investigation--ahem!"

Strange though it may appear, the professor forgot the mutual danger
by which they were surrounded, and trotted off on his hobby-horse in
blissful pride, paying no attention to the hideous uproar going on, only
raising his voice higher to make it heard by his youthful auditors.

"The common belief is that, while these tornadoes are hollow, even
through the trunk or tongue down to its contact with the earth, that
hollow is caused by a constant suction, through which a steady stream of
debris is flowing, to be sown broadcast for miles around after emerging
from the open top of the so-called balloon."

"But it isn't at all like that," eagerly cried Waldo, pointing to where
the fragments were flowing upward through those walls themselves, yet
far enough from that hollow interior to be but indistinctly seen save on
rare occasions. "Look at 'em scoot, will ye? Oh, if we could only climb
up like that!"

Professor Featherwit was keenly watching and closely studying that very
phenomena through all, and now he gave a queer little chuckle, as he
nodded his head with vigour, before dryly speaking.

"Well, it might be done; yes, it might be done, and that with no very
serious difficulty, my lad."

"How? Why not try it on, then?"

"To meet with instant death outside?" sharply queried Bruno. "It would
be suicidal to make the attempt, even if we could; which I doubt."

Waldo gave a sudden cry, pointing upward where, far above that
destructive storm, could be seen a brace of buzzards floating on
motionless wings, wholly undisturbed by the tumult below.

"If we were only like that!" the lad cried, longingly. "If a
flying-machine could be built like those turkey-buzzards! I wish--well,
I do suppose they're about the nastiest varmints ever hatched, but just
now I'd be willing to swap, and wouldn't ask any boot, either!"

Apparently the professor paid no attention to this boyish plaint, for
he was fumbling in the locker, then withdrew his hand and uncoiled an
ordinary fish-line, with painted float attached.

Before either brother could ask a question, or even give a guess at
his purpose, Professor Phaeton flung hook and cork into those circling
currents, only to have the whole jerked violently out of his grip, the
line flying upward, to vanish from the sight of all.

That jerk was powerful enough to cut through the skin of his hand, but
the professor chuckled like one delighted, as he sucked away the few