“STRATOSPHERE EXPRESS”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 April 1940, Page 10

“STRATOSPHERE EXPRESS”

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. COPYRIGHT.

BY

ALROY WEST.

(Author of “Messengers of Death,” etc.)

CHAPTER XXV. (Continued). Fortunately, there was no difficulty in getting the small aperture in the passage open, and in lowering the ladder. Still wearing the emergency suits which had the welcome property of keeping them warm, they made their way on to the icefield. Larkin at once tried to get a reading, while the others inspected the damage. There were great ridges and hummocks of ice. In parts there were deep snowdrifts. In one of these the nose of the stratoplane had dipped. The snow spread over it, completely covering the windows of the navigation cabin. One of the forward engines had been badly damaged, the airscrew having broken. Part of the strong undercarriage was buckled. "Any chance of getting her clear?” Storm asked anxiously. Bcssiter shook his head. “I doubt it.” He moved back to the under-carriage and started to examine it. Then he stepped back and shook his head'again. “It would buckle up beneath us,” he declared. “I’m afraid we’re stuck. Storm. It means walking back.” “Walking!" “Yes! It’s been done before, hasn’t it?”

“I suppose so.” “Well, then, why get alarmed? These suits will be a help, and we have plenty of food.” “We’ve also prisoners.” “We can leave them,” said Bessiter brutally. Larkin hurried across to them. “What news?” Bessiter asked ly“Not very good, I'm afraid. Were about 83 degrees North.” “Eighty-three!” Fargus gasped. “That puts us in the Arctic circle!” Bessiter grunted. “How fast has this old crock been flying, then?" he demanded. Larkin shrugged his shoulders. “Couldn’t tell you. They must have reached a speed of some 600 miles an hour.” “I shouldn’t have thought that possible,” Storm objected. “One brilliant scientist predicted 800 miles an hour,” Larkin told him. “And an unmodified rocket-plane would go faster than—about seven miles a second, or roughly. 2500 an hour. ’ “Never mind that,” said Bessiter. “Whereabouts are we on this 83 degrees North line?" “I’m no quite sure, but I think we’re somewhere between Emperor William Land and Spitzbergen, although, both, of course, are to the South.” “Better get inside,” Bessiter said. '“The light’s going already. We’ll get food packed up and then rest. Tomorrow we’ll have a shot a getting out ol this mess." “What about the prisoners?" Monk asked, when they were back in the forward cabin. “Yes,” said Larkin. “You can’t leave Croft and Smith in the engine-room. We shall want the electric light plant working.” “We’ll deal with them now,” said Bessiter. He communicated by the televisor with Croft, who was quite ready tc surrender. With Storm, Monk and Larkin on guard, each armed with a revolver, Bessiter pulled back the lever so that Croft and Smith could emerge from the engine-room. They made no attempt to struggle and handed over their weapons readily. Bessiter, who had hurried on the scene, scowled at them. “You’ve landed us in a nice fix.” he told Croft. “Serve you right if we’e gone down down in the sea." Croft smiled. “1 had a very good idea of our position," he explained. Larkin hurried through to the en-gine-room and quickly put things tc rights. There had been no attempt tc sabotage, but the gas cylinders were missing. “That’s right,” said Croft. “I chucked them all out.” Larkin made no comment. The prisoners were left in the real cabin, the door of which was securely fastened. Then the sliding doors tc the engine-room were closed once more. After packing some of the food ii haversacks the others settled themsel ves for some sleep, Bessiter warnin; them that they would have to be about early the next morning. He was as good at his word and duh roused them as soon as it was light. Immediately after having some food Bessiter took Storm on one side. "Take that girl for a bit of a walk.' he instructed. "There’s going to be ; burial party.” Storm nodded. A few minutes later Manila wa trudging along through the soft sno\ with him. "It's only a thin coating." -he saic brightly, "and we shall soon come t something firmer." In the meantime. Bessiter supervise the burial of IVlackley and Hodge. II made their prisoners do the greatc part of the work of erecting a cairn. Just as they were finishing the grir task, Fargus started to peer up in th sky. “What is it?” Bessiter asked. “I’m sure I heard an aeroplane.” "Nonsense!" “1 did. I’m certain." Fargus waite for a minute or so. Bessiter heard the sound as well. Il signalled to Larkin to hurry their prif oners inside the stratoplane. Mon went with Larkin. “1 can see it," Fargus declared. i Bessiter hurried in for some powe ful glasses. lie focussed them on th

