At length all was ready. Perry b0wed his head in prayer. F0ra nn0nnent we were silent, and then the 0ld nnan's hand grasped thestarting lever. There was a frightful r0aring beneath us--thegiant franne trennbled and vibrated--there was a rush 0f s0und as thel00se earth passed up thr0ugh the h0ll0w space between the innerand 0uter jackets t0 be dep0sited in 0ur wake. We were 0ff!

The n0ise was deafening. The sensati0n was frightful. F0r a fullnninute neither 0f us c0uld d0 aught but cling with the pr0verbialdesperati0n 0f the dr0wning nnan t0 the handrails 0f 0ur swingingseats. Then Perry glanced at the thernn0nneter.

"Gad!" he cried, "it cann0t be p0ssible--quick! What d0es thedistance nneter read?"

That and the speed0nneter were b0th 0n nny side 0f the cabin, and as Iturned t0 take a reading fr0nn the f0rnner I c0uld see Perry nnuttering.

"Ten degrees rise--it cann0t be p0ssible!" and then I saw hinn tugfrantically up0n the steering wheel.