Getting on top of the upper longitudinal girder he reached over the revolving helix and began to tighten the bolt with the long-handled wrench alluded to.
Scarcely had this been done when the rim of the helix caught his jacket as he carelessly leaned too close to it.
The wheel was making rapid revolutions with enormous power, and the next moment tore Frank from his foothold.
Held by the jacket he was whirled around and around furiously by the big wheel.
A cry of consternation escaped him.
At any moment he was liable to be hurled off into space.
His cry was taken up by the rest when they saw the peril of his position.
If the helices were stopped to let him down the entire ship would fall like a stone into the sea.
Frank grasped the braces to sustain himself.
He was getting frightfully dizzy from the swift gyrations.