and valleys covered with stunted trees and clumps of brushwood. Not a house was in sight.
"This is what you'd call Lonesomehurst," murmured Sam.
"Do you see any place where we can land?" was Dick's question, a little later, after he had battled with another angry gust and then run through a particularly trying "soft spot."
"Nothing around here," answered Tom.
"I see something of a clearing over to the left," came from Sam. "I don't know what it amounts to though, it's too far off."
"We'll look at it," said Dick, in a low voice.
He had to fairly battle his way along, so fierce were the gusts of wind. He made something of an oval, and presently found himself over a spot covered with grass and low bushes. Then came another gust of wind and without waiting longer he shut off the engine, and the Dartaway came down with a bump that threatened to break the wheels on which it rested. They swept through the bushes, and then tilted up beside several small trees.
"Hold her down!" shouted Dick. "Tie her fast before the wind turns her over!"
All set to work, and, not without great difficulty, they managed to run the biplane directly between several trees and some clumps of bushes.
