“What in the world is the matter, are you ill?” demanded Jack.
“No—no, it’s Ned.”
“What’s up? Anything the matter with him?”
“He’s—he’s g-g-g-gone!”
“Gone!”
“That’s right. I went aft and there was no sign of him. Joyce says nothing has been seen of him up forward.”
“Great Scott!”
The boys faced each other with the fear of a great calamity on their faces. If Ned was not on board he must have fallen from the Electric Monarch while she was in mid-air. In such a case there was no need to debate over the fate of the young comrade they had grown to love.
“I can’t leave the wheel, Tom, you must do what you can,” said Jack, his voice trembling in spite of himself.
Tom stammered some reply and left the pilot house. He summoned young Dill.