“Cast off!” yelled Jerry, beginning to cough again, for the deadly fumes were manifesting themselves through the chemically saturated handkerchiefs. “Cast off!”
It took but an instant to do it. The great propellers were set in motion, and the _Comet_ rapidly glided away from the _Manhattan_. The boys looked back at her, as she floated in mid-air.
“We must see to those men!” directed Jerry, taking off the improvised mask, which was no longer needed. “Perhaps it is even now too late! Professor, will you help us?”
“Of course. I think I know how to revive them, if there is a spark of life left.”
“Look!” yelled Bob, pointing to the _Manhattan_. A haze of flame surrounded the unfortunate craft.
The next instant there came a terrific explosion, and the dirigible was scattered to the four winds, to fall in a shower of canvas, silk and broken machinery into the sea, there to disappear from sight forever.
“We got away just in time,” spoke Ned in awed tones.
With the motor speeding her back across the ocean, over which she had so gallantly come a long distance, and with the automatic steering apparatus set to guide her, no attention need be paid to the _Comet_ for some time. So the boys and the professor devoted their energies to reviving the men. That they were not dead was soon established, though they were very nearly so.
But Professor Snodgrass knew just what to do, and in about an hour, when some of the medicines they had brought had been administered, Mr. Jackson opened his eyes.
“Where are we? What happened? Is there any hope? Can you see any vessel that will save us?” he gasped. Evidently he thought himself still aboard his own craft.
“You are all right, Wescott!” said Mr. Snodgrass. “Don’t you know me?”
“Uriah Snodgrass!” gasped the millionaire. “Well, of all things! How did you get aboard the _Manhattan_?”
“I didn’t. It’s you who are aboard here. You’ve been rescued! The _Manhattan_ is no more!” And the scientist quickly explained what had happened.
Mr. Jackson rapidly recovered from the fumes of the gas, as did the members of the crew, and his friend, Mr. Watson, who had made the trip with him. Then the story of the rescue was told.
In turn Mr. Jackson related how, after ascending to a great height soon after leaving the aviation grounds, his craft was caught in the hurricane and driven out to sea. Then the propelling machinery broke, and they could only drift about at the mercy of the wind. For days they were driven onward, thinking each hour would be their last. They tried to signal for help from steamers passing below them, but could not, as their wireless was soon out of order, and they were too high up to make any other means effective.