rather large first-aid kit, complete with splints and signal flares. "Set?" asked Ferd, as he locked the car. "Let's go. Hey, what time is it? We gotta be back at six," Dix pointed out carefully. "O.K., we got six and a half hours." They started up the steep, rocky trail, where only two weeks previously, two feet of snow covered the ground. The temperature had risen since, and now, only a few spots of snow showed on the hills. The earth crumbled as heavy shoes struggled for footing. "Starting to get a little hot, Dix. We've come about two miles along this trail. Let's get up where we can see something." The boys began climbing up a smaller hill to the south of the mountain. The hillside was covered with low brush and scrub oak, making the way slow and difficult. After about an hour, though, the boys broke through the last whipping, lashing scrub oak into the tall pines. "Wie spat its es?" said Dix in familiar classroom German. "It's about 2:15. Think this is high enough, or should we get outta these pines?" "Let's go till three, but that's cutting it short. Hey look at that peak. Looks higher from here than at the bottom. That old German sure gave'r a good name." Forty-five minutes later, the boys broke through the pines, and were standing at the top of the hill. "This is sure the hard way to climb a mountain," puffed Dix. "Here, have a stick of gum, and get out your binoculars." The sound of leather against metal, and the binoculars were free, looking into the valley from which they had come, while Dix looked at the country on the other side, into Snakegrass Canyon. "Hey Ferd! Look here! Here he is!" screamed Dix. "He's down by Huckley's Mine." About five-hundred feet below the boys was an old gold mine, abandoned for years. They often came here when they were younger. This side of the mountain was just the opposite of the terrain found on the other. Sharp, jagged rocks protruded from the ground. Loose boulders made the footing extremely dangerous. A trail of red led the boys to the entrance of the cave, where they found the young flier in a pool of blood, unconscious. A large gash in the side of his head had crusted over, and his hair was matted with dried blood. "He's still alive, but barely," said Ferd. "You go up top, and start a big, smoky fire, and see if you can signal the searchers. Take these flares. I'll stay here, and see if I can help this poor guy." In an hour, Ferd noticed smoke clouding up from the 24 hilltop like a belching volcano. He looked at his watch. It was almost 5:30. He knew it would be after dark before they got there. He decided to build a fire to keep them warm. It was after dark before the two boys heard the sound of the helicopter overhead. "He can't land up here can he? Not in the dark. He's sure takin' a chance with those down drafts," said Dix, "but at least they know where we are." From way below them, the boys could see four tiny lights inching their way up the mountain toward them, disappearing behind clefts, and blinking as they passed rocks. Every so often, the lights appeared to stop, and then start again. The boys were beginning to get cold now. The motionless man was covered in their coats and two blankets. It was after eight before the lights appeared over the last rise in their climb along the old mine road. The first jeep belonged to Mr. Anderson; the second was a grey-blue Air Force ambulance. "You boys all right?" came the voice. The medical doctor moved over by the injured pilot. "What took you so long, Dad? We've been waitin' here for hours." "It's been a while since that road was traveled," replied Mr. Anderson. "Excuse me, Mr. Anderson, but would you pull your jeep over as far as you can on this flat piece, and face the ambulance? We're going to have to fly him out. He can't take that trip down the mountain. I need a lighted place for the chopper to land." "Boys, I'm Colonel Byrd," said a dark figure. "I want to thank you for your help. We would never have found him alive. If I can ever be of service, please call on me. And thank you, Mr. Anderson. You should be very proud of these boys." "Thank you sir," came the reply. "Indeed I am." Fifteen minutes later, the helicopter rose from the ground carrying the injured pilot, and disappeared into the night. "Well boys, congratulations. You sure put one over on us. What do you say we get your car, and head on home?" said the proud father. 25