They actually crossed the Great Bear Lake and the Mackenzie River, however, and saw the ragged peaks of the Rocky Mountains, which here almost touch the shores of the Arctic Sea. Blown on and on, with little diminution of speed, it was not many hours before the _Snowbird_ was flying over Alaskan wilds. The flying machine had kept closely to the course the professor had laid out for her when they left Maine. They were still headed for the slopes of the Endicott Range and the native town of Aleukan. The question paramount in all their minds, however, was this: Would they reach their destination in safety? CHAPTER VII DROPPED FROM THE SKY A thick mantle of fog masked the heavens; but beneath this the wind--traveling at great velocity--drove the ragged clouds like frightened sheep across the pastures of the firmament. The moon and stars gave so little light that the earth seemed but a vague and shadowy mass--nothing more. The wind shrieked in many voices, as though a troop of goblins raced through the air, or rode the strangely formed and hurrying clouds. Driven on with the tumbling banks of vapor, as vaguely outlined in the gloom as the clouds themselves, was the great flying machine, which the wind buffeted and harried about as though against it Old Boreas had some special spite. Jack was in the operator's seat; but there was little to do but hang on to the steering wheel. The wind blew them as it listed. "I don't well see how anybody can sleep in this horrid storm," complained Mark Sampson. "And the machine rocks so--ugh! I'm as sick as though we were at sea." "And we are pretty completely 'at sea,'" chuckled the more volatile Jack. "I hope the professor knows where we are. _I_ don't!" "And I don't see how he can tell," grumbled his chum. "Pluck up your spirits, old man!" returned the older lad, but Mark interrupted him, still crossly: "I hope I am as courageous as the next. We've done some funny stunts together, Jack Darrow--you and I and the old professor. But this caps them all, I declare. It's a mystery to me how Mr. Henderson and Andy Sudds can remain asleep." "Well, they are both tired out, I reckon. They had a long watch--and _we_ slept, you know." "That was a long time ago," grunted Mark, "It's pretty tough, I admit," said Jack, when Washington White broke in with: "Hi, yi! Whuffo' you boys be sech cowards? Is _I_ skeert? Huh!" "You bet you're scared," returned Jack, emphatically. "When we got caught in that flaw yesterday afternoon he wanted to jump out; didn't he, Mark?" "Wash certainly tried to climb out," rejoined Mark. "Well, den! dat showed I warn't no coward," crowed the black man, though in a very shaky voice. "If I'd been scart', would I really have wanted ter jump? It was a might long way to de groun' right den, I guess." Suddenly the Shanghai crowed loudly. "Tell yo' what!" cried the black man, scratching his head. "Dat rooster done crow fo' company."