“Stoop down! Stoop down!” shouted Jerry. “It may pass over our heads.”
“It’s too low now to do that,” said Ned in a low voice to Jerry. “I guess we’re in for it.”
The excitement was now at its height. Scores were sliding and climbing down the crossed uprights of the platform, getting their hands and clothes full of splinters, but this they did not mind, only so they escaped being swept from the dizzy height.
But suddenly a new danger was presented. The aeroplane dropped in its course and now seemed about to strike the platform at a point below the flooring on which the most of the throng still stood or crouched. Coming on as it was at great speed the airship would probably demolish the frail support, causing the death and injury of many.
Then, with the same suddenness that it had sprung up, the freakish wind shifted and blew at right angles to the course of the plane, and, catching under the broad stretch of muslin and canvas, swerved the ship to one side.
And it was only just in time, for as it rushed past the tower and platform one of the edges of the big box-kite arrangement brushed the guard rail of the structure.
“We’re safe! We’re safe!” cried Andy Rush.
“Yes, I guess there’s no more danger,” admitted Jerry. “But no more of this for mine.”
“Same here,” echoed Ned.
Seeing that the danger was past, the crowd calmed down. They looked for the aeroplane and saw it glide gently to the ground.