CHAPTER III
TOM'S FAILURE
"Come on!" cried Tom, quickly, as, turning he saw the accident about to happen. "Your craft will surely be smashed if she slips to the ground, Mr. Halling!"
"You're right! This seems to be my unlucky day!"
The birdman, limping slightly from his fall, hurried with Tom to where a rope trailed on the ground. Koku had fastened one end to the airship, and had taken a turn of the cable about the chimney. He had been lowering the biplane to the ground, but he had not allowed for its great weight, and the rope had slipped from his big hands.
But Tom and Mr. Halling were just in time. They grabbed the slipping hempen strands, and thus checked the falling craft until Koku could get a better grip.
"All right now," said the giant, when he had
