But the marvelous power of the
gyroscope would force her back again.
On through the night and through the gale went the airship. So
severe was the storm that it was not deemed wise for any one to
remain in his bunk. So everyone spent the hours of darkness in
wakeful watching and waiting.
"We want to be ready to act in any emergency," explained Mr. Vardon.
"There's no telling when something may give way under the strain."
"Well, then we ought to go over all the machinery every ten minutes
or so, and see if anything is wrong," suggested Dick. "We might see
the trouble starting in time to prevent it."
"Good idea!" cried the lieutenant. "We'll make periodical
inspections. Everyone on the job, as the boys say."
The task of looking after the machinery was divided up among the
young aviators, and, as the craft was swayed this way and that by
the gale, eager and anxious eyes watched every revolution of the
gear wheels, pistons were minutely inspected in the light of
electric torches, and valves adjusted when they showed the least
sign of going wrong.
Poor Grit seemed to be afraid, which was something new for him. He
would not leave Dick for an instant, but kept at his heels, even
when his master went near the sparking motors and dynamos, which the
bulldog had good reason to fear. But now he seemed more afraid of
something else than the machines that had shocked him.
"I wonder what's the matter?" spoke the young millionaire.
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