The Irishman was on deck, and was shooting the pellets at the coon’s head through the open windows of the tower.
Poor Pomp had to grin and take it, too, for he dared not leave the wheel, for fear of some accident happening to the Jove.
It was hard to tell how much more he would have stood of this bombardment had Frank not shouted:
“Why don’t you shut the windows, you donkey?”
“Lan’ sakes!” gasped Pomp, complying, “why didn’ I fink ob dat befo’? Golly! what a fool niggah I is!”
The Irishman and the coon were all the time playing practical jokes on one another, and the moment Barney heard Frank’s voice, he looked startled and bolted for the cage.
But he did not reach it.
Tripping over a chest, he fell to the deck.
At the same moment a slant of wind caused the air-ship to suddenly keel over, and Barney rolled over to the edge of the deck.
He gave a wild yell of horror as he felt his body going over the oval side, and nothing in reach to check his fall.