Oliphant went to the head of the stairs and called; Abdul came bounding up, and in half a minute all five were packed into the car. It was a very tight fit, and Tom felt a tremor of apprehension as he pressed the lever. The vertical propellers answered instantly to his touch, but they beat the air ineffectually: the airship absolutely refused to rise. “It won’t lift us!” he said, aghast. “We’re too heavy. Some one must be left behind.” “I’ll stay,” said Oliphant at once. “Take the others to the hill and come back for me. I can manage for half an hour or so with my revolver.” “Not a bit of it. I want your help with the machinery. What on earth can we do?” “Leave Abdul?” “Can’t hear of it: he couldn’t defend himself long, and he’d be frightfully tortured if they got him. We can’t all get away at once, that’s certain; and, as we certainly can’t leave Sir Mark, we must leave the one we didn’t reckon on. Herr Schwab——” “No. I refuse. I vill not stay. I am here.” “I’m afraid you must. We shan’t be long. I’ll drop the others a mile or two away, and come back for you at once.” “Never in ze vorld. I protest. I am Jarman sobjeck: is not ze life of Jarman sobjeck of more vorth zan ze life of a Mohr? Our Kaiser, who is in Berlin——” “We can’t stop to argue it. They won’t kill you, at any rate; they know enough of your Kaiser perhaps to refrain from that: whereas they’d kill the Moor to a certainty. We can’t all lose our lives for you. In short, you must get out, and be quick about it, or, by Jove! we’ll have to throw you out.” “It is terrible; it is unkind. I cannot stay alone; no longer am I as I vas; I lose pounds in ze prison. I am not made for zis. Some vun muss remain viz me; I care not who: some vun to give me courage.” Here Abdul stepped into the breach and volunteered to stay with the German. “I have it!” cried Oliphant. “The trapdoor that covers the opening is at the other end of the roof, by the parapet there. We can shut that down and bolt it. And, by George! the stones of the parapet are pretty loose. Abdul and Mr. Schwab can pile some of them on the trap; we’ll leave them our revolvers, and with a little pluck they can keep the blackguards at bay until we get back.” “That’s it. You’ll be as safe as the Bank of England, Mr. Schwab. Quick! Out with you! Here’s my revolver!” “Ach! I am man of peace; vunce I vas var gorresbondent, and——” “For goodness’ sake get out, man. Don’t you see you’re endangering the whole lot of us, yourself included. Oliphant, we shall have to fling him out.” But at this threat Schwab rose and stepped on to the roof, his face a very picture of woe. Oliphant assisted Abdul to place the trapdoor over the opening, and of course made the discovery that the bolts were on the inside. “But the stones will do,” said Oliphant. “Buck up, Mr. Schwab; you’re not absolutely helpless, are you?”