“Bob, I can’t stop it!”
“That’s so. Well, pump up the tank and send the balloon to the ground.”
“It’ll spill us out, Bob, at the rate we’re going.”
“Let it spill!”—recklessly.
“All right! Here goes!”
Fitz worked industriously at the pump; and the air-ship began to drop swiftly. Soon it was within a few feet of the ground, flying along rapidly.
“Hold on to the car when it strikes,” Bob cautioned his companion, “or the balloon, relieved of our weight, will fly up—and away from us.”
“I understand,” Fitz replied.
Bump! The car struck the earth, throwing its occupants sprawling; but they hung on. Bump! Bump! Then it dragged along the sand for some distance; and at last came to a stop.