"Will we sink?" asked Andy. "I can't swim."
"We may float," said the professor. "The bottom part of the ship is water tight. We may float long enough to fix the machinery."
Then, with a splash, the Monarch settled into the ocean, the gas bag falling limply on top of the cabins.
"Get out the life preservers!" shouted the professor. "They are in the forward part. Put them on, while Washington and I try to fix the gas machine!"
The airship had now become a water ship. It rose and fell on the waves, rocking from side to side.
"Get ready to jump!" yelled Jack, running in from the conning tower.
"What now?" asked Professor Henderson, "Haven't we troubles enough?"
"There's a big whale and he's headed right this way!" yelled Jack. "He's coming on like a locomotive, to ram us!"
Andy caught up his gun and hastened to the tower. As Jack had said, a big sperm whale, spouting water high in the air from his nostrils, was headed for the Monarch, which, as it lay on the surface, the whale evidently took for a rival.
"I wonder if I can stop him with this rifle," exclaimed Andy.