The two who were to attempt the rescue of their comrades were soon on deck. In the conning tower Jack and the professor kept anxious watch, while Mark, Bill and Tom were at the various machines, ready, at the signal, to start the engines. The giants had now become so interested in whatever plan they had afoot, that they paid little attention to the ship. Consequently Washington and Andy, crawling along the deck in their diving suits, did not, at first attract any attention. In fact they had cut several of the big ropes, and it began to look as if the plan would succeed, particularly as they were partly hidden from view by the upper gas holder. They were working with feverish haste, sawing away at the big cables with keen knives. “I guess we’ll beat ’em yet!” cried Jack. “I hope so,” replied the professor. “It looks——” He stopped short, for at that moment a cry arose from the midst of the giants, and one of them pointed toward the ship. An instant later the air was darkened with a flight of big oranges, which the queer creatures seemed to favor as missiles. Probably they found stones too heavy. “Well, those things can’t hurt ’em much with those heavy suits on,” observed Mr. Henderson. “There, Washington got one right on the head that time, and it didn’t bother him a bit.” Jack had seen the fruit strike the big copper helmet and observed that the colored man only moved his head slightly in order to get rid of the orange. In fact the giants, seeing for themselves that this mode of warfare was not going to answer, since the two men on the ship continued to cut the restraining cables, gave it up. There was a good deal of shouting among them, and a number ran here and there, seemingly gathering up long poles. “I wonder if they are going to try the flailing method, and beat poor Andy and Washington,” said Mr. Henderson. “It looks so.” The two rescuers were now about a quarter through their hard task. The throwing of the oranges had ceased. But the giants were up to a new trick. They divided into two sections, one taking up a position on one side of the ship, and the other on the opposite. There were about two hundred in each crowd, while the others in the horde drew some distance back. “They’re up to some queer dodge,” observed Jack. “What are they placing those sticks to their mouths for?” The professor observed the throng curiously for a few seconds. Then he exclaimed: “They are using blow-guns! They are going to shoot arrows at Washington and Andy! We must get them in at once!” He darted toward a door that opened from the conning tower out on the deck. “Don’t go!” cried Jack. “It’s too late! They are beginning to blow!” He pointed to the throng of giants. The professor could see their cheeks puffed out as the big creatures filled their lungs with air and prepared to expel it through the hollow tubes.