“Stop! Stop, I tell you!” he shouted, shaking his fist at the Firefly, which every second was coming nearer.
“Look out!” yelled the crowd. “She’s going to hit!”
And hit she did a moment later. At the last moment Noddy managed to leap, and he did so only just in time, for [there was a resounding crash], a rending and splintering of wood. The lemonade and candy stand seemed to crumple up. One side gave way to admit the pointed prow of the Firefly, then the stand seemed to swallow up the airship.
[“THERE WAS A RESOUNDING CRASH!”]
All at once there flew in all directions packages of candy, popcorn and boxes of other confections. One pail of pink lemonade was tossed high into the air, and, turning over, poured out a crimson flood, which sprinkled the bystanders. Bottles of root-beer and ginger ale mingled with sarsparilla in forming a shower of cooling drinks. There was a hail of peanuts.
The big tin wings, hampered in their movements by the wreck of the stand, came to a stop. But the motor went on. It was now running at full speed, free, and its momentum was terrific. There came several explosions, louder than any that had preceded.
“Look out! She’s going to blow up! The gasolene tank will explode!” cried the fat man.
The crowd, which had gathered about the wreck, scattered on the run.
Once more came a loud explosion.