With a rope, Jerry next made the two balloons fast to each other, to prevent them from drifting apart. Then two planks were laid across from the after-deck of the Comet to that of the Manhattan. Quickly crossing on these, our heroes and the professor boarded the disabled airship.
“There’s Mr. Jackson!” cried Mr. Snodgrass, indicating one of the unconscious men.
“We must rescue him first!” declared Ned, and no one disputed him. With the help of Jerry, the merchant’s son [carried the unconscious millionaire across the narrow planks], from one airship to the other, high above the ocean which rolled beneath them. It was a most marvellous rescue in mid-air!
[CARRIED THE UNCONSCIOUS MILLIONAIRE ACROSS THE NARROW PLANKS.]
“Now the rest!” called the professor. He and Bob took up another man, and carried him to safety. When Jerry and Ned returned for a third member of the crew, the tall lad, looking into the main, or closed cabin, noticed some sparks coming from one of the electrical machines connected with the wireless apparatus. It was run by a storage battery, and must have been left connected and turned on when the men were stricken down. A stream of vivid, violet-colored sparks were emanating from the contact points.
“By Jove, we must get away from here in a hurry!” cried the tall lad.
“Why?” asked Ned, pausing in the act of lifting the feet of an unconscious man.