It was when they were near the city of Pirtchina, on the Obi river, that
what might have proved a disastrous accident occurred. They were flying
along high, and at great speed, for Tom wanted to make all the distance
he could, to get out of Siberia the more quickly. They had had a fair
passage so far, and were congratulating themselves that they would soon
be in civilization again.
Suddenly, Mr. Damon, who had been on the after deck, taking observations
through a telescope, came running forward, crying out:
"Tom! Tom! What is that water dripping from the back part of the
airship?"
"Water?" exclaimed Tom. "No water is dripping from there."
"Come and look," advised Mr. Damon.
The young inventor raced back with him. He saw a thin, white stream
trickling down from the lower part of the craft. Tom sniffed the air
suspiciously.
"Gasolene! It's gasolene!" he cried. "We must have a leak in the supply
tanks!"
He dashed toward the reserve storeroom, and at that moment, with a
suddenness that was startling, the motor stopped and the Falcon lurched
toward the earth.
CHAPTER XXV
HOMEWARD BOUND--CONCLUSION
"All right!" yelled Ned, as soon as he heard Tom's cry. "I've got her
under control. We'll volplane down."
"Is it dangerous? Are we in danger?" asked Peter Petrofsky of his
brother, in Russian.
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