Part 15 (1/2)

”Bless , Toraph, to show this

Tom followed Ned at top speed, but ere either of the noises ceased, the airshi+p began to er had passed

”What can have happened?” gasped Tom

”Come on, we'll soon see,” said Ned, and they rushed on, followed by Mr Das in a whisper

The chuht--for there was Koku, the giant, kneeling down on the floor of thehands clasped over one of the braces of the bed-plate of the great air pump, which cooled the cylinders of the s Kneeling there, pressing down on the bed-plate with all his er, for the rod of the pu up and doithin a fraction of an inch of his head, and, had he er to the axle, would have struck his temple and probably would have killed hiid, projected several inches from the smooth side of the rod

”Koku, what is the matter? Why are you there?” cried To with theon as before

”Bolt break,” explained the giant briefly, for he had learned so terms since he had been with Toin to jump up Make bad noise

Koku hold him down, but pretty hard work Better put in new bolt, Mr Toiant in his swelling veins and the muscles of his hands and arreat strength it was all Koku could do to hold the pu completely loose

”Quick, Ned!” cried Toot to bolt it fast Start the gas machine, Mr Damon You kno to do it It works independent of the o in a minute, Koku!”

It took but a few seconds to do all this Ned stopped thethe propellers to cease revolving Then the airshi+p would have gone down but for the fact that she was now a balloon, Mr Daover head

”Now you can let go, Koku,” said To of the er of it tearing loose

”Bless my court plaster!” cried Mr Daiant arose fro position the cause of the accident could easily be seen Two of the big belts that held down one end of the pump bed-plate to the floor of the airshi+p, had cracked off, probably through so and constant vibration on thereat strain on the two forward bolts, and the pump started to tear itself loose Had it done so there would have been a serious accident, for there would have been a tangle in the ht never have been repairable But Koku, who, it see the pump, saw the accident as soon as it occurred He knew that the puid, and he took the only way open to hi hands down over the place where the bolts had broken off, and by th of muscle he held the bed-plate in place until the poas shut off

”Koku, !” cried Tom, when he realized what had happened ”You saved all our lives, and the airshi+p as well”

”Koku glad,” was the siiant

”But, bless my witch hazel!” cried Mr Damon ”There's blood on your hands, Koku!”

They looked at the giant's pal

”How did it happen?” asked Ned

”Where belts break off, iron rough-like,” explained Koku

”Rough! I should say it was!” cried Toed end of the belts Koku you're a hero!”

”Hero saiant?” asked Koku, curiously

”No, it's a heap sight better,” spoke Tom, and there was a trace of tears in his eyes