Page:20 Hrs 40 Min (Earhart).pdf/168

Rh found only about a gallon and swears he'll never open another one.

We unloaded every ounce of stuff from the plane—camera, my coat, bags, cushions, etc.

She would have gone but for the motors. There was salt water above the prop. hubs.

I received some letters today and Andy brought over some "day after the take-off" papers in Boston. I couldn't read them under the circumstances of this day. We were all too disappointed to talk. The boys are in bed and I am going soon. We rise at six.

Wednesday Evening.

The days grow worse. I think each time we have reached the low, but find we haven't.

Vainly we tried to rise today with our load.

Today Bill and Slim tried to take her off after she had been "degassed" by 300 lbs. The left motor cut and they couldn't get her off light. While working with it they set some yokel to watch the tide, but he forgot, and it ran out leaving them on a sandy ledge. They got the motor repaired and will have to go out at midnight to float her down to the buoy. We may try for the Azores tomorrow, if possible at dawn.