Part 13 (2/2)

”We just passed over soht than we are” Then, there suddenly caht of the parents of Mary Nestor, ere somewhere on the ocean, in the yacht RESOLUTE bound for the West Indies

”I wonder if they're out in this storm, too?” mused Tom ”If they are, unless the vessel is a staunch one, they irl he cared soto Toan to busy himself about the machinery of the airshi+p, to take his ht happen to the RESOLUTE

”We'll have our own troubles before ,” the lad mused, ”if this wind doesn't die down”

There was no indication that this was going to be the case, for the gale increased rather than diood ninety miles an hour, for it had been decided that it was best to keep the engine and propellers going, as they steadied the shi+p

”Ninetyat that rate for ten hours now That's nearly a thousand miles We are quite a distance out to sea”

He looked at a co headed directly across the Atlantic they were bearing in a southerly direction

”At this rate, on't co to the West Indies ourselves,” reasoned the young inventor ”But I think the gale will die away before ”

The storh the hours of darkness It was a night of terror, for they dared not go to sleep, not knowing at what ht turn turtle, or even rend apart, and plunge with them into the depths of the sea

So they sat up, occasionally attending to the es Mr Damon made hot coffee, which they drank from time to time, and it served to refresh them

There came a sudden burst of fury fro over

”Blessup ”That was a close call!”

To Mr Fenwick looked pale and alarmed

The hours passed They were swept ever onward, at about the saain tossed upward at the will of the wind The airshi+p ell-nigh helpless, and Tom, as he realized their position, could not repress a fear in his heart as he thought of the parents of the girl he loved being tossed about on the swirling ocean, in a frail pleasure yacht

CHAPTER XII

A DOWNWARD GLIDE

They sat in the cabin of the airshi+p, staring helplessly at each other Occasionally Tom rose to attend to one of the machines, or Mr Fenwick did the same Occasionally, Mr Damon uttered a remark

Then there was silence, broken only by the howl of the gale

It seemed ilanced at the speed gage he noted, with a feeling of surprise, akin to horror, that they wereclose to one hundred and fifty miles an hour Only an aeroplane could have done it, and then only when urged on by a terrific hich added to the speed produced by the propellers

The whole craft swayed and trembled, partly from the vibration of the electrical machinery, and partly from the aind Mr

Fenwick came close to Tom, and exclaimed:

”Do you think it would be any use to try once o above or below the path of the storm?”

Tom's first impulse was to say that it would be useless, but he recollected that the craft belonged to Fenwick, and surely that gentle inventor nodded