st trial of our diving
armour. Does this meet with your approval?"

The baronet and his companions thought it a very capital idea, and the
professor took immediate steps for carrying it out. Opening a case he
produced therefrom a chart of the English Channel, and, directing his
companions' attention to the spot which he proposed to visit, requested
Lieutenant Mildmay to lay off the course and measure the distance in a
straight line. The latter was found to be about one hundred and fifty
miles.

"Which distance," remarked the professor, "I expect we shall accomplish,
in the present calm state of the atmosphere, in about an hour and a
quarter. This high rate of speed will necessitate our remaining in the
pilothouse; but it will, perhaps, be worth while to put up with that
temporary inconvenience on the present occasion, since we have so
exceptionally favourable an opportunity of testing the actual speed of
the ship through the air. If, however, you prefer to be on deck in the
open air, we can of course moderate our speed sufficiently to render
such a mode of travelling pleasant."

It was unanimously decided, however, to remain inside and give the speed
of the ship a fair trial. The professor accordingly turned the vapour
into the engines, slowly at first, but in gradually increasing volume,
until they were revolving at full speed, and the ship's head was pointed
in the proper direction, the automatic steering gear being at the same
time thrown into action to test its capabilities. This done the
professor opened the main air-valve, gradually admitting a certain
quantity of air into the ship's interior, and she at once began to drop
once more earthward.

"We will descend to within about a thousand feet of the sea level," said
the professor. "This will restore us to a more genial temperature, will
give the propeller a denser atmosphere in which to work, and will also
enable us to see somewhat of the country over which we are flying;
whilst our elevation will be ample to take us clear of everything.
Leith Hill, nine hundred and sixty-seven feet in height, is the greatest
elevation at all near our path; but we shall pass some three miles or so
to the westward of it, if the air remains calm; and Saint Catherine's
Point, over which we shall pass, is only seven hundred and seventy-five
feet high. So that we have nothing to fear."

In a few minutes the _Flying Fish_ had dropped to within the proposed
distance of the