Pausing a moment after she had finished, she drew a revolver out of Needham's hip-pocket and dropped it on the driver's seat.
"You had better have that in your own hands, Matt," said she, quietly. "It will be easier to handle than the rifle."
"Don't get out of the car, Helen," called Matt, as the girl was about to climb over the rail. "You can't stay here after this."
"I can and I must."
Her resolve to remain with her father was unshaken; but there was a bright light in her eyes which Matt had not seen there before. Evidently the success that was attending Matt's plans to get away with the air-ship had lifted a grievous load from her spirits.
Walking around the car, Helen picked up the bag which they had taken with them into the swamp.
"This must go with you, Matt," she continued, pushing the bag under the driver's seat, "along with the rest of the stuff piled up on the ground there."
While she was on that side of the car she cast off the mooring-rope and flung it into the air-ship.
Matt dropped the rifle and released the rope on the other side.
The Hawk was now in readiness to take to flight. With nothing to hold it, the gas-bag began to feel the effects of the wind that was blowing and to move about in answer to the faint gusts. But it rode on an even keel, for its buoyancy had to be accelerated by the propeller before it would rise, or could be maneuvered.