Willing hands pushed the Sea Eagle around, for on her ball-bearing supporting wheels she handled very easily, despite her great weight.
Presently the craft was poised at the summit of the incline, ready for her rush downward.
“Give her power!” cried the doctor.
Frank seized the self-starting lever, and gave it a twirl. A pressure of his forefinger on the button followed, and almost simultaneously the motor began to thunder and roar.
“Right here!” cried Frank.
“All right. Hold tight. I’m going to apply full power.”
Dr. Perkins jerked back the clutch lever as he spoke. There was a jarring shock, and then a downward rush through the night, the searchlight cutting a blazing white path through the blackness. Down, down they raced at terrific speed. Suddenly the jarring movement ceased. The Sea Eagle appeared to glide upward as if drawn skyward by invisible ropes. As the craft left the rails, and began soaring to the stars that looked quietly down on the exciting scene, a sound was borne upward to the aërial voyagers.
“Good-by.”
And then an instant later in Ben’s stentorian tones:
“So long, mates! Go-o-o-d luck!”