While Jack steered, Tom drew up the waterproof curtains and top which, in rainy weather, made the Wondership quite dry and weather-tight. Mica portholes gave light inside this extemporized cabin, and enabled the steersman to see.
This had hardly been done when a wild gust of wind struck the Wondership and sent it staggering off its course. But in a jiffy Jack regained control of the craft and headed her straight for the white house occupied by Dr. Mays, which could now be seen, its lofty cupola poking up above the trees surrounding it.
"Glad we're nearly there," said Tom. "I don't much like this."
"We're O.K.," Jack assured him. "We went through a lot worse than this in that circular storm in Yucatan."
"Can't we drop and run along the road?"
"It's much longer by the road than by the air line, and remember we are in a big hurry."
"That's so. But we've got the return trip ahead of us."
"Well, if it gets too bad, we'll have to come back by road," said Jack, "but I haven't got a doubt that she'll stand anything that will come out of this storm."
Crash!
The sky was rent from end to end by jagged lightning. With a deafening roar the thunder broke, rumbling and crashing in the sultry air.