ely the current, while it made Grit practically helpless, for
the time, was not strong enough to burn, or otherwise injure him. He
gave a howl of protest at the accident, as Dick released him, and
shuffled off to his kennel, after fawning on his master.

"One of the wires has some of the insulation off--that's what caused
the trouble," Dick explained. "I'll wind some tape on it until we have
time to put in a new conductor."

"Grit seems to be getting the worst end of it this trip," said Paul,
who had been awakened by the commotion.

"Yes, he isn't much used to airships," agreed Dick. "But you'd better
turn in, Paul. You've got an hour yet before it's your turn at the
wheel."

"Oh, better let me have it now. I'm awake, and I can't get to sleep
again. Turn in yourself."

Which Dick was glad enough to do, as he was quite tired. The remainder
of the night passed without incident, and when morning came the airship
was put at her former speed, fifty miles an hour. That may not sound
very fast, but it must be remembered that this rate had to be kept up
for sixty hours straight, perhaps.

After breakfast the wire that had shocked Grit was renewed, and then
some observations were taken to determine their position. It was
calculated they were about halfway across Indiana by noon.

The afternoon was slowly waning, and they were preparing for their
second night of the prize trip, congratulating themselves that they had
not yet been forced to descend.

Suddenly Larry, who was at the wheel, uttered a cry of alarm.

"Something's wrong!" he shouted. "I can't steer her on the course any
longer. She's heading North instead of West."

Dick and Mr. Vardon rushed to the pilot-house. A glance at the compass
confirmed Larry's statement. The aviator himself took the wheel, but
it was impossible to head the craft West. She pointed due North.

"The horizontal rudder is out of gear!" cried Dick.

"Yes, and we'll have to go down to fix it," said Mr. Vardon, after a
quick inspection. "Boys, we've got to make our first landing! It's too
bad, but it might be worse."

CHAPTER XXVI

ON LAKE MICHIGAN

Unsuccessfully they tried to make repairs to the horizontal rudder
without going down, but it was not to be. The airship was being sent
farther and farther along on a Northern course, taking her far out of
her way. And more time and distance might thus be lost than by
descending, making repairs, and going on again.