She barely held her own, while, far ahead
of her, and fast disappearing in the distance, could be seen the
other craft--that carrying Uncle Ezra.
"I guess it's all up with us," murmured Paul, as he went to the
wheel.
"No, it isn't!" cried Dick. "I'm not going to give up yet! We can
still make time when we get the repairs made, and I'll run the motor
until her bearings melt before I give up!"
"That's the way to talk!" cried the army man. "And we're all with
you. There's a good chance yet, for those fellows must be
desperate, or they'd never have tried what they did. My opinion is
that they hope to reach San Francisco in a last dash, and they were
afraid we'd come in ahead of them. But I can't understand how that
army man aboard would permit such a thing. It is past belief!"
It was no easy task to make the repairs with the airship in motion.
Spare parts, including a sprocket chain, were carried aboard, but
the work had to be done close to the other revolving propeller, and,
as slowly as it was whirling about, it went fast enough to cause
instant death to whoever was hit by it. So extreme caution had to
be used.
To add to the troubles it began to rain violently, and a
thunderstorm developed, which made matters worse. Out in the
pelting storm, with electrically-charged clouds all about them, and
vivid streaks of lightning hissing near them, the aviators worked.
They were drenched to the skin. Their hands were bruised and cut
by slipping wrenches and hammers.
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