Suppose we try to go up?"
This was agreed on as a wise plan, and Dick, who was taking his turn
at the wheel, shifted the rudder to send his craft up on a long
slant.
But now a new difficulty arose. It seemed that the change in angle
made a heavier wind pressure on the big planes, and the speed of the
airship was reduced to a bare ten miles an hour. In fact she seemed
almost stationary in the air, at times.
"This won't do!" cried Dick. "We've got to turn on more power, even
if we do strain the machinery. We've got to have more speed than
this!"
"That's right!" cried Mr. Vardon. "I'll turn 'em up, Dick."
And with the increased speed of the big motor that was whirling the
propellers came increased danger of a break. Vigilance was
redoubled, and they had their reward for their care.
"Here's something wrong!" cried Innis, as he passed a small dynamo
that supplied current for the electric lights. "A hot bearing!"
and he pointed to where one was smoking.
"Shut down! Quick!" cried Mr. Vardon. "Throw over the storage
battery switch. That will run the lights until that shaft cools.
It must have run out of oil."
The dynamo was stopped and as the storage battery was not powerful
enough to operate all the lights for very long, only part of the
incandescents were used, so that the interior of the ship was only
dimly lighted.
"Use your portable electric torches to examine the machinery in the
dark places," directed the aviator.
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