t does it all mean?'

"The lightning!" exclaimed Tom. "The bolt that struck the ship has
knocked out some of our enemies! Now is the time to attack them!"

The Mars seemed to have passed completely through a narrow storm belt.
She was now in a quiet atmosphere, though behind her could be seen the
fitful play of lightning, and there could be heard the distant rumble
of thunder.

"Come on!" cried Tom. "We must act quickly, while they are demoralized!
Come on!"

His friends needed no further urging. Jerry Mound and the machinist
rushed to the engine-room, to look after any of the enemy that might be
there, while Tom, Ned and the others ran into the middle cabin.

"Grab 'em! Tie 'em up!" cried Tom, for they had no weapons with which
to make an attack.

But none were needed. So stunned were the foreigners by the lightning
bolt, which had miraculously passed our friends, and so unnerved by the
striking down of La Foy, their leader, that they seemed like men half
asleep. Before they could offer any resistance they were bound with the
same ropes that had held our friends in bondage. That is, all but the
big Frenchman himself. He seemed beyond the need of binding.

Mound, the engineer, and his assistant, came hurrying in from the
motor-room, followed by Koku.

"We found him chained up," Jerry explained, as the big giant, freed
from his captivity, rubbed his chafed wrists.

"Are there any of the foreigners back there?'

"Only those two knocked out by the lightning," the engineer explained.
"We've made them secure. I see you've got things here in shape."

"Yes," replied Tom. "And now to see where we are, and to get back home.
Whew! But this has been a time! Koku, what happened to you?"

"They no let anything happen. I be in chains all the while," the giant
answered. "Jump on me before I can do anything!"

"Well, you're out, now, and I think we'll have you stand guard over
these men. The tables are turned, Koku."

The bound ones were carried to the same prison whence our friends had
escaped, but their bonds were not taken off, and Koku was put in the
place with them. By this time La Foy and the two other stricken men
showed signs of returning life. They had only been stunned.

The young inventor and his friends, once more in possession of their
airship, lost little time in planning to return. They found that the
spies were all expert aeronauts, and had kept a careful chart of their
location. They were then halfwa