oved forward with a jerk, ran with increasing gait for a
hundred yards, and then suddenly the jerky progress ceased. The machine
swayed gently from side to side, and looking over, the passenger saw the
ground recede beneath him.

Up, up, they climbed in one long sweeping ascent, passing through
drifting clouds till the machine soared like a bird above the blue sea.

John Lexman looked down. He saw the indentations of the coast and
recognized the fringe of white houses that stood for Torquay, but in an
incredibly short space of time all signs of the land were blotted out.

Talking was impossible. The roar of the engines defied penetration.

Kara was evidently a skilful pilot. From time to time he consulted
the compass on the board before him, and changed his course ever so
slightly. Presently he released one hand from the driving wheel, and
scribbling on a little block of paper which was inserted in a pocket at
the side of the seat he passed it back.

John Lexman read:

"If you cannot swim there is a life belt under your seat."

John nodded.

Kara was searching the sea for something, and presently he found it.
Viewed from the height at which they flew it looked no more than a white
speck in a great blue saucer, but presently the machine began to dip,
falling at a terrific rate of speed, which took away the breath of the
man who was hanging on with both hands to the dangerous seat behind.

He was deadly cold, but had hardly noticed the fact. It was all so
incredible, so impossible. He expected to wake up and wondered if the
prison was also part of the dream.

Now he saw the point for which Kara was making.

A white steam yacht, long and narrow of beam, was steaming slowly
westward. He could see the feathery wake in her rear, and as the
aeroplane fell he had time to observe that a boat had been put off. Then
with a jerk the monoplane flattened out and came like a skimming bird to
the surface of the water; her engines stopped.

"We ought to be able to keep afloat for ten minutes," said Kara, "and by
that time they will pick us up."

His voice was high and harsh in the almost painful silence which
followed the stoppage of the engines.

In less than five minutes the boat had come alongside, manned, as Lexman
gathered from a glimpse of the crew, by Greeks. He scrambled aboard
and five minutes later he was standing on the white deck of the yacht,
watching the disappearing tail of the monoplane. Kara was by