"I must get to the conning tower!" muttered the old inventor. "I must get there."
"Let me go, you can never make it," said Jack. "What is it you want to see?"
"Look at the deflecting needle!" was the answer. "See how the needle points and come back and tell me! It may be we are at the north pole!"
Jack started forward, crawling on his hands and knees. Indeed, this was the only way he could advance. The professor watched him with anxious eyes. The ship spun around even faster. Old Andy had awakened and was gazing around with fear-stricken eyes.
Then, just as Jack reached the door of the conning tower, and started inside, the Monarch gave a violent motion. She seemed to stop for a moment, and then, with a great lurch, turned completely over, throwing the occupants to the ceiling. Then she plunged straight down to the earth, through the centre of the whirlwind, like an arrow falling!
CHAPTER XX
AT THE NORTH POLE?
For an instant the utmost confusion reigned. The adventurers fell in a heap on the ceiling that, for the time being, became the floor. Then, as the ship righted herself, they fell back again to the floor. The cords that bound Andy to his bunk broke, and he toppled with the rest.
"Repel the enemy!" yelled the old hunter, thinking in his delirium that the ship was again attacked.
"We are lost!" cried the professor, as he felt the Monarch plunging down.