“No, it was one of the stays!” answered Dick.  He glanced around.  “The right plane is giving ’way!  Sam, let her down, as quick as you can!”

“On the tracks!” gasped the lad at the wheel.

“Yes—­ anywhere—­ before we tumble!”

The biplane was already out of control.  Sam manipulated the rudders as best he could, and likewise the ailerons, and the machine dropped in several wild dashes.

“The train!” yelled Tom.  “Look out for the express!”

There was another gleam of light along the railroad tracks.  The evening express was approaching, running at topmost speed, to make up some lost time.

The biplane was coming down swiftly.  It veered towards the woods beside the railroad tracks.  Then it took another wild turn and hung directly over the railroad.  The boys were speechless, not knowing what to do.  The light of the express train kept coming closer and closer.

Crash! the biplane had struck the earth, directly beside the railroad tracks.  One end of the machine rested across the rails, the other end hung in the bushes bordering the tracks.

As they struck Tom and Dick were thrown out—­ the former into the bushes and the latter on the tracks.  Sam kept at the wheel, the force of the intact smashing the landing wheels beneath him.

For the instant all three boys were too stunned to do anything.  Then, as the gleam from the express train came closer, Tom let out a wild cry.

“Jump!  Jump for your lives!  We haven’t a moment to lose!”

“Dick!” screamed Sam.  “Save Dick!  He is on the tracks!”

“Where?”

“There!” and Sam pointed with one hand, while he clambered down from his seat.  The seat was broken and his coat got caught in the splinters, and it was several seconds before he could release himself.

Tom looked to where his brother pointed and saw Dick lying in a heap, face downward.  The fall had been sufficient to stun him and he was thus unable to help himself.

Tom did not hesitate over what to do.  Dick was very dear to him and never for an instant did he consider the risk he was running in going to the rescue.  He made a flying leap from the bushes to the tracks and took another leap to his brother’s side.

“Get up, Dick” he yelled.  “Here, let me get you off the tracks!  The train is coming!”

Only a faint groan answered him.  Dick was still too dazed to think or to act.

Tom caught hold of his brother and raised him up, and commenced to drag him to the other side of the tracks, away from the wrecked biplane.  As he did this there came a shrill warning shriek from the locomotive whistle.  The engineer had seen the obstruction on the tracks and had put on brakes, in a vain endeavor to stop the express.

As Tom commenced to haul Dick across the tracks, Sam came bounding to his assistance, the shreds of his torn coat flapping behind him.  He caught his big brother by one arm.