“I’ll go up,” replied Andy. “Get the patch ready, Mac. Bert and Harry will come along to lower me away.”
Andy’s friends protested that it was a foolhardy attempt, but he refused to listen to them.
“We are all in grave danger,” he said. “The attempt must be made. As long as you fellows hang onto the rope I’ll be in no danger.”
Other members of the crew were summoned and under Mac’s expert direction a temporary patch was placed inside the elevator fin. While this was being accomplished, Andy prepared for the outside job.
A harness of leather straps was rigged around his shoulders and body and to this was attached a strong new one inch rope. Mac had cut the patch to the proper size and the cement had been placed in a double bucket to retain its heat. The motors were turning over just fast enough to give the Goliath steerage way.
Andy and his two companions ascended the ladder to the rear right cockpit, from which the commander of the Goliath was to be lowered over the side.
The wind was blowing a gale that chilled them instantly.
“You’ll freeze to death before you get down to the fin,” said Bert.
“I’ll hug this cement pot,” replied Andy. “All set?”
Andy slid over the side and Bert and Harry lowered away on the rope. Foot by foot Andy eased down over the smooth side of the Goliath. Twenty, thirty, forty feet he went out and down. Just below he caught the glow of light inside the fin and the outline of the makeshift patch which Mac and his rigger had slapped on inside.