Paul reached a point of vantage first.  One swift look showed him the trouble.  The left elevator had a big hole through it, made by the stone, fragments of silk showing all round the ragged gap.  But this could not have caused the derangement of the steering controls entirely, and looking for a reason, Paul saw that the impact had caused the wire running to the right elevator to become twisted around a bracket near the end of the fuselage.  Under this condition neither elevator could be controlled.  With the good one held downward, it was no wonder that the airplane had started a stubborn, slow dive toward the ocean in spite of Bob's frantic efforts to work the lever normally effecting it.