CHAPTER VII
A QUEER SAIL
Now that the fear and worriment was over they all began to feel hungry,and, while Mark and Jack took charge of the conning tower Washington gotbreakfast. The professor seemed preoccupied during the meal, and severaltimes, when Mark spoke to him, he did not reply.
"I wonder if he is worried about something, or is thinking of somethingwhich seems to be concealed in the storeroom," the boy thought.
But, after a while, the professor seemed to be more like himself. He wasbusy over several maps and charts, and then announced the ship would tryair-sailing again for a while.
"We can make better time above than we can on the water," he said, "andI am anxious to get to the mysterious island and learn what is in storefor us."
Perhaps if the professor had been able to look ahead, and see what wassoon going to happen, he would not have been so anxious for it to occur.
It was shortly after dinner when, the gas container having been filled,the ship rose in the air, and began sailing over the ocean, about a mileup. The day was a fine one, and, as they were moving south, it wasconstantly growing warmer. Down on the water, in fact, it was quite hot,but in the air it was just right.
Like some immense bird the _Mermaid_ went flying through the air. Theboys and the professor sat upon the deck in easy chairs. It was likebeing on the top of some tall "sky-scraper" building which, by somestrange power, was being moved forward. Below them the ocean tumbled inlong, lazy swells.
Suddenly Mark, who was looking through a telescope at the expanse ofwater stretched out under them, gave a cry.
"There's a ship! She's on fire!"
"Where?" asked the professor, stretching out his hand for the glass.
"Just to the port of the forward tube. See the smoke!" exclaimed Mark.
Mr. Henderson looked. Through the lens he saw a column of black vaporrising skyward. Mingled with it were red flames.
"Lower the _Mermaid_!" he cried. "We must save those on board if wecan!"
Mark ran to the conning tower, where Washington was, to give the order.The colored man, who was looking ahead, intent on guiding the ship, didnot at first hear what Mark called.
"Lower us! Send the _Mermaid_ down!" Mark cried again.
The sudden shout and the excited voice of Mark so startled Washington,that, fearing some accident had happened, he pulled the lever,controlling the gas supply, with more force than necessary.
There was a loud explosion, followed by a crackling sound, a flash oflight, and the _Mermaid_ came to a sudden stop.
"What's the matter?" cried Mark, feeling that something was wrong.
"I don't know!" Washington replied, as he dashed toward the engine room.
The _Mermaid_, her forward flight checked, hung in the air, suspended,neither rising or falling.
"Why don't we go on down?" the professor asked, hurrying to the tower.
"There has been an explosion--an accident!" exclaimed Mark. "I guess wecan't go down!"
"But we must!" Mr. Henderson insisted, seizing the lever which shouldhave produced a downward motion. The handle swung to and fro. It wasdisconnected from the apparatus it operated.
The ship was now stationary in the air, moving neither forward norbackward, neither rising nor falling. Washington had stopped the airpumps as soon as he learned something was wrong.
When Mr. Henderson saw the useless lever, which had controlled theoutlet of gas from the holder, he ran out on deck. One glance told himwhat had happened. One of the electric wires had becomeshort-circuited,--that is, the insulation had worn off and allowed thecurrent to escape. This had produced a spark, which had exploded the gaswhich was in the pipe leading from the generator up into the aluminumholder. Fortunately there was an automatic cut-off for the supply ofvapor, or the whole tank would have gone up.
As it was, only a small quantity had blown up, but this was enough tobreak the machinery at the point where the lever in the conning towerjoined the pipe. If it had not been for the automatic cut-off all thegas in the holder would have poured out in a great volume, and the shipwould have fallen like a shot.
"Can we do nothing to save those on the burning vessel?" asked Mark,pointing to where a cloud of smoke hung over the ocean.
"I fear not, now," answered the professor. "We are in a bad plightourselves."
"Are we in any danger?" asked Jack.
"Not specially," Mr. Henderson replied. "But we must find a means oflowering ourselves gradually."
"Then it will be too late to save any of those on the ship," observedMark.
"I'm afraid so," the scientist made reply.
The _Mermaid_ rested some distance above the surface of the waters. Shemoved slightly to and fro with the wind, and rocked gently. Theprofessor was examining the broken machinery.
"I have a plan!" suddenly cried Mark.
"What is it?" asked Mr. Henderson.
"Can't we bore a hole in the tank, insert a small faucet or tap, and letthe gas out that way gradually?" asked the boy. "When we get down we canrescue those in danger of fire, and, later, can repair the break."
"The very thing!" exclaimed Mr. Henderson. "I never thought of that!Here, Washington! Bring me a drill, and a small stop-cock!"
The drill was obtained from the engine room. Working rapidly Mr.Henderson bored a hole in the lower part of the holder. As soon as themetal was penetrated the gas, which was under considerable pressure,rushed from the tank with a hissing sound. At once the _Mermaid_ beganto settle rapidly.
But the professor was prepared for this. He thrust the end of thestop-cock into the hole. It was screwed fast and the valve turned. Thisstopped the flow of gas and checked the descent of the ship. Then, byopening the tap the vapor was allowed to escape gradually, bringing the_Flying Mermaid_ gently to the water.
As the adventurers approached they could see that the vessel was now amass of flames. The wind was driving the fire toward the forecastle, andthe crew had sought refuge aft. But this expedient could not last long,for, already the tongues of fire were licking the sides of the craft andcoming nearer and nearer the seemingly doomed men. The vessel was alarge one, and heavily laden.
As those in peril caught sight of the _Mermaid_ settling down into thewater, apparently from the clouds, their fears gave place toastonishment. So great was this that they ceased their cries of terror.Then, as they saw that the strange craft navigated the ocean, for theengines were started aboard the _Mermaid_, they began to call for help.