“Why?”
“If you do, I cannot operate this air-ship, and that will be the worse for you.”
This was really an evasive answer upon the young inventor’s part, and he was casting about in his mind what move it was best to make to turn the tables on his foe.
“Eh!” exclaimed Dooley; “is it necessary for you to hold your hand on that brass shaft?”
“It is!” said Frank coolly. “See? if I take my hand off, it will stop the air-ship!”
The air-ship did stop. But Frank adroitly shifted the lever when he took his hand from it. This completely deceived the villain.
He hesitated a moment.
Then he drew a revolver.
He seated himself in a chair in the pilot-house door. He placed the weapon on his knee:
“All right!” he said, coolly; “keep your hand on that thing, then. If you take it off or make a move to play any gun game you shall die!”