For the veteran aviator,
after a quick inspection of the machinery, no longer looked worried.
"What has happened?" asked Innis.
"Our engine stalled, for some unknown reason," answered Mr. Vardon,
quickly. "Fortunately nothing is broken. I'll see if I can't start
it with the electrical generator. Are you holding her all right,
Dick?"
"I think so; yes. I can take four or five minutes more to let her
down easy."
"Well, take all the time you can. Head her up every once in a
while. It will be good practice for you. The stabilizer worked
all right, anyhow."
The airship was not on a level keel, but was inclined with her "bow"
pointed to the earth, going downward on a slant. But Dick knew how
to manage in this emergency, for many times he had practiced
volplaning to earth in ordinary biplanes.
By working the lever of the vertical rudder, he now brought the
head, or bow, of the airship up sharply, and for a moment the
downward plunge was arrested. The Abaris shot along parallel to
the plane of the earth's surface.
This operation, repeated until the ground is reached, is, as I have
already explained, called volplaning.
"Something is wrong," announced Mr. Vardon, as he yanked on the
lever of the starting motor, and turned the switch. Only the hum
of the electrical machine resulted. The gasolene motor did not
"pick up," though both the gasolene and spark levers were thrown
over.
"Never mind," counseled Dick.
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