But it was useless to wish for that. They must do the best they could under the circumstances.
"There she is! The last wire in!" shouted the aviator. "How much space left, Dick?"
"About two hundred feet!"
"That may do it. Now to see if the self-starter will work!"
Eagerly he made a jump for the switch. He pulled it over. There was a brilliant blue spark, as the gap was closed.
The electrical starter hummed and whined, as if in protest at being obliged to take up its burden again.
Then, with a hum and a roar, the motor that had stalled began to revolve. Slowly at first, but soon gathering speed.
"Throw in the propeller clutch!" yelled Dick. "We're going right toward a hill, and I can't raise her any more."
"In she goes!" yelled Lieutenant McBride, as he pulled on the lever.
There was a grinding of gears as the toothed wheels meshed, and the big wooden propellers began to revolve.