Part 13 (1/2)
”Itinventor ”The wind is blowing about eighty miles an hour at times, and to try to turn noould mean that ould tear the planes loose from the shi+p
True, we could still keep up byas we are, in the sa, we do not feel the full effect of it”
”But, perhaps, if ent lower down, or higher up, we could get in a different current of air,” suggested Mr Fenwick, who had made some study of aeronautics
”I'll try,” assented To rudder, and the WHIZZER began to go up, slowly, for there was great lateral pressure on her large surface But Toed the craft steadily The powerful electric engines, which were the invention of Mr Fenwick, stood theraph soon showed that they were steadily
”Is the wind pressure any less?” inquired Mr Damon, anxiously
”On the contrary, it seelance at the anemometer ”It's nearly ninety miles an hour now”
”Then, aided by the propellers, weover a hundred miles an hour” said the inventor
”We are,--a hundred and thirty,” assented Tom
”We'll be blown across the ocean at this rate,” exclaimed Mr Damon
”Bless my soul! I didn't count on that”
”Perhaps we had better go down,” suggested Mr Fenwick ”I don't believe we can get above the gale”
”I'm afraid not,” came froly, the rudder was changed, and the WHIZZER pointed her nose doard None of the lifting gas was let out, as it was desired to save that for ereat airshi+p, until the adventurers within, by gazing through the plate glassin the floor of the cabin, could see the heaving, white-capped billows, tossing and tu below them
”Look out, or we'll be into theo back to the level where ere,”
declared Tom ”The wind, both above and below that particular strata is stronger, and ill be safer up above Our only chance is to scud before it, until it has blown itself out And I hope it will be soon”
”Why?” asked Mr Damon, in a low voice
”Because we et back while our power holds out, and then--” Tom did not finish, but Mr Da ocean, far froer, should drop into the storain on a level, where the gale blew less furiously than either above or below, but this was not o to pieces, so much was it swayed and tossed about But Mr Fenwick, if he had done nothing else, had ood stead
All the rest of that day they swept on, at about the sa for them to do, save watch thethe oil tanks, orminor adjustments
”Well,” finally re away, ”if there's nothing else to do, suppose we eat Bless ry! and I believe you said, Mr Fenwick, that you had plenty of food aboard”
”So we have, but the excite blown out to sea on our first real trip, et dinner at once, if you can put up with an a”
”And I'll help,” offered Mr Damon ”Tom can attend to the airshi+p, and we'll serve the meals It will take our minds off our troubles”
There was a well equipped kitchen aboard the WHIZZER and soon savory odors were co from it In spite of the terror of their situation, and it was not to be denied that they were in peril, they all h it was difficult to drink coffee and other liquids, owing to the sudden lurches which the airshi+p gave froht caale seeh the slender wire rigging of the WHIZZER, and sent the craft careening from side to side, and sometimes thrust her down into a cavern of the air, only to lift her high again, al ocean below them
As darkness settled in blacker and blacker, Tohts on the water