about noon
`` I must get the gas pipe repaired . I wish we could see over what soft of a place we were so as to know whether it would be safe to land . I wish the mist would clear away . '' It did , about noon , and they noted that they were over a desolate stretch of country , in which it would be safe to make a landing . Bringing the aeroplane down on as smooth a spot as he could pick out , Tom and Ned were soon at work clearing out the clogged pipe of the gas generator . They had to take it out in the open air , as the fumes were unpleasant , and it was while working over it that they saw a shadow thrown on the ground in front of them . Startled they looked up , to see a burly Russian staring at them .