The lightning kept blazing, and claps of the heaviest thunder rolled and crashed incessantly.
Still they kept falling, and as the planes acted as parachutes their descent was necessarily very gradual.
Finding nothing wrong inside, Frank passed out on deck just as the machine dropped from the storm cloud into a perfect deluge of rain.
Although the inventor was drenched in a minute, he paid no heed to this inconvenience, but examined the motor.
Here he found the cause of the trouble.
The lightning had hit the field magnet, glanced off, and tore the insulation from the wire winding.
It thus was caused to leak, and as no magnetic influence was imparted, the Jove’s propellers failed to operate.
Frank could not repair the damage then.
“Yo’ fine de trouble, Marse Frank?” cried Pomp, joining him.
“Yes; the magnet was injured by the lightning.”