The youngest Rover boy now had to give the Dartaway all of his
attention. The breeze was coming in fitful gusts, sending the biplane
first to one side and then to the other. They struck a "bank," and he
had to use all his wit and courage to bring the flying machine to a
level keel once more.

"Better go down!" cried Tom. "This is getting dangerous."

"Don't go down here!" sang out Dick. "There are woods on both sides of
the track!"

Sam had been working the horizontal rudder, to bring the biplane down,
but at Dick's words he shifted again and they went up.

"I'll tell you when we reach an open field," went on the oldest Rover.
"Say, this sure is some blow!" he added.

Another fitful gust struck the Dartaway and for one brief moment it
looked as if the biplane would be turned over. Had this occurred the
machine would have dropped like a shot and most likely all of the boys
would have been killed.

But Sam was on guard, and worked his levers like lightning. As quickly
as she had tipped, the Dartaway righted herself, and then they shot
upward on a long slant.

"Phew! that was some escape!" muttered Tom. "Dick, can't you see any
open field where we can land?"