"I can bring her down all right.
There's really nothing more the matter than if we had purposely
stopped the motor."
"No, that's so," agreed Mr. Vardon. "But still I want to see what
the trouble is, and why it stopped. I'll try the hand starter."
But this was of no use either. The gasolene motor would not start,
and without that the propellers could not be set in motion to
sustain the big craft in the air. Mr. Vardon, and his helper, with
the aid of Innis, Paul and Larry, worked hard at the motor, but it
was as obstinate as the engine of some stalled motor-boat.
"I can't understand it," said the aviator.
"There's plenty of gasolene in the tank, and the spark is a good,
fat one. But the motor simply won't start. How you making out,
Dick?"
"All right. We're going to land a considerable distance from home,
but maybe we can get her started when we reach the ground."
"We'll try, anyhow," agreed the aviator. "Is she responding all
right?"
"Fine. Couldn't be better. Let some of the other boys take a hand
at it."
"Well, maybe it would be a good plan," agreed the aviator. "You
never can tell when you've got to make a glide. Take turns, boys."
"I don't think I'd better, until I learn how to run an airship that
isn't in trouble," said Larry Dexter.
"Well, perhaps not," said Mr. Vardon. "But the others may."
Meanwhile the Abaris had been slowly nearing earth, and it was this
slowness, caused by the gradual "sifting" down that would make it
possible to land her with scarcely a jar.
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