as it was when our propeller shattered, we can still sail. If you
think this is anything, wait until we turn about and begin to fight our
way against the wind."

"Are you going to do that, Tom?"

"I certainly am. We're going with the gale now, to see what is the
highest rate of speed we can attain. Pretty soon I'm going to turn her
around, and see if she can make any headway in the other direction. Of
course I know she won't make much, if any speed, against the gale; but
I must give her that test."

"Well, Tom, you know best, of course," admitted Ned. "But to me it
seems like taking a big risk."

And indeed it did seem, not only to Ned, but to some of the experienced
men of Tom's crew, that the young inventor was taking more chances than
ever before, and Tom, as my old readers well know, had, in his career,
taken some big ones.

The storm grew worse as the day progressed, until it was a veritable
hurricane of wind and rain. The warnings of the Weather Bureau had not
been exaggerated. But through the fierce blow the Mars fought her way.
As Tom had said, she was going with the wind. This was comparatively
easy. But what would happen when she headed into the storm?

Mr. Damon, in the main cabin, sat and looked at Lieutenant Marbury, the
eccentric man now and then blessing something as he happened to think
of it.

"Do you--do you think we are in any danger?" he finally asked.

"Not at present," replied the government expert.

"You mean we will be--later?"

"It's hard to say. I guess Tom Swift knows his business, though."

"Bless my accident insurance policy!" murmured Mr. Damon. "I wish I had
stayed home. If my wife ever hears of this--" He did not seem able to
finish the sentence.

In the engine-room the crew were busy over the various machines. Some
of the apparatus was being strained to keep the ship on her course in
the powerful wind, and would be under a worse stress when Tom turned
his craft about. But, so far, nothing had given way, and everything was
working smoothly.

As hour succeeded hour and nothing happened, the timid ones aboard
began to take more courage. Tom never for a moment lost heart. He knew
what his craft could do, and he had taken her up in a terrific storm
with a definite purpose in view. He was the calmest person aboard, with
the exception, perhaps, of Koku. The giant did not seem to know what
fear was. He depended entirely on Tom, and as long as his young master
had charge of matte