"But if I come any more toward you I'll be out of my seat!" objected the eccentric man.
"If you don't you'll be out of the aeroplane!" cried Tom grimly, and his companion leaned over as far as he could until the young pilot had brought the craft to an even keel again.
Then Tom speeded up the motor, which he had partly shut down as they passed through the danger zone, and again they were racing through space.
They were nearing Shopton now, as the lad and Mr. Damon could tell by the familiar landmarks which loomed up in sight. Tom strained his eyes for the first view of his home.
Suddenly, as they were skimming along, there came a cessation of the hum and roar that told of the perfectly-working motor. It was an ominous silence.
"What's—what's wrong?" gasped Mr. Damon.
"Something's given way," answered Tom quickly. "I'm afraid the magneto isn't sparking as it ought to."
"Well, can't we volplane back to earth?" asked the odd man, for he had become familiar with this feat when anything happened to the motor.
"We could," answered Tom, "but I'm not going to."
