"Can't stop!" The little line of observers on the bluff echoed the thrilling words. From the grand stand came a roar of voices filled with tense excitement. Some thought the Flying Girl was attempting a reckless performance, with the idea of shocking the crowd; but Stephen Kane knew better, and so did Mr. Cumberford. As the two men held their glasses to their eyes with shaking hands, straining to discover a sign that Orissa had altered her course and was coming back, Madeline Dentry turned to look earnestly at the brother and father of the girls, knowing she could read the facts more truly from their faces than by focusing her own glasses on that tiny speck in the sky.
The moments dragged slowly, yet laden with tragic import. The powerful lenses lost the speck, now found it again—lost it for good—yet the men most affected by this strange occurrence still glared at the sky, hoping against hope that their fears were unfounded and that the Aircraft would come back.
Some one plucked Steve's sleeve. It was Chesty Todd, his big body shaken like an aspen.
"It—it has run away with 'em, Steve. It's gone wrong, man; there's danger ahead!"
"Eh?" said Steve, dully.
"Wake up and do something!"
Steve lowered his glasses and looked helplessly at Mr. Cumberford. Cumberford returned the stare, glowering upon the inventor.
"That's right; it's up to you, Kane. What are you going to do?" he asked coldly.
"There's no other hydro-aëroplane on the grounds," said the boy brokenly.
"Then get an aëroplane," commanded Cumberford, sharply.