hing could be seen but pelting sheets of water and
swirling mist, yet onward the ship was driven.

The thunder was deafening, and the lightning nearly blinded them, until
the electrics were switched on, flooding the cabin with radiance.
Inside the car they were snug and dry, though the pitching of the craft
was like that of a big liner in the trough of the ocean waves.

"Will she weather it, do you think?" called Mr. Damon, in the ear of
Mr. Sharp, shouting so as to be heard above the noise of the elements,
and the hum of the motor.

The balloonist nodded.

"She's a good ship," he answered proudly.

Hardly had he spoken when there came a crash louder than any that had
preceded, and the flash of rosy light that accompanied it seemed to set
the whole heavens on fire. At the same time there was violent shock to
the ship.

"We're hit! Struck by lightning!" yelled Tom.

"We're falling!" cried Mr. Damon an instant later.

Mr. Sharp looked at the elevation gauge. The hand was slowly swinging
around. Down, down dropped the Red Cloud. She was being roughly treated
by the storm.

"I'm afraid we're wrecked!" said the balloonist in a low voice,
scarcely audible above the roar of the tempest. Following the great
crash had come a comparatively light bombardment from the sky artillery.

"Use the gliding rudder, Tom," called Mr. Sharp, a moment later. "We
may fall, but we'll land as easily as possible."

The wind, the rain, the lightning and thunder continued. Down, down
sank the ship. Its fall was somewhat checked by the rudder Tom swung
into place, and by setting the planes at a different angle. The motor
had been stopped, and the propellers no longer revolved. In the
confusion and darkness it was not safe to run ahead, with the danger of
colliding with unseen objects on the earth.

They tried to peer from the windows, but could see nothing. A moment
later, as they stared at each other with fear in their eyes, there came
a shock. The ship trembled from end to end.

"We've landed!" cried Tom, as he yanked back on the levers. The airship
came to a stop.

"Now to see where we are," said Mr. Sharp grimly, "and how badly we are
wrecked."

Chapter 20

Tom Gets A Clue

Out of the cabin of the now stationary airship hurried the three
travelers; out into the pelting rain, which was lashed into their faces
by the strong wind. Tom was the first to emerge.

"We're on something solid!" he cried, stamping his feet.