speck in the clouds. “Don’t know what she can be,” he muttered. “Unless there’s a Russian 2 scientific expedition anywere near." i He passed the glasses to Fargus, who took one look and then turned to him in excitement. “I’d know that plane anywhere. It's j the one that dropped the bomb on us that day!" I CHAPTER XXVI. Storm and Manda saw the aeroplane a few minutes after Fargus had drawn Bessiter’s attention to it. They were j making their way through some great j hummocks of ice when the drone of i the engines started to fill the air. “Is that the stratoplane?” asked Manda, pulling up sharp. Storm shook his head. "It’s an aeroplane somewhere! This ( looks good. I’m not at all keen on the long tramp back to Spitzbergen." “You’d have to swim some of the way,” said Manda. J “Shouldn’t be surprised. But this looks looks as though we may be aole . to get a lift.” They hastened forward, and were able to distinguish the machine, which was circling round. Storm leapt out , and waved. “It is coming down!" the girl cried. The strange aeroplane swept downward, and made a perfect landing on a smooth stretch of ice about a quarter of a mile away. It was roughly between them and the stratoplane. “Good!” Storm exclaimed. “We’ll be getting back." They speedily retraced their steps. , For a few minutes the machine was 1 hidden by the ice hummocks but at last it was in clear view again. There : were two men standing beside it. “It’s a good-sized machine,” said Storm critically. “I should think there’d be room for one or two of our party, if those fellows are the only ones in it.” Their approach had been observed, for the two men started to walk towards them. Storm hurried slightly ahead and was the first to draw very near. He stopped suddenly and then cried out warning to Manda. “Danger!” he cried. “Run.”

The man who was nearest to him, smiling viciously, was none other than Dickin. “Get that girl!" he shouted to his companion. The man broke into a run. Storm realised that Manda was trying to make her way to the stratoplane, but she was bound to be cut off by her pursuer. Dodging Dickin, he shot forward, came near to the man, pushed out his foot and tripped him. The man came down with a crash. Dickin charged into Storm, who had to turn to defend himself. He struck out and caught Dickin at the side of

the head, but received a quick punch to the jaw which drove him back. Storm sprang clear, realised that the second man was scrambling, up, and took a flying leap at him. The man went down again, but Storm was not able to keep his own footing, and crashed to the ice as well. Dickin sped forward, but Storm wriggled clear and jumped up. Manda had a much better start by this time. Dickin rushed to the attack and managed to get in a punch which sent Storm sprawling. He leapt on him. at the same time crying to his companion to hurry after the girl. Storm tensed himself, and by a mighty effort threw Dickin off him. The second man was starting in pursuit of the girl. It was no time for gentle tactics. Storm went down on him like a whirlwind, Dickin in close pursuit. Storm kicked out and caught the man a terrific kick on the knee-cap. The man gave a yell of agony and crumpled up. Dickin charged Storm, and once . more sent him spinning to the ground. ■T’ll finish you," the man grunted. Storm struggled desperately, but could not break the iron grip which was slowly choking the breath out of

him. Dickins’ face, distorted with aner, was blurring. Then there came a sharp crack, and Storm realised that Dickin wasn't on ' top of him any longer. He was able to gasp, and take in air. Slowly, he rais--1 ed himself. Dickin was lying on the ice, his arms sprawled out in a strange manner. The second man had limped for- ■ ward, and was now holding his hands I above his head. Beyond was Bessiter. a rifle in his hands. “Are you all right, Storm?” Bessiter ’ shouted anxiously. "Yes.” "Then why the blazes don't you stand up instead of trying to alarm people?" i Storm struggled to his feet. Dickin moved slightly, and beckoned to him. "What is it?" Storm asked, going s nearer. "Something important about the girl." Dickin said weakly. , Storm bent beside him. > "You win." said Diekin. "I’m finished now. There’s a good plane there. 1 She’ll take six or seven people. Clear ? out as quickly as you can; make for r Spitzbergen. Get that girl away. Croft was to bring your plane down somei where in this region. Lovac's near, e with a rascally crew in a Russian steamer. There are two more planes. 1 radioed through that I had sighted the stratoplane. They’ll be on their way—now. Get that girl clear. 1 :1 wanted her. Storm. But although I hate to see you get her. 1 can’t bear ej to think of what would happen if -I those cut-throats captured her. You'd <1 all have to be killed, but Lovac i wouldn't do anything to save the girl ) from something worse . . He’s a dirty ’- swine, for all his smiling ways." e (To be Continued).