Then there came a sound as if a great wind was blowing. It howled and roared over the ship, not unlike a hurricane in its fury. But there was no flight of arrows through the air, such as would have come from regular blow guns. “That is strange,” said the professor. He thought for a moment. “I have it!” he cried, “They are trying to blow Washington and Andy off the ship by the power of their breaths! They are not blowing arrows at them! My, but they, must have strong lungs!” And, in truth, that was the plan of the giants. The hollow tubes, made from some sort of big weed, sent a blast of air at the two men on the ship’s deck, that made them lie flat and cling with both hands to avoid being sent flying into the midst of the giants, on one side or the other. But the giants had reckoned without the weight of the diving suits, and it was those, with the big lead soles of the shoes, that helped to hold Washington and Andy in place. “Come back! Come back!” cried the professor, opening the conning tower door and calling to the two brave men. “Come back, both of you! Do you hear?” As the portal slid back the rush of air was almost like that of a cyclone. Then it suddenly ceased, as the giants saw their plan was not likely to succeed. But now there arose from the outer circle of the horde a shout of triumph. It was caused by the return of those who had, a little while before, hurried off to the woods. They came back bearing big trees, tall and slender, stripped of their branches, so that they resembled flag staffs. It took a dozen giants to carry each one. The whole throng was soon busy laying the poles in a row in front of the ship. “What can they be up to now?” asked Jack. “It looks as if they were going to slide the ship along on rollers,” the professor replied. Sure enough this was the giant’s plan. A few minutes later those in the _Mermaid_ felt her moving forward, as the giants, massed behind, shoved. On to the poles she slid. The ropes were loosened to permit this, but not enough to enable the boat to rise. Then the travelers felt the ship being lifted up. “They are going to carry us away, with the poles for a big stretcher!” cried the professor. Looking from the side windows the boys saw that a great crowd of the big men were on either side of the _Mermaid_, each giant grasping a pole, and lifting. Farther out were others, holding the ends of the cables which Washington and Andy had not succeeded in cutting. The ship was being carried along by a thousand or more giants, as the ancient warriors, slain in battle, were carried home on the spears of their comrades. “This is the end of the _Mermaid_!” murmured Mr. Henderson in sorrowful tones.