Sometimes the ship passed through great flocks of birds that surrounded her and sought to pierce the aluminum hull with their sharp beaks and talons. Over the mountains and valleys the ship sailed until, one evening, there sounded through the air a strange rumbling sound.
“It is thunder,” said Old Andy.
“It is the water column,” replied the scientist. “We are at the end of our trip. May the remainder be as successful!”
The ship was lowered to the surface, as it was deemed best to approach the column when the lights were shining. No one slept much that night, for the roaring and rumbling never ceased.
In the morning the ship was sent forward slowly. Ever and ever the terrific sound increased, until it was almost deafening. They had to call to each other to be heard.
Then, as the Mermaid passed over a mountain, the adventurers saw, in a valley below them, the up-shooting water.
It was a vast column, nearly three hundred feet in thickness, and as solid and white as a shaft of marble. Up, up, up, it went, until it was lost to sight, but there were no falling drops, and not even a spray came from the watery shafts.
“There is a terrible power to it,” the professor said. “May it prove our salvation!”
The ship was lowered about a hundred feet away from the waterspout. All around them the ground was vibrating with the force of the fluid.
“To think that connects with the world above!” exclaimed Jack.