ained
supplies. But even under these circumstances they managed to doze off
fitfully.

Once they were all awakened by a violent plunging of the airship. The
craft seemed to be trying to stand on her head, and then she rocked
violently from side to side, nearly turning turtle. "What is it?"
gasped Ned, who was lying next to Tom.

"They must be trying some violent stunts," replied the young inventor,
"or else we have run into a storm."

"I think the latter is the case," observed Lieutenant Marbury.

And, as the motion of the craft kept up, though less violently, this
was accepted as the explanation. Through the night the Mars flew, but
whither the captives knew not.

The first gray streaks of dawn finally shone through the only window of
their prison. Sore, lame and stiff, wearied in body and disturbed in
mind, the captives awoke. Tom's first move was toward the window. It
was high up, but, by standing on a box, he could look through it. He
uttered an exclamation.

"What is it?" asked Ned, swaying to and fro from the violent motion ef
the aerial warship.

"We are away out over the sea," spoke Tom, "and in the midst of a bad
storm."

CHAPTER XXIV

THE LIGHTNING BOLT

Tom turned away from the window, to find his companions regarding him
anxiously.

"A storm," repeated Ned. "What sort?"

"It might turn into any sort," replied Tom. "All I can see now is a lot
of black clouds, and the wind must be blowing pretty hard, for there's
quite a sea on."

"Bless my galvanometer!" cried Mr. Damon. "Then we are out over the
ocean again, Tom?"

"Yes, there's no doubt of it."

"What part?" asked the assistant pilot.

"That's more than I can tell," Tom answered.

"Suppose I take a look?" suggested Captain Warner. "I've done quite a
bit of sailing in my time."

But, when he had taken a look through the window at which Tom had been
standing, the naval officer descended, shaking his head.

"There isn't a landmark in sight," he announced. "We might be over the
middle of the Atlantic, for all I could tell."

"Hardly as far as that," spoke Tom. "They haven't been pushing the Mars
at that speed. But we may be across to the other side before we realize
it."

"How's that?" asked Ned.

"Well, the ship is in the possession of these foreign spies," went on
Tom. "All their interests are in Europe, though it would be hard to say
what nationality is in command here. I think there are even some
Englishmen among tho