"Yes, I guess it will do, Ned. I'm satisfied. If there was an international meet now I'd capture some of the prizes. As it is—"
Tom stopped suddenly. His voice which had been raised to overcome the noise of even the muffled motor, sounded unnaturally loud, and no wonder, for the engine had ceased working!
"What's the matter?" gasped Ned.
"I don't know—a breakdown of some kind."
"Can you get it going again?"
"I'm going to try."
Tom was manipulating various levers, but with no effect. The aeroplane was shooting downward with frightful rapidity.
"No use!" exclaimed the young inventor. "Something has broken."
"But we're falling, Tom!"
"I know it. We've done it before. I'm going to volplane to earth."