For a hundred feet or more the ship shot earthward bow first, so that the adventurers all slid down to that end. It was well that everything, including the gasolene tanks, had been lashed fast, or there would have been a great jumble inside the craft.
Then, almost as suddenly as the ship had started to fall, it ceased, and rode on an even keel, righting and floating easily in the air. The wind no longer blew with the circular motion, the whirling having come to an end. But the blinding snow continued.
Jack staggered from the conning tower, where he had gone to look at the deflecting compass.
"What has happened?" he cried.
"No one knows," answered Professor Henderson. "We are in dire straits.
Did you look at the needle, Jack?"
"I did."
"What did it show?"
"The needle was straight up and down!"
"I knew it!" cried the old inventor. "I said we would reach the pole, and we have!"
"It ain't goin' to do us a heab sight ob good," said Washington. "I'd rather hab a good barber pole any day! No north poles fo' me!"