For the better part of two days all those on board the Mermaid had their hands full mending the break and making other repairs found necessary. In that time they lay to, floating idly with the currents, or blown by the wind, for the professor would not start any of the engines or apparatus until the ship was in good condition.
In this time Mark had several times recalled the curious happenings in regard to the disappearing food, and the mystery of the storeroom. But there were no further manifestations, and no other signs that there might be a strange visitor aboard.
“I couldn’t have imagined it all,” said Mark, “but I guess what did happen may have been caused by natural means, only I can’t discover them.”
It was about two days after this, the ship having sailed scores of miles on the surface of the water, that Mark, who was in the conning tower exclaimed:
“That looks like a waterspout ahead of us.”
“That’s what it is!” Jack agreed. “What shall we do?”
“Call the professor!” said Mark. “He’ll know.”
When Mr. Henderson came, he looked for a long time at a cloud of black vapor which hung low in the east.
“It may be a waterspout,” he said. “We’ll rise in the air and see if we can avoid it.”
The ship was sent up into the air. As it rose higher and higher, the professor, making frequent observations from his conning tower, cried out: