Each of the boys strained his eyes, to catch sight of what might be below.

Then came another gust, and this was followed by a strange rattling on the biplane.

Small, white objects were bouncing in all directions.
"It's hail!" cried Sam.

"We've struck a hail squall!" He was right, and the hail continued to come down all around them, driven by a sweeping wind that carried the _Dartaway_ hither and thither.

But it was one of those sudden squalls that do not last long, and soon they were sailing in the clear air again, and now within view of the ground below.
"There is a fine field--to the right," cried Tom.
Dick nodded and, not without an effort, brought the biplane around.