ed in Waldo. "If
the blamed thing should take a notion to balk, and rear back on its
haunches, where'd we come out at?"

Professor Featherwit made an impatient gesture by way of answer. Speech
just then would have been worse than useless, for that tremendous
roaring, crashing, thundering of all sounds, seemed to fall back and
envelop the air-ship as with a pall.

A shower of sand and fine debris poured over and around them, filling
ears and mouths, and blinding eyes for the moment, forcing the brothers
closer to the floor of the aerostat, and even compelling the eager
professor to remit his taking of notes for future generations.

Then, thin and reed-like, yet serving to pierce that temporary obscurity
and horrible jangle of outer sounds, came the voice of their relative:

"Fear not, my children! The Lord is our shield, and so long as he
willeth, just so long shall we--Ha! didn't I tell ye so?"

For the blinding veil was torn away, and once again the trio of
adventurers might watch yonder grandly awesome march of devastation.

"Heading direct for the Olympics!" declared Professor Featherwit,
digging the sand out of his eyes and striving to clean his glasses
without removing them, clinging to tiller and camera through all. "What
a grand and glorious guide 'twould be for us!"

"If we could only hitch on--like a tin can to the tail of a dog!"
suggested Waldo, with boyish sarcasm. "Not any of that in mine, thank
you! I can wait. No such mighty rush. No,--SIR!"

There came no answer to his words, for just then that swooping air-demon
turned to vivid fire, lightning playing back and forth, from side
to side, in every conceivable direction, until in spite of the broad
daylight its glory pained those watching eyes.

"Did you ever witness the like!" awesomely cried Bruno, gazing like one
fascinated. "Who could or would ever believe all that, even if tongue
were able to portray its wondrous beauty?"

"What a place that would be for popping corn!" contributed Waldo,
practical or nothing, even under such peculiar circumstances. "If I had
to play poppy, though, I'd want a precious long handle to the concern!"

More intensely interested than ever, Professor Featherwit plied his
shutter, taking shot after shot at yonder aerial phenomena, feeling that
future generations would surely rise up to call him blessed when the
results of his experiments were once fairly spread before the world.

And hence it came to pass that stil