"Might have thought of that before," soliloquised Kenyon. He remarked that the six "wings" were secured in a horizontal position. For the present the "Golden Hind" was kept up solely by the lift of the brodium in the ballonets. Not until it was fully light would Fosterdyke reduce the gas in the ballonets and rely upon the planes for "lift." A quarter of an hour later, while Kenyon was engaged in making an entry in the log, the helmsman reported land ahead. The "Golden Hind" was approaching the Spanish coast, not in the hostile way in which her namesake did, but on a friendly voyage across a country that, if not exactly an ally, is bound by strong ties to Great Britain. The airship was soon passing over Santander. Ahead the Cantabrian Mountains reared themselves so high in the air that the "Golden Hind" had to ascend another three thousand feet to ensure an easy crossing. At eight o’clock Fosterdyke appeared in the navigation-room. Under his orders the airship’s speed had been sensibly diminished. He intended to put to a practical test the lifting powers of the six planes. Close behind him came Bramsdean, on whom the duties of officer of the watch devolved for the next four hours. "Well, old bird," he observed, genially addressing his chum. "How goes it?" "Fresh as paint," replied Kenyon, "but as hungry as a hunter." "Then hook it," continued Peter. "The cook’s dished up a sumptuous breakfast." Kenyon made a hurried but ample meal. He was anxious to see how the "Golden Hind" manoeuvred as an aeroplane. Upon returning to the navigation-room he found that the six comparatively small wings were being tilted to an effective angle, while a large quantity of brodium was being exhausted from the alternate ballonets into the pressure-flasks, until there was only enough "lift" remaining in the envelope to prevent it dropping earthwards and thus disturbing the stability of the fuselage by acting as top-hamper. Simultaneously instructions were telegraphed to the air mechanics standing by the six motors to increase the number of revolutions. The change was instantly appreciable. No longer did the "Golden Hind" pitch. She settled down to a rapid, steady motion, her speed being not far short of 150 miles an hour. "No ailerons," explained Fosterdyke. "Horizontal and vertical rudders only. Saves a lot of trouble and complication of gear." "Stunts not permissible, sir?" asked Kenyon. "No," he replied. "They are not. We’re out to do something definite, not to let the Spanish have an exhibition of an airship making a spinning nose-dive or looping the loop. But we’ll do a volplane, just to test the gliding powers of the ’bus." He touched a switch by which a warning bell rang in each of the motor rooms. This was to inform the mechanics that the electric current would be simultaneously cut off from the six motors, so that there would be no need on their part to endeavour to locate faults that did not exist. "Cut out!" ordered Fosterdyke.