Hardly had Tom gone back to the motor room than the voice of Peltok was heard exclaiming:
“She’s done! The bearing is finished. Now we can use the other engine!”
This was good news, and a few minutes later, when it was made certain that the oil feed system was working properly, the second motor was started and the Air Monarch began to gather speed.
“We’ll be up in a minute,” Tom said, taking the wheel from Ned. Hardly had he spoken than as if a giant’s breath had blown it away, the fog vanished and out of the west rushed a wind of great force. It caught the craft broadside on and heeled her over so far that she was in danger of capsizing. But Tom speeded up the starboard motor and pulled the machine around just in time.
“Go on up!” yelled Peltok. “There’s a hurricane coming! Go on up!”
“Up she is!” echoed Tom Swift. With a motion of his hand he turned more gasoline into the motors and they roared out as if eager to do their work. The Air Monarch surged forward over the surface of the sea, gathering speed to enable her to lift herself into the air.
Just as Tom was about to pull the lever of the rear elevating rudder planes, the hurricane burst with all its force around the craft, twirling her about, howling through the struts and wire stays like ten thousand demons and sending a shower of spray clear over the top wings.
“We’re in for it now!” yelled Tom, as he headed the craft up on a long slant.
CHAPTER XIII
A CLOSE CALL
Doubtful it was, for what seemed a long time, whether or not the Air Monarch would justify her name and rise from the water. She seemed held fast to the surface of the sea along which the craft was being driven by the force of her propellers whirled by the two powerful motors, now both working well.