“Now each of you go to a guy behind her and loosen it, but do not let go,” said Johnny. He stepped forward and loosened the two in front.
“Take a snub ’round a stake,” he cautioned, as an afterthought. “Are you ready? There’s two balls of twine on the beach there. I’ve tied some sticks to one end of one of them. The other end of that one is tied to an end of the second one. I’m taking the end with the sticks on in with me. When we get away, Professor, you must attempt to play the line out to us as we fly. Don’t let it break if you can help it. We’re going to try to take them a line. They must have rope enough to reach shore, and pulleys to make a flying car. We can get them ashore if it works. Do you get that?”
“Yes,” came the answer.
Johnny nodded approval.
“All right. Pant, give your guy rope to the Professor. Keep it snubbed, though.”
Pant, understanding his part, climbed into the pilot’s seat.
“Now, Professor, ease away. Give her the dust,” he breathed to Pant.
The engine thundered. They were away with the storm. A wild circle brought them perilously near the cliff, but they missed it.
Johnny felt the slowly growing strain on the cord and knew that the Professor was succeeding with his task.
“Right over her, if you can,” said Johnny.