Without a break the speed
increased to 500, 600, and then 700 revolutions a minute.
"Shut her off," exclaimed Alan joyously, as the white arms flew
round and round and the air shot backwards on both sides of the long
car. At 750 revolutions the car was rocking and lurching as if it
would soar birdlike into the air. At 800 the powerful pulling
propeller began to overcome the rigidity of the framework on which
the car rested and as Alan caught and held the car, fearful that it
was about to fly away under the propeller power alone, Ned shut off
the engine.
The next instant the two boys, with clasped hands, were doing an
Indian war dance in their glee.
It was not long until the rudder wires and the aeroplane shafts had
been attached to their proper guide wheels in the lookout or pilot
portion of the engine cabin. Then came the preparation of the
balloon bag itself. Here again Ned showed what he had accomplished
in the six weeks he had spent in the East.
Clearing a space near the generating tanks, they placed the one
hundred sand bags, weighing forty pounds each, in parallel rows.
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