the air passing to the carburettor and freezing on the jets. He would have to take the jets out. clean the ice from them and reassemble them. He worked, to Josie's amazement, with ungloved hands, handling metal parts between half-frozen but obviously expert fingers. And, despite his dislike and disapproval of her, they began to talk. Jackson told her something of the life of a pilot in Northern Canada. A hard life, he said; a dangerous one, but always a grand one. The following morning he woke her early. "This is the day that Bill ie to go to Benchly's for us,' , he reminded her. '"Soon as he finds we're not there, he'll start to hunt for us in earnest. You tend the fire, Josie, and keep your ears open for the sound of a 'plane. If you hear one, throw on lote of green spruce. We've got to keep plenty of smoke going up so we'll be seen." Josie crouched closer to the fire, while Drake continued his work in the bush. Her thoughts were interrupted by a cry. A few seconds later she saw Drake emerging from the bush. He was limping and his face was white and twisted with pain. "What ie it!" Josie cried, running toward him. "I've cut myself. Clumsy!" He staggered over to the fire and began pulling off his rubber. The moccasin beneath it was stained with blood. Across the foot was a deep, jagged cut that went clear to the bone. After he had washed away the blood and bandaged the wound he tried to replace his #hoe. But the foot had already begun to swell, and he was unable to put it to the ground. Later Josie renewed the eodden bandages for him. She examined the wound with worried eyes. "I'm sure that needs a doctor," ehe pronounced soberly. She added, with a touch of bitterness: "What a pity I don't happen to be a nurse instead of a singer. I might have been of some use to you then." "You may be of more use to me yet than you expect, Josie," he anewered, grimly prophetic. For, although there was sufficient wood cut to last for eeveral hours, there was not, he knew, enough to last all night. If his foot did not get better Josie would have to replenish the store, or they would both freeze to death."May Be Dying Out Here." They eat by the fire. Slowly the hours passed. Two or three times Drake attempted to walk. But the foot wae. getting woree instead of better. "Joeie—do you think you could cut some wood?" he ventured at last. "We muet have some more—for the night." She wrung her hands. "I don't know. I've never handled an axe in my life." "You must try," he *aid, patiently. She chose one of the smaller trees and struck at it. The axe glanced off the firet time, scattering § email ehower

in volume until it seemed to be right overhead. With renewed strength Joeie threw some of the last precious epruce boughe on the fire. She tried to cry out, but only a faint sound came from her dry throat. The aerolane continued on over the lake. Utter dejection overwhelmed her. Then she naw it was turning. It wae coming hack! She threw the last spruce bough on to the flames. The aeroplane at last glided down close beside their own crippled niachhie. A young , nan sprang out of the cabin and ran toward* them. "So this is where you are! I went to Beml.lys yesterday, but there was no eign of you. I've been hunting ever suite Han*ha\v s pretty near crazy and the papers are full of headlines. But fro/,, y t°h '"'l' Drake " He iron the recumbent man to the halffa.nt.ng gir . .. >Se e ms to me need a doctor right awav. So more questions now. WVII be going." a Sift , ? " P JO t l t aS if Sh ° e had b <*" nlane a " d ,, Carr ' od her to hi. own aeroplane, ihen he came back for Jackmn '•»"<!, half carried, half dragged Ui m over and shouldered him in belle h™ in a few minutes they were off. Josie, looking down, felt a strange unaccountable p ang of regret at J*' ing the lonely, desolate place. This m«n beside, her! She knew now tha she loved him But he did not love because he was eorry for her that hi* aim was *o protectingly about her now! At la#t, in the distance, lights marked the outskirts of the city. "Almost home again," Bill Randall shouted cheerfully from the front seat. Dont be surprised, Mise de Forreet if you get an ovation. You're quite' famous now, you know." Josie smiled wanly. She looked it Drake and found that hie eyee were searching her face, questioningly. "You got what you wanted, after all, didn't you, Joeie?" he said. "This should mean good publicity and a lone list of bookings." "I suppose so," she answered, faintly. Suddenly hie hand came out and grasped hers. "Oh, Joeie," he cried, in ft lktle uncertain rush of words. "There's something I didn't know—till this moment." He drew her nearer. '"Do thrw=e engagements mean so very much to you ?" "They're my—living," Josie said. "What else is there for me to do?" "You could—stay—with me," he answered her. jerkily. "It's not much of a booking I'm offering you, but it's —permanent." JosieVi white face -was with a smile. She put her arms about" him. We'll add to the headlines, Drake. 'Lost fliers find romance in north. Forced landing ends in wedding bells!" Outside the engine roared on, but in the little cabin there wae happineee and peace.