The storm kept up all night, but the danger was practically over, unless
something should happen to the machinery, and Tom and Ned kept careful
watch to prevent this. In the morning they could look down on the
storm-swept ocean below them, and there was a feeling of thankfulness in
their hearts that they were not engulfed in it.
"This is a pretty hard initiation for an amateur," remarked Mr.
Petrofsky. "I never imagined I should be as brave as this in an airship
in a storm."
"Oh, you can get used to almost anything," commented Mr. Damon.
It was three days before the storm blew itself out and then came
pleasant weather, during which the Falcon flew rapidly along. Our
friends busied themselves about many things, talked of what lay before
them, and made such plans as they could.
It was the evening of the fifth day, and they expected to sight the
coast of France in the morning. Tom was in the pilot house, setting the
course for the night run, and Ned had gone to the engine room to look
after the oiling of the motor.
Hardly had he reached the compartment than there was a loud report, a
brilliant flash of fire, and the machinery stopped dead.
"What is it?" cried Tom, as he came in on the run, for the indicators in
the pilot house had told him something was wrong.
"An accident!" cried Ned.
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