"He's going east by north, I notice," soliloquised Hans Leutter. "I will be greatly surprised if he returns to Z64."
And the count was of the same opinion. He hadn't the faintest intention of flying back to the airship. Nor was he particularly keen on reporting Z64's predicament to any vessel he sighted.
He was out to win the Chauvasse Prize. The sum went to the man who succeeded in flying round the world in twenty days. There was no stipulation to the effect that only one airship, flying-boat, aeroplane, or seaplane must be used throughout the flight. Therefore, since the goal was within a comparatively easy distance, he hoped to complete the circuit in the Albatross, and thus win the coveted prize.
[CHAPTER XXII--THE END OF Z64]
"By Jove! Kenyon, what's that over on our starboard bow?" exclaimed Bramsdean.
Kenneth raised his binoculars and focussed them on a dark object in the direction indicated.
"That," he replied after a brief survey, "is a Zepp. There's not much mistake about that. She is also in difficulties apparently, since Zepps don't generally assume an angle of forty-five degrees. It is also reasonable to assume that it is Z64, since we know that von Sinzig was keeping a course slightly divergent to ours. The southerly wind has evidently driven her northward."
Fosterdyke was asleep in his cabin, but upon hearing the news he hurried to the navigation-room.
"Are we Pharisees or Good Samaritans, sir?" enquired Kenyon. "Do we pass by on the other side, or do we stop to render assistance?"
"It strikes me that something more than assistance is required," replied the baronet. "Obviously our friend von Sinzig is out of the running. His airship is down and out. If there are any of the crew on board, we'll be just in time to prevent them losing the number of their mess."