fire. There was a snapping, cracking sound that could be heard
above the whir of the craft's propellers, for the motor was still
running.

"Oh, Tom! Tom! What is it? What has happened?" cried his father.

"Keep back! Don't come too close!" yelled the young inventor, as he
clung to the seat of the aeroplane, that was tilted at a dangerous
angle. "Keep away!"

"What's the matter?" demanded Mr. Damon. "Bless my pocket comb--what is
it?"

"A live wire!" answered Tom. "I'm caught in a live wire! The trailer
attached to the wireless outfit on my airship is crossed with the wire
from the power plant. There's a short circuit somewhere. Don't come too
close, for it may burn through any second and drop down. Then it will
twist about like a snake!"

"Land ob massy!" cried Eradicate.

"What can we do to help you?" called Mr. Swift. "Shall I run and shut
off the power?" for in the shop where Tom did most of his inventive
work there was a powerful dynamo, and it was on one of the wires
extending from it, that brought current into the house, that the craft
had caught.

"Yes, shut it off if you can!" Tom shouted back. "But be careful. Don't
get shocked! Wow! I got a touch of it myself that time!" and he could
be seen to writhe in his seat.

"Oh, hurry! hurry! Find Koku!" cried Mr. Swift to Mr. Damon, who had
started for the power house on the run.

The sparks and lances of fire seemed to increase around the young
inventor. The airship could be seen to slip slowly down the sloping
roof.

"Land ob massy! He am suah gwine t' fall!" yelled Eradicate.

"Oh, he'll never get that current shut off in time!" murmured Mr.
Swift, as he started after Mr. Damon.

"Wait! I think I have a plan!" called Mr. Peterson. "I think I can save
Tom!"

He did not waste further time in talk, but, running to a nearby shed,
he got a long ladder that he saw standing under it. With this over his
shoulder he retraced his steps to the balloon hangar and placed the
ladder against the side. Then he started to climb up.

"What are you going to do?" yelled Tom, leaning over from his seat to
watch the elderly fortune-hunter.

"I'm going to cut that wire!" was the answer.

"Don't! If you touch it you'll be shocked to death! I may be able to
get out of here. So far I've only had light shocks, but the insulation
is burning out of my magneto, and that will soon stop. When it does I
can't run the motor, and--"

"I'm going to cut that wire!" again shout