for a dirigible balloon now!" cried the lieutenant. "We could
float while making repairs."

But it was useless to wish for that. They must do the best they could
under the circumstances.

"There she is! The last wire in!" shouted the aviator. "How much
space left, Dick?"

"About two hundred feet!"

"That may do it. Now to see if the self-starter will work!"

Eagerly he made a jump for the switch. He pulled it over. There was a
brilliant blue spark, as the gap was closed.

The electrical starter hummed and whined, as if in protest at being
obliged to take up its burden again.

Then, with a hum and a roar, the motor that had stalled began to
revolve. Slowly at first, but soon gathering speed.

"Throw in the propeller clutch!" yelled Dick. "We're going right
toward a hill, and I can't raise her any more."

"In she goes!" yelled Lieutenant McBride, as he pulled on the lever.

There was a grinding of gears as the toothed wheels meshed, and the big
wooden propellers began to revolve.

"There she goes!" cried Mr. Vardon.

The Abaris, which had almost touched the earth, began to soar upward
under the propelling influence. Dick tilted back the elevating plane
as far as he dared.

Had the motive power come in time, or would they land on the hill?

But success was with them. Up went the big airship. Up and up, flying
onward. Her fall had been checked.

And only just in time, for they went over the brow of the hill but with
a scant twenty feet to spare. So close had they come to making a
landing.

"I congratulate you!" cried Lieutenant McBride. "I thought surely you
would go down." He had out his pencil and paper to make a note of the
time of landing. It would have been the last one allowed, and it would
seriously have handicapped Dick. But he had escaped, and still had
some reserve to his credit.

"And now I guess we can eat," said the young millionaire, with a sigh
of relief.

"A quick bite, only," stipulated Mr. Vardon. "Some of those wires I
put in last are a disgrace to an electrician. I want to change them
right away. They won't stand the vibration."

"Well, coffee and sandwiches, anyhow," said Dick, and the simple meal
was soon in progress.

Steadily the airship again climbed up toward the clouds, from which she
had so nearly fallen. And with a sandwich and a cup of coffee beside
him, Mr. Vardon worked at the wires, putting in permanent ones in place
of the temporary conductors