"We'll have to endure it again, to get back," said Sam. "And what about the biplane?"
"Just wait till we find the machine first," answered Dick, with a faint smile. "You know the old saying, 'Don't count your chickens----'"
"Before they are fried," finished Tom, with a grin. "You see, somebody might lift them from the henroost before you had a chance to cook them," he went on soberly.
"By gum! thet ain't no joke nuther!" burst in Peter Marley. "Many a chicken I've lost through tramps an' wuthless niggers."
[Illustration: "THERE SHE IS!" BURST FROM TOM'S LIPS.--_Page_ 63. _Rover Boys in the Air._]
They had to go around several walls of rocks and through a tangle of brushwood, and then came to a small clearing where was located the remains of a wood-cutter's hut. Not far beyond was the locality where they had seen the object that looked like one of the biplane's wings.
It must be confessed that the hearts of the three boys beat a bit faster as they drew closer. Would they find the flying machine, and if so, would it be in serviceable condition or so smashed up as to be worthless?
"There she is!" burst from Tom's lips, and he pointed out into the water.
"Right down between half a dozen big rocks," added Sam. "Is she smashed much? How about the engine, Dick?"
"The engine is there, but I can't tell if it's broken or not. We'll soon find out."
The big biplane lay among some rocks and bushes, the latter overhanging the water, which at this spot was less than two feet deep. By taking off their shoes and socks, and rolling up their trousers, the boys were able to wade out to the flying machine and make an inspection.
"One of the planes is broken," said Dick. "But as the bamboo poles are merely split I think they can be repaired with some fine wire,--just as we repair a split baseball bat."
"But the engine?" asked Sam, impatiently.
"I think the engine is all right--at least it looks all right to me. Of course we can't be sure until we clean it up and try it."
"Then she must have struck the water on the slant and that must have broken the shock," said Tom; and this surmise was undoubtedly correct, for had the _Dartaway_ come down squarely on the rocks the planes and the engine must have been broken to bits.