"Another second and I'll have the last wire in!" cried Mr. Vardon.
"Do your best, Dick."
"I'm doing it. But she's dipping down fast."
"Oh, for a dirigible balloon now!" cried the lieutenant. "We could
float while making repairs."
But it was useless to wish for that. They must do the best they
could under the circumstances.
"There she is! The last wire in!" shouted the aviator. "How much
space left, Dick?"
"About two hundred feet!"
"That may do it. Now to see if the self-starter will work!"
Eagerly he made a jump for the switch. He pulled it over. There
was a brilliant blue spark, as the gap was closed.
The electrical starter hummed and whined, as if in protest at being
obliged to take up its burden again.
Then, with a hum and a roar, the motor that had stalled began to
revolve. Slowly at first, but soon gathering speed.
"Throw in the propeller clutch!" yelled Dick. "We're going right
toward a hill, and I can't raise her any more."
"In she goes!" yelled Lieutenant McBride, as he pulled on the lever.
There was a grinding of gears as the toothed wheels meshed, and the
big wooden propellers began to revolve.
"There she goes!" cried Mr. Vardon.
The Abaris, which had almost touched the earth, began to soar upward
under the propelling influence. Dick tilted back the elevating
plane as far as he dared.
Had the motive power come in time, or would they land on the hill?
But success was with them.
Pages:
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224