The boys started for the cabin. They had not taken five steps before, with a sudden lurch, the airship dived like a kite without its tail. Then the craft turned completely over!
Jack and Mark with the two helpers and Dirola were thrown from the deck, head first, toward the earth! Down and down they fell, uttering despairing cries!
CHAPTER XXI
LOST IN THE SNOW
Once more the wind blew with hurricane force. On board the Monarch
Washington and Professor Henderson were tossed to the ceiling again.
Then the ship righted herself.
"De boys! De boys!" cried Washington, suddenly thinking of them. "Dey hab falled off!"
"Great Scott! So they have!" exclaimed the inventor. "That is, unless they grabbed something as we went over!"
"An de Sesquitomexico woman, too!" cried the colored man, meaning
Dirola.
"I guess she went with the others," said the professor. "We must take a look as soon as it is safe."
Then came a strong gust of wind that hurled the ship forward. When it had subsided Washington and the old inventor ventured outside. The boys were nowhere to be seen.