And it was this advancing wall of water which saved the lives of our friends and prevented the destruction of the motorship. For, so light and buoyant was the craft, that as the swell of the mound of water, which was in front of the whale, reached the Comet, she was lifted up like a chip on the crest of a billow.
Up and up she went, higher and higher on the swell, until in the excess of her fury, the whale brought about the very opposite to that which she intended, for, instead of ramming the strange craft, she passed completely under it, harmlessly.
For a few seconds the boys and the professor could not realize their marvellous escape. Then they understood, and uttered a cheer of congratulation.
“She’s passed under us!” cried Jerry.
“There she is, away over there!” shouted Bob, pointing to where the whale’s progress could be observed by the mound of water.
“She’ll be back as soon as she realizes her mistake,” predicted Ned, and, even at that moment, the big creature began to turn, ready to return to the attack. But now, most unexpectedly, as Jerry rushed back to the starting lever of the main motor, the machine worked like a charm. There was a hum and a buzz, the propellers whirred around, and, skimming lightly over the surface of the ocean, the Comet suddenly arose, and shot into the air. And not a moment too soon, either, for, as her hydroplanes left the surface, dripping salty drops, the whale passed under again, one plane scraping her scale-covered back.
[“Safe!” cried Jerry, and there was a breath of relief from all on board.]
“Look!” yelled Ned, pointing down. “The whale and the shark are fighting!”
The two monsters of the deep were in a battle to the death, the whale seeking to kill the gigantic shark by a blow from her tail, and the sea-tiger trying to bite the leviathan as it had the baby whale. How the battle terminated, the boys could not determine, as their swiftly-moving craft took them beyond the scene. Once more they were sailing the air.