The escape had been a narrow one. It was a living wonder that the air-ship had not been wrecked.
The cold was intense, and the voyagers were kept busy rubbing their hands and stamping their feet.
But it was better by far to endure than to risk contact again with the tornado.
Gradually the storm subsided, the yellow light began to fade, the Kite hung motionless in the heavens, and Barney cried:
“Shure an’ I kin see the earth below. The storm is all over.”
“Heaven be praised!” cried Harding, eagerly. “We must return at once to the spot where we left Frank Reade, Jr.”
“Bejabers, we will, if we kin iver foind it!” cried Barney.
“What!” cried Harding; “do you think there is any doubt about that?”
“Shure, sor, an’ I dunno.”
“How far do you think we have been carried by the gale?